Cost of Attendance

Student on computer in lower commons

Penn State’s Board of Trustees meets every summer to establish tuition rates and mandatory fees for the upcoming academic year.

Our Office of Admissions and Financial Aid provides estimated costs of non-tuition related expenses to assist students with budgeting. Each Cost of Attendance chart reflects actual or estimated costs for the 9-month academic year. Financial aid is not available during periods of non-enrollment (i.e., summer sessions). Please be aware that scholarships and grants are available to help defray the cost of tuition.

J.D. Tuition and Expenses

Cost of Attendance

The Cost of Attendance estimates expenses for the 9-month academic year.

All J.D. applicants are considered for merit scholarships and may apply for a need-based grant.

Direct Expenses
(Billed Costs)
2023-2024
Academic Year
Estimated
2024-2025
Academic Year
Tuition $57,720 $58,872
Fees $182 $182
Indirect Expenses (Out-of-Pocket Costs) 2023-2024
Academic Year
Estimated 2024-2025
Out-of-Pocket Costs
Books, Materials, Supplies, and Equipment $2,050 $2,050
Housing $11,000 $11,000
Utilities $3,400 $3,150
Food $4,500 $4,500
Transportation $3,750 $3,400
Other miscellaneous expenses $2,7001 $2,7001
Total Cost of Attendance, Standard $85,302 $85,854
     
One-time computer purchase Up to $2,200 with documentation2 Up to $1,300 upon request2
Bar Exam Registration As documented, upon request3 $8524
Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE) Unavailable $1605

1The miscellaneous expenses amount includes allowances for clothing, laundry, recreation, and personal care.

2Any student may request a one-time Cost of Attendance increase for the purchase of a laptop or desktop computer. Such increases typically grant a student additional access to loan funds. Interested students should contact the Dickinson Law Director of Admissions & Financial Aid to pursue this increase.

3In 2023-2024, graduating J.D. students may request an increase for all documented bar exam registration fees, including the test registration fee and other required fees based on jurisdiction (e.g., background check, fingerprinting, technology fee, etc.). Interested students should contact the Dickinson Law Director of Admissions & Financial Aid.

4Beginning in 2024-2025, graduating J.D. students will receive an aid eligibility allotment for the first professional credential, including bar exam test registration fee and other required fees (e.g., background check, fingerprinting, technology fee, etc.). The standard allotment is based on the cost of registration for the Pennsylvania UBE. Students whose bar exam registration costs exceed the standard allotment may request an increase to their Cost of Attendance so long as they provide documentation of costs exceeding the allotment. Interested students should contact the Dickinson Law Director of Admissions & Financial Aid.

5Beginning in 2024-2025, second-year J.D. students will receive an aid eligbility allotment for the MPRE.

International Student Health Insurance

Health insurance is mandatory at Penn State for international students and their accompanying dependents (spouse and/or children). For full information on requirements, please review the University Health Services website. Health insurance costs for the upcoming academic year will be available in June.

Billing Schedule

Student account statements are prepared on a monthly basis. Billing begins in early August for Fall semester and early December for Spring semester, with a due date on the 22nd of the month. To avoid a 1.5 percent late fee charge, statements must be paid by the due date. More information about tuition due dates may be found here.

Tuition Refund Policy

Students who withdraw from classes after the start of the term are subject to the tuition refund policy.

LL.M. Tuition and Expenses

Cost of Attendance

The Cost of Attendance estimates expenses for the 9-month academic year.

Qualified LL.M. applicants are considered for merit-based scholarships.

Direct Expenses
(Billed Costs)
2023-2024
Academic Year
Estimated
2024-2025
Academic Year
Tuition $57,720 $58,872
Fees $182 $182
Indirect Expenses
(Out-of-Pocket Costs)
2023-2024
Academic Year
Estimated 2024-2025
Out-of-Pocket Costs
Books, Materials, Supplies, and Equipment $2,050 $2,050
Housing $11,000 $11,000
Utilities $3,400 $3,150
Food $4,500 $4,500
Transportation $3,750 $3,400
Other miscellaneous expenses $2,7001 $2,7001
Total Cost of Attendance, Standard $85,302 $85,854
     
One-time computer purchase Up to $2,200 with documentation2 Up to $1,300 upon request2
Bar Exam Registration As documented, upon request3 As documented, upon request3
Required University Health Insurance $3,6654 $3,6654

 

1The miscellaneous expenses amount includes allowances for clothing, laundry, recreation, and personal care.

