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Projected Debt Owed at First Loan Payment

  • The non-discounted cost is the total debt owed when a graduate debt-finances legal education without tuition discounts or other effective discounts
  • Projections assume a modest 3% annual tuition increase and 2% annual indirect cost (room, board, books, etc.) increase from 2011-2012 figures
  • Interest calculations are time-sensitive—based on semester disbursement periods—and use a blended interest rate. (The first 10.25k each semester is weighted at 6.8%, the rest at 7.9%.) Interest accrues upon disbursement and capitalizes six months after graduation when the first loan payment is due.

Notes:

  • Some students will not borrow all that the Department of Education permits: many use savings, receive aid from family, or receive tuition discounts
  • Average debt figures that schools advertise do not include the interest accrued during law school
  • In recent years, roughly 50% of students have paid full sticker for tuition & fees; LST expects this percentage to decline
  • Rely on your own, detailed financial planning tailored to your personal needs. Our goal is to estimate the debt-financed cost of obtaining a J.D. at ABA-approved law schools without discounts and to show how advertised rates and debt levels obfuscate real graduate outcomes for research and advocacy purposes.
Class of 2016 Projections Class of 2017 Projections 2011-2012 Academic Year
Non-Discounted Cost Resident Cost Non-Discounted Cost Resident Cost Non-Discounted Tuition Resident Tuition Indirect
Expenses
Albany Law School $227,406-$233,604-$42,675-$18,000
American University $253,621-$260,436-$45,096-$22,604
Appalachian School of Law $193,245-$198,301-$30,607-$21,176
Arizona State University $222,625$168,913$228,573$173,249$38,595$24,471$20,906
Ave Maria School of Law $214,804-$220,514-$36,448-$20,999
Barry University $215,728-$221,349-$33,630-$24,150
Baylor University $239,584-$246,057-$43,479-$20,469
Boston College $228,173-$234,355-$41,818-$19,090
Boston University $225,915-$232,083-$42,654-$17,618
Brigham Young University $148,516$108,323$152,320$110,921$21,200$10,631$18,752
Brooklyn Law School $272,763-$280,087-$48,416-$24,368
California Western School of Law $246,552-$253,131-$42,600-$23,260
Campbell University $226,213-$232,055-$33,910-$26,700
Capital University $184,442-$189,444-$33,810-$15,496
Cardozo-Yeshiva University $273,327-$280,661-$48,370-$24,568
Case Western Reserve University $245,898-$252,462-$42,564-$23,120
Catholic University of America $259,657-$266,469-$41,830-$27,600
Chapman University $265,265-$272,175-$41,460-$29,499
Charleston School of Law $209,202-$214,808-$36,674-$19,250
Charlotte School of Law $222,568-$228,451-$36,916-$22,619
Chicago-Kent College of Law $229,245-$235,456-$42,030-$19,162
Cleveland-Marshall College of Law $173,497$145,583$178,031$149,280$27,254$19,914$19,282
Columbia University $288,597-$296,409-$52,934-$24,003
Cornell University $271,785-$279,270-$53,150-$19,230
Creighton University $194,503-$199,655-$32,464-$19,605
CUNY $137,758$111,327$141,269$114,046$19,157$12,207$17,943
DePaul University $239,320-$245,790-$43,532-$20,343
Drake University $196,784-$202,040-$34,006-$18,635
Drexel University $208,865-$214,441-$36,051-$19,800
Duke University $252,727-$259,696-$49,617-$17,708
Duquesne University $177,070-$181,922-$33,752-$13,560
Elon Law School $215,876-$221,535-$34,550-$23,243
Emory University $259,887-$266,827-$45,098-$24,298
Faulkner University $203,318-$208,644-$32,398-$22,059
Florida A&M University $212,932$135,751$218,437$138,942$32,069$11,774$25,000
Florida Coastal School of Law $226,806-$232,867-$39,370-$21,240
