When you apply for financial assistance, the Office of Financial Aid makes a determination of what you and your family can afford to contribute toward the cost of your education. The difference between the expenses associated with your legal education (Cost of Attendance) and your ability to contribute to those expenses is your “need.” Your need represents the maximum amount of assistance for which you will be eligible.
Expenses deemed acceptable in building a Cost of Attendance budget are those directly related to the cost of attending the School of Law. The Office of Financial Aid is concerned only with financing your attendance; therefore, you will be held to a “modest-moderate” living standard based on the local living expense costs for the DC metropolitan area. The estimated nine-month 2023-2024 full-time and part-time student budgets for DC residents, metropolitan area residents, and non-residents appear below.
Full Time First Year Student Cost of Attendance
| Cost | RESIDENT | METRO | NONRESIDENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition1 | $ 12,438 | $ 18,656 | $ 24,873 |
| Student Fees | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 |
| Student Health Insurance2 | 1,593 | 1,593 | 1,593 |
| Transportation | 2,500 | 3,000 | 3,000 |
| Books/Supplies/Course Materials | 4,000 | 4,000 | 4,000 |
| Housing | 16,200 | 16,200 | 16,200 |
| Food | 4,000 | 4,000 | 4,000 |
| Loan Fee3 | 1,380 | 1,380 | 1,380 |
| Miscellaneous | 4,000 | 4,000 | 4,000 |
| TOTAL | $ 47,111 | $ 53,829 | $ 60,046 |
| 1. During the summer semester, tuition is charged on a per-credit basis ($422 per credit hour for residents, $631 per credit hour for metro residents, and $843 per credit hour for non-residents). 2. Health insurance for all students is $1,593 which can be waived if student provides proof of coverage (subject to change). 3. Loan fees will vary depending on the amount borrowed. | |||
Part Time First Year Student Cost of Attendance
| Cost | RESIDENT | METRO | NONRESIDENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition1 | $ 9,284 | $ 13,882 | $ 18,546 |
| Student Fees | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 |
| Student Health Insurance2 | 1,593 | 1,593 | 1,593 |
| Transportation | 2,500 | 3,000 | 3,000 |
| Books/Supplies/Course Materials | 3,400 | 3,400 | 3,400 |
| Housing | 16,200 | 16,200 | 16,200 |
| Food | 4,000 | 4,000 | 4,000 |
| Loan Fee3 | 1,380 | 1,380 | 1,380 |
| Miscellaneous | 4,000 | 4,000 | 4,000 |
| TOTAL | $ 43,357 | $ 48,455 | $ 53,119 |
| 1. Part-time tuition is charged on a per-credit basis ($422 per credit hour for residents, $631 per credit hour for metro residents, and $843 per credit hour for non-residents). This budget assumes 22 credits for the academic year. 2. Health insurance for all students is $1,593 which can be waived if student provides proof of coverage (subject to change). 3. Loan fees will vary depending on the amount borrowed. | |||
The budget above covers the standard nine-month, Fall and Spring, academic year. Summer tuition is charged per credit-hour: $422 per credit hour for residents, $631 per credit hour for metro residents, and $843 per credit hour for non-residents, and all applicable allowances above are prorated based on a 3-month attendance period.
Modifications to the Standard Cost of Attendance Budget
In most cases, the budget the Office of Financial Aid uses to determine a particular student’s need will be the standard resident, DC metro resident, or non-resident budget. However, there are cases when specific components in the standard student budget may be adjusted to reflect special circumstances.
For example, Cost of Attendance budgets for students with individual expenses relating to dependent care costs may be included in the Cost of Attendance Budget when the student provides acceptable documentation of the expenses to the Office of Financial Aid.
