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.
2024-2025 Academic Year |
Estimated 2025-2026 Academic Year |
Estimated 2025-2026 Academic Year |
|
| Carlisle | Carlisle | University Park | |
| Direct Expenses (Billed Costs): |
|||
| Tuition | $58,872 | $60,052 | $60,052 |
| Student Fee | $182 | $182 | $680 |
| Indirect Expenses (Out-of-Pocket Costs) | |||
| Books and Supplies | $2,050 | $2,082 | $2,082 |
| Housing1 | $14,150 | $15,012 | $13,428 |
| Food | $4,500 | $4,608 | $7,128 |
| Transportation | $3,400 | $3,474 | $2,916 |
| Other miscellaneous expenses2 | $2,700 | $2,736 | $3,348 |
| Total Estimated Costs: | $85,854 | $88,146 | $89,634 |
| Other Costs: | |||
| One-time computer purchase3 | Up to $1,300 upon request | Up to $1,300 upon request | Up to $1,300 upon request |
| Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE)4 | $160 | $160 | $160 |
| Bar Exam Registration5 | $852 | $852 | $852 |
1The housing amount includes the expected cost of utilities.
2The miscellaneous expenses amount includes allowances for clothing, laundry, recreation, personal care, and a cell phone plan.
3Any 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.
4Second-year J.D. students will receive an aid eligibility allotment for the MPRE.
5Graduating 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 Penn State Dickinson Law Director of Financial Aid.
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.
| 2024-2025 Academic Year |
Estimated 2025-2026 Academic Year |
Estimated 2025-2026 Academic Year |
|
| Carlisle | Carlisle | University Park | |
| Direct Expenses (Billed Costs): |
|||
| Tuition | $58,872 | $60,052 | $60,052 |
| Fees | $182 | $182 | $680 |
| Indirect Expenses (Out-of-Pocket Costs): |
|||
| Books and Supplies | $2,050 | $2,082 | $2,082 |
| Housing1 | $14,150 | $15,012 | $13,428 |
| Food | $4,500 | $4,608 | $7,128 |
| Transportation | $3,400 | $3,474 | $2,916 |
| Other miscellaneous expenses2 | $2,700 | $2,736 | $3,348 |
| Total Estimated Costs: | $85,854 | $88,146 | $89,634 |
| Other Costs: | |||
| One-time computer purchase3 | Up to $1,300 upon request | Up to $1,300 upon request | Up to $1,300 upon request |
| Bar Exam Registration4 | $852 | $852 | $852 |
| Required University Health Insurance5 | $3,623 | $3,623 | $3,623 |
1The housing amount includes the expected cost of utilities.
2The miscellaneous expenses amount includes allowances for clothing, laundry, recreation, personal care, and a cell phone plan.
3Any 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.
4Graduating 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.
5Health 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.J.D. 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.
Scholarship support from Penn State Dickinson Law is unavailable for the S.J.D. program.
| 2024-2025 Academic Year |
Estimated 2025-2026 Academic Year |
Estimated 2025-2026 Academic Year |
|
| Carlisle | Carlisle | University Park | |
| Direct Expenses (Billed Costs): | |||
| Tuition | $29,950 | $30,024 | $30,024 |
| Fees | $182 | $182 | $680 |
| Indirect Expenses (Out-of-Pocket costs) |
|||
| Books and Supplies | $2,050 | $2,082 | $2,082 |
| Housing1 | $14,150 | $15,012 | $13,428 |
| Food | $4,500 | $4,608 | $7,128 |
| Transportation | $3,400 | $3,474 | $2,916 |
| Other miscellaneous expenses2 | $2,700 | $2,736 | $3,348 |
| Total Estimated Costs | $56,932 | $58,118 | $59,606 |
| Other Costs | |||
| One-time computer purchase3 | Up to $1,300 upon request | Up to $1,300 upon request | Up to $1,300 upon request |
| Bar Exam Registration4 | As documented, upon request | As documented, upon request | As documented, upon request |
| Health Insurance5 | $3,623 | $3,623 | $3,623 |
1The housing amount includes the expected cost of utilities
2The miscellaneous expenses amount includes allowances for clothing, laundry, recreation, personal care, and a cell phone plan.
3Any student may request a one-time Cost of Attendance increase for the purchase of a laptop or desktop computer. Interested students should contact the Penn State Dickinson Law Director of Financial Aid to provide documentation for this increase. Such increases typically grant a student additional access to loan funds.
4Graduating 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 Penn State Dickinson Law Director of Financial Aid.
5Health 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 2025-2026, 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.
The American Bar Association (ABA) Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar has granted conditional approval for Penn State to deliver legal education by a single, unified, two-location law school known as Penn State Dickinson Law. The conditional approval by the ABA allows Penn State Dickinson Law to enroll a unified J.D. class of 2028 in both Carlisle and University Park.