Florida International University $200,133$147,405$205,263$150,953$28,921$15,056$24,776
Florida State University $205,202$130,809$210,775$134,150$37,905$18,343$16,900
Fordham University $275,631-$282,996-$47,986-$25,587
George Mason University $229,300$174,568$235,363$178,989$38,112$23,720$23,210
George Washington University $278,444-$285,780-$45,750-$28,650
Georgetown University $263,473-$270,545-$46,685-$23,635
Georgia State University $190,043$113,985$195,196$116,856$34,834$14,834$15,958
Golden Gate University $243,725-$250,168-$40,515-$24,641
Gonzaga University $188,416-$193,509-$34,105-$16,268
Hamline University $203,482-$208,894-$34,555-$19,883
Harvard University $277,772-$285,211-$48,786-$25,343
Hofstra University $258,777-$265,715-$45,600-$23,481
Howard University $198,511-$203,617-$29,131-$24,121
Indiana University - Bloomington $244,632$178,188$251,287$182,849$45,602$28,130$19,650
Indiana University - Indianapolis $241,753$159,998$248,282$164,074$43,821$22,323$20,704
Inter American University $126,790-$129,901-$14,403-$19,868
John Marshall Law School - Atlanta $214,402-$220,011-$34,005-$23,405
John Marshall Law School - Chicago $249,722-$256,307-$41,100-$25,662
Lewis and Clark College $222,267-$228,186-$38,021-$21,400
Liberty University $177,067-$181,800-$30,604-$16,800
Louisiana State University $163,953$101,866$168,545$104,596$33,800$17,474$9,960
Loyola Marymount University $259,362-$266,215-$43,060-$26,254
Loyola University Chicago $224,862-$230,889-$39,496-$20,584
Loyola University New Orleans $225,903-$231,957-$39,657-$20,700
Marquette University $212,536-$218,243-$37,570-$19,230
Mercer University $205,713-$211,256-$36,860-$18,114
Michigan State University $187,924-$193,033-$34,783-$15,437
Mississippi College $188,988-$193,915-$29,440-$21,225
New England School of Law $234,296-$240,569-$40,984-$21,606
New York Law School $266,560-$273,737-$47,800-$23,323
New York University $280,065-$287,608-$50,336-$24,368
North Carolina Central University $138,380$85,413$142,101$87,545$24,343$10,415$12,773
Northeastern University $254,388-$261,112-$42,296-$25,694
Northern Illinois University $185,928$130,318$190,941$133,663$33,311$18,688$16,412
Northern Kentucky University $185,919$118,379$190,948$121,381$33,732$15,972$15,976
Northwestern University $291,900-$299,740-$51,920-$25,941
Nova Southeastern University $222,624-$228,369-$33,250-$26,408
Ohio Northern University $185,036-$190,010-$32,750-$16,748
Ohio State University $236,087$179,233$242,406$183,847$41,278$26,328$21,788
Oklahoma City University $197,578-$202,877-$34,715-$18,120
Pace University $218,391-$224,335-$40,730-$17,562
Penn State University $230,640$230,640$236,749$236,749$38,614$38,614$23,056
Pepperdine University $255,651-$262,421-$42,840-$25,476
Phoenix School of Law $238,919-$245,164-$37,834-$26,100
Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico $165,082-$168,961-$14,446-$30,189
Quinnipiac University $242,999-$249,599-$45,050-$19,776
Regent University $200,489-$205,773-$32,780-$20,900
Roger Williams University $225,186-$231,221-$39,550-$20,616
Rutgers State University - Camden $197,631$154,795$203,008$158,886$36,707$25,443$16,084
Rutgers State University - Newark $229,783$186,946$235,800$191,679$36,671$25,407$24,824
Samford University $212,055-$217,649-$34,848-$21,902
Santa Clara University $238,655-$245,044-$41,790-$21,956
Seattle University $214,303-$220,112-$39,316-$17,911
Seton Hall University $255,613-$262,534-$46,840-$21,348
South Texas College of Law $178,861-$183,487-$26,850-$21,150
Southern Illinois University $191,668$115,001$196,904$117,937$36,154$15,994$15,039
Southern Methodist University $261,994-$268,861-$42,056-$28,000
Southern University Law Center $99,233$77,937$101,809$79,873$14,800$9,200$12,000
