Tuition and fees

Frozen tuition guarantee

Law school is an exciting time, but there's bound to be some uncertainty. We've helped remove some of that by guaranteeing that your tuition will be frozen for the entire time you're in law school. The rates listed in the table below are for the current academic year. Rates for the 2021-2022 academic year will be set by the IU Board of Trustees, sometime in late April or May 2021.

Budget and cost of legal education

* Tuition for students who begin their studies in the fall of 2020 will be frozen at these rates. Tuition rates for other student cohorts are published here. Students who plan to begin their studies in the fall 2021 semester, might consider rounding these figures up somewhat in case the tuition rates for incoming students are increased by the IU Board of Trustees.

Of course, determining how much you need to borrow is important. To that end, we have provided our recommended student budget below.

*Tuition for students who begin their studies in the fall of 2020 will be frozen at these rates. Tuition rates for other student cohorts are published here. Students who plan to begin their studies in the fall 2021 semester, might consider rounding these figures up in case the tuition rates for incoming students are increased by the IU Board of Trustees.

Computer expense

While the law school requires that new students have a laptop computer, that requirement does not mean that you must purchase a new machine as you prepare to begin class. If you do purchase a new computer for law school, that expense (up to $2,000) can be added to your budget by completing the Special Conditions Form and submitting it, along with documentation of the cost, to the Director of Financial Aid at iulawfa@indiana.edu.

Living allowance

Your budget includes a living allowance (room/board, transportation, personal) for the nine months of the academic year, but you determine the amount that is needed.

Many students find that they can live comfortably on about $1,200 or less per month. That would mean that you would want to increase the direct costs by about $10,800 ($1,200 x 9 months) when determining your total costs for the first year of law school. Students should be able to find a studio or one bedroom apartment, in close proximity to the law school, that costs between $600 and $750 per month. Of course, more expensive options exist, but to keep your expenses down you should consider searching for one of these lower cost options. 

In projecting your monthly expenses, you will want to review your prior educational experiences. In addition to your rent and food, analyze carefully what you spend on entertainment, clothes, dining out, and so on. Do not forget to include car payments, car and health insurance, anticipated car repairs, trips home, and any existing credit card debt.

In order to accommodate those students who have unusually high living expenses resulting from supporting a family or other unusual circumstances, we allow a maximum of up to $2,326 per month. That would mean that you could increase the direct costs by up to $20,942 ($2,326 x 9 months) when determining your total costs for the first year of law school.

Reminder: We will use a budget that includes the maximum living allowance of $20,942 (minus other resources) when determining your eligibility for federal financial aid programs, but your actual budget may be substantially less.

It is imperative that you plan on being able to live on approximately $2,326 or less per month while enrolled.