Cost of Attendance
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 Year1 |
| Tuition | $57,720 | $57,720 |
| Fees | $182 | $182 |
| Indirect Expenses (Out-of-Pocket Costs) | 2023-2024 Academic Year |
Estimated 2023-2024 Out-of-Pocket Costs2 |
| Books and supplies | $2,050 | $2,050 |
| Housing | $11,000 | $11,000 |
| Utilities | $3,400 | $3,400 |
| Food | $4,500 | $4,500 |
| Transportation | $3,750 | $3,750 |
| Other miscellaneous expenses3 | $2,700 | $2,700 |
| Total Cost of Attendance, Standard | $85,302 | $85,302 |
| Other Costs | 2023-2024 | Estimated 2024-2025 |
| One-time computer purchase4 | Up to $2,200 | Up to $2,200 |
| Bar Exam Registration5 | $800 | $800 |
1Tuition and fees for the 2024-2025 Academic Year have not yet been announced by the Penn State University Board of Trustees. These billed costs will be finalized in July 2024.
2Estimated Other Costs for the 2024-2025 Academic Year will be available in late Spring 2024.
3The miscellaneous expenses amount includes allowances for clothing, laundry, recreation, and personal care.
4Any student may request a one-time Cost of Attendance increase for the purchase of a laptop or desktop computer. Interested students should contact the Dickinson Law Director of Admissions & Financial Aid to provide documentation for this increase. Such increases typically grant a student additional access to loan funds.
5Graduating J.D. students will receive an allotment for the first professional credential, including bar exam test registration fee and other required fees based on jurisdiction (e.g., background check, fingerprinting, technology fee, etc.). Including the bar exam registration allotment, the total 2023-2024 Cost of Attendance for graduating students is $86,102. Students whose 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.
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 | $57,7201 |
| Fees | $182 | $1821 |
| Indirect Expenses (Out-of-Pocket Costs) |
2023-2024 Academic Year |
Estimated 2024-2025 Out-of-Pocket Costs2 |
| Books and supplies | $2,050 | $2,050 |
| Housing | $11,000 | $11,000 |
| Utilities | $3,400 | $3,400 |
| Food | $4,500 | $4,500 |
| Transportation | $3,750 | $3,750 |
| Other miscellaneous expenses3 | $2,700 | $2,700 |
| Total Cost of Attendance, Standard | $85,302 | $85,302 |
| Other Costs | 2023-2024 | Estimated 2024-2025 |
| One-time computer purchase4 | Up to $2,200 | Up to $2,200 |
| Bar Exam Registration5 | As documented | As documented |
| Required University Health Insurance6 |
$3,665 | $3,665 |
1Tuition and fees for the 2024-2025 Academic Year have not yet been announced by the Penn State University Board of Trustees. These billed costs will be finalized in July 2024.
2Estimated Other Costs for the 2024-2025 Academic Year will be available in late Spring 2024.
3The miscellaneous expenses amount includes allowances for clothing, laundry, recreation, and personal care.
4Any student may request a one-time Cost of Attendance increase for the purchase of a laptop or desktop computer. Interested students should contact the Dickinson Law Director of Admissions & Financial Aid to provide documentation for this increase. Such increases typically grant a student additional access to loan funds.
5Graduating LL.M. students who plan to sit for a U.S. bar exam may request to receive a Cost of Attendance increase for the first professional credential, including bar exam 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.
6Note: 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 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 | $30,000 | $30,0001 |
| Fees | $182 | $1821 |
| Indirect Expenses (out-of-pocket costs) |
2023-2024 Academic Year |
Estimated 2024-2025 Out-of-Pocket Costs2 |
| Books and supplies | $2,050 | $2,050 |
| Housing | $11,000 | $11,000 |
| Utilities | $3,400 | $3,400 |
| Food | $4,500 | $4,500 |
| Transportation | $3,750 | $3,750 |
| Other miscellaneous expenses3 | $2,700 | $2,700 |
| Total Cost of Attendance, Standard | $57,582 | $57,582 |
| Other Costs | 2023-2024 | Estimated 2024-2025 |
| One-time computer purchase4 | Up to $2,200 | Up to $2,200 |
| Bar Exam Registration5 | As documented | As documented |
| Required University Health Insurance6 |
$3,665 | $3,665 |
1Tuition and fees for the 2024-2025 Academic Year have not yet been announced by the Penn State University Board of Trustees. These billed costs will be finalized in July 2024.
2Estimated Other Costs for the 2024-2025 Academic Year will be available in late spring 2024.
3The miscellaneous expenses amount includes allowances for clothing, laundry, recreation, and personal care.
4Any student may request a one-time Cost of Attendance increase for the purchase of a laptop or desktop computer. Interested students should contact the Dickinson Law Director of Admissions & Financial Aid to provide documentation for this increase. Such increases typically grant a student additional access to loan funds.
5Graduating S.J.D. students who plan to sit for a U.S. bar exam may request to receive a Cost of Attendance increase for the first professional credential, including bar exam 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.
6Note: 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 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.