2Any student may request a one-time Cost of Attendance increase for the purchase of a laptop or desktop computer. Such increases typically grant a student additional access to loan funds. Interested students should contact the Dickinson Law Director of Admissions & Financial Aid to pursue this increase. 

3Graduating LL.M. students who plan to take a bar exam in the U.S. may request an increase for all documented bar exam registration fees, including the test registration fee and other required fees based on jurisdiction (e.g., background check, fingerprinting, technology fee, etc.). Such increases typically grant a student additional access to loan funds. Interested students should contact the Dickinson Law Director of Admissions & Financial Aid.

4Health insurance is mandatory at Penn State for international students and their accompanying dependents (spouse and/or children). For full information on requirements, please review the University Health Services website. Health insurance costs for the next academic year are typically available in June.

Billing Schedule

Student account statements are prepared on a monthly basis. Billing begins in early August for Fall semester and early December for Spring semester, with a due date on the 22nd of the month. To avoid a 1.5 percent late fee charge, statements must be paid by the due date. More information about tuition due dates may be found here.

Tuition Refund Policy

Students who withdraw from classes after the start of the term are subject to the tuition refund policy.

S.J.D. Tuition and Expenses

Cost of Attendance

The Cost of Attendance estimates expenses for the 9-month academic year.

The Direct Expenses outlined below are applicable for S.D.J. scholars during the required period of residency. Post-candidacy scholars should refer to the note on S.J.D. tuition structure, below, for additional information.

Qualified S.J.D. applicants are considered for merit-based scholarships.

Direct Expenses
(Billed Costs)
2023-2024
Academic Year
Estimated
2024-2025
Academic Year
Tuition $29,950 $29,950
Fees $182 $182
Indirect Expenses
(out-of-pocket costs)
2023-2024
Academic Year
Estimated
2024-2025
Out-of-Pocket Costs
Books, Materials, Supplies, and Equipment $2,050 $2,050
Housing $11,000 $11,000
Utilities $3,400 $3,150
Food $4,500 $4,500
Transportation $3,750 $3,400
Other miscellaneous expenses $2,7001 $2,7001
Total Cost of Attendance, Standard $57,532 $56,932
     
Other Costs 2023-2024 Estimated
2024-2025
One-time computer purchase Up to $2,200 with documentation2 Up to $1,300 upon request2
Bar Exam Registration As documented, upon request3 As documented, upon request3
Required University Health Insurance $3,6654 $3,6654

 

1The miscellaneous expenses amount includes allowances for clothing, laundry, recreation, and personal care.

2Any student may request a one-time Cost of Attendance increase for the purchase of a laptop or desktop computer. Such increases typically grant a student additional access to loan funds. Interested students should contact the Dickinson Law Director of Admissions & Financial Aid to pursue this increase. 

3Graduating S.J.D. students who plan to take a bar exam in the U.S. may request an increase for all documented bar exam registration fees, including the test registration fee and other required fees based on jurisdiction (e.g., background check, fingerprinting, technology fee, etc.). Such increases typically grant a student additional access to loan funds. Interested students should contact the Dickinson Law Director of Admissions & Financial Aid.

4Health insurance is mandatory at Penn State for international students and their accompanying dependents (spouse and/or children). For full information on requirements, please review the University Health Services website. Health insurance costs for the next academic year are typically available in June.
 

S.J.D. Tuition Structure

During the required period of residency, S.J.D. scholars are charged full-time tuition and fees per semester. Post-candidacy, and irrespective of residency, scholars remain enrolled as full-time students but are assessed a lesser tuition rate. For 2023-2024, that rate will be $5,000 per semester.

Billing Schedule

Student account statements are prepared on a monthly basis. Billing begins in early August for Fall semester and early December for Spring semester, with a due date on the 22nd of the month. To avoid a 1.5 percent late fee charge, statements must be paid by the due date. More information about tuition due dates may be found here.

Tuition Refund Policy

Students who withdraw from classes after the start of the term are subject to the tuition refund policy.


Penn State Dickinson Law and Penn State Law are reunifying to operate as Penn State University’s single law school. While ABA approval for the reunification is pending, both schools are currently fully accredited. We submitted an application for acquiescence to operate as a single law school in July 2024 and plan to enroll a unified class in Fall 2025.