Southwestern Law School $258,900-$265,703-$42,000-$27,220
St. John's University $261,120-$268,136-$46,450-$23,240
St. Louis University $210,991-$216,614-$36,175-$20,248
St. Mary's University $173,841-$178,464-$29,406-$17,160
St. Thomas University - Florida $214,882-$220,524-$34,618-$22,904
Stanford University $280,966-$288,483-$49,179-$25,803
Stetson University $214,250-$219,912-$35,466-$21,860
Suffolk University $241,830-$248,317-$42,660-$21,920
SUNY Buffalo $194,133$144,695$199,326$148,405$33,718$20,718$18,214
Syracuse University $243,706-$250,344-$45,647-$19,353
Temple University $199,469$150,297$204,735$154,088$32,844$19,914$20,558
Texas Southern University $133,143$118,084$136,489$120,977$17,216$13,256$18,692
Texas Tech University $168,953$136,666$173,532$140,277$30,829$22,339$14,372
Texas Wesleyan University $163,131-$167,516-$28,790-$14,895
Thomas Jefferson School of Law $257,905-$264,649-$41,000-$27,980
Thomas M Cooley Law School $183,465-$188,468-$34,340-$14,686
Touro College $248,932-$255,531-$41,890-$24,635
Tulane University $240,294-$246,788-$43,684-$20,450
University of Akron $182,163$134,809$187,077$138,302$32,688$20,236$16,034
University of Alabama $180,574$131,440$185,390$134,782$30,950$18,030$17,393
University of Arizona $236,191$179,292$242,504$183,898$41,051$26,089$22,050
University of Arkansas - Fayetteville $153,835$105,937$157,872$108,538$24,528$11,933$16,766
University of Arkansas - Little Rock $146,595$98,888$150,497$101,358$24,776$12,231$14,551
University of Baltimore $226,979$180,956$232,988$185,584$37,900$25,798$22,800
University of California - Berkeley $293,027$277,024$300,983$284,500$54,372$50,164$23,722
University of California - Davis $268,650$237,705$276,128$244,255$54,622$46,485$16,866
University of California - Hastings $259,171$226,846$266,251$232,957$49,153$40,653$19,930
University of California - Irvine $289,327$251,887$297,161$258,598$53,125$43,280$24,004
University of California - Los Angeles $281,614$244,174$289,357$250,794$54,767$44,922$20,226
University of Chicago $265,817-$273,000-$48,369-$22,536
University of Cincinnati $213,606$150,797$219,379$154,685$38,720$22,204$18,336
University of Colorado $212,028$187,659$217,723$192,623$37,522$31,114$19,142
University of Connecticut $233,625$144,271$240,057$148,023$45,548$22,052$16,726
University of Dayton $178,526-$183,314-$31,279-$16,500
University of Denver $208,407-$214,067-$38,502-$17,153
University of Detroit Mercy $218,883-$224,673-$36,390-$22,163
University of Florida $201,600$127,956$207,108$131,255$38,075$18,710$15,750
University of Georgia $191,731$126,671$196,915$129,902$34,732$17,624$16,520
University of Hawaii $179,976$122,385$184,840$125,521$32,522$17,378$15,613
University of Houston $205,750$165,154$211,369$169,555$38,805$28,130$16,122
University of Idaho $159,989$112,376$164,226$115,185$26,560$14,040$16,340
University of Illinois $233,222$206,678$239,646$212,306$45,547$38,567$16,618
University of Iowa $235,213$160,265$241,697$164,500$46,056$26,348$16,633
University of Kansas $171,177$124,823$175,717$127,973$28,649$16,460$17,218
University of Kentucky $177,210$126,213$181,988$129,461$31,716$18,306$15,694
University of La Verne $233,990-$240,215-$39,900-$22,639
University of Louisville $189,917$131,306$194,961$134,592$32,038$16,626$18,802
University of Maine $176,677$134,579$181,555$138,194$34,630$23,560$12,550
University of Maryland $243,526$200,770$249,818$205,779$36,648$25,405$28,568
University of Memphis $199,559$116,381$205,007$119,334$37,582$15,710$15,705
University of Miami $232,969-$239,171-$39,848-$22,416
University of Michigan $254,753$243,687$261,768$250,369$49,740$46,830$18,130
University of Minnesota $224,753$188,515$230,925$193,600$43,385$33,856$16,551
University of Mississippi $159,808$108,815$163,971$111,448$24,692$11,283$18,214
University of Missouri - Columbia $186,857$125,828$191,894$129,033$33,429$17,381$16,542
University of Missouri - Kansas City $195,531$144,602$200,614$148,158$30,122$16,730$22,294
University of Montana $152,816$92,417$156,923$94,713$26,908$11,026$14,040
University of Nebraska $152,691$93,396$156,801$95,727$27,052$11,460$13,858
University of Nevada - Las Vegas $210,663$168,831$216,260$173,173$35,669$24,669$20,680
University of New Hampshire $224,919-$230,966-$39,990-$20,091
University of New Mexico $175,242$107,101$180,008$109,823$32,438$14,520$14,418
University of North Carolina $206,856$149,401$212,318$153,140$34,120$19,012$21,244
University of North Dakota $134,807$90,370$138,351$92,581$21,580$9,895$14,650
University of Notre Dame $228,623-$234,871-$43,335-$17,650
University of Oklahoma $177,442$137,865$182,138$141,374$29,458$19,051$18,081
University of Oregon $187,505$162,999$192,522$167,281$32,590$26,146$17,581
University of Pennsylvania $267,383-$274,687-$50,718-$20,542
University of Pittsburgh $194,244$168,483$199,475$172,941$34,666$27,892$17,268
University of Puerto Rico $100,138$84,158$102,624$86,164$11,973$7,771$15,155
University of Richmond $191,652-$196,860-$35,430-$15,780
University of San Diego $244,149-$250,686-$42,754-$22,451
University of San Francisco $229,128-$235,280-$40,544-$20,660
University of South Carolina $221,045$141,009$227,094$144,656$42,072$21,026$16,899
University of South Dakota $141,428$95,922$145,208$98,337$24,306$12,340$13,636
University of Southern California $272,261-$279,658-$50,591-$21,993
University of St. Thomas - Minneapolis $211,555-$217,257-$37,933-$18,591
University of Tennessee $201,173$129,891$206,563$133,142$35,200$16,456$18,594
University of Texas $231,667$171,638$238,079$176,249$46,028$30,243$15,702
University of The District of Columbia $180,503$146,847$184,838$150,172$18,330$9,480$30,365
University of the Pacific $243,001-$249,462-$41,370-$23,565
University of Toledo $185,211$142,984$190,154$146,660$31,846$20,742$17,726
University of Tulsa $181,614-$186,493-$32,056-$16,536
University of Utah $228,215$155,960$234,335$159,912$40,166$21,166$20,802
University of Virginia $264,085$245,070$271,280$251,695$49,600$44,600$20,800
University of Washington $219,644$166,136$225,580$170,467$39,850$25,780$18,807
University of Wisconsin $212,822$140,083$218,582$143,661$38,811$19,684$18,030
University of Wyoming $157,322$107,123$161,508$109,804$26,628$13,428$15,548
Valparaiso University $190,596-$195,884-$38,086-$12,760
Vanderbilt University $254,858-$261,738-$46,148-$21,856
Vermont Law School $238,726-$245,181-$43,468-$20,248
Villanova University $225,810-$231,790-$37,780-$22,607
Wake Forest University $217,493-$223,344-$38,756-$19,351
Washburn University $165,211$128,474$169,566$131,728$26,915$17,255$17,388
Washington and Lee University $232,535-$238,809-$41,947-$20,138
Washington University in St Louis $254,710-$261,583-$46,042-$21,925
Wayne State University $190,564$181,323$195,489$185,971$28,548$26,118$22,570
West Virginia University $166,887$110,078$171,444$112,932$31,358$16,420$13,268
Western New England College $218,516-$224,368-$38,240-$20,159
Western State University $231,386-$237,459-$37,284-$24,627
Whittier Law School $241,344-$247,687-$39,140-$25,412
Widener University $201,558-$206,999-$36,360-$17,504
Willamette University $181,364-$186,256-$32,540-$15,970
William and Mary $190,851$156,625$196,035$160,781$35,200$26,200$15,800
William Mitchell College of Law $203,694-$209,156-$35,760-$18,700
Yale University $272,807-$280,288-$52,525-$20,150
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