Tuition and Cost of Attendance

2018-2019 Cost of Attendance

Before you begin your legal education, it is important to first understand the expenses you may incur while you are enrolled for the nine-month academic year. Fixed expenses include tuition, fees, dormitory charges for those of you living on campus, and a health insurance charge. Other expenses include rent for off campus housing, books, travel, food and miscellaneous. These combined expenses are called the Cost of Attendance (COA). COA is the amount of money the University estimates a law student will need to attend Fordham Law for the academic year. Your total financial aid for the year, which includes all merit aid, grants, scholarships and loans, cannot exceed the COA.

*All Fordham graduate students taking more than 5 credits a semester are required to have health insurance. The Student health insurance charge is $3,073. However, students using alternative insurance can have this fee waived by contacting the Fordham University Student Health Services at studentinsurance@fordham.edu. Students are automatically assessed this fee unless and until a waiver has been requested. The cost of the insurance is split $1,103 in the fall and $1,970 in the spring, reflecting continuing coverage throughout the following summer.

Generally speaking, most Fordham Law students are enrolled during the fall and spring semesters only, i.e., for nine months. When budgeting for the academic year, it is important to know that your cost of attendance covers only educationally related expenses for that nine-month period. In other words, when budgeting, you will need to consider how to pay your living expenses during the summer months or other periods of non-enrollment.

Living expense estimates are based on several data sources including the Consumer Price Index, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and surveys of local area apartment rental rates, and may vary depending upon the individual.

JD Day Division (1st, 2nd, and 3rd Year)

Fixed/Direct Expenses
Tuition: $59,538 | Fees: $868

Living Expense Allowance
Room and Board: $20,010
Books and Supplies: $1,840
Travel: $1,812
Miscellaneous/Personal Expenses: $4,245

TOTAL: $88,313 ($91,386 with *health insurance)

JD Evening Division (1st, 2nd, 3rd, & 4th Year)

Fixed/Direct Expenses
Tuition: $44,654 | Fees: $778

Living Expenses Allowance
Room and Board: $20,010
Books and Supplies: $1,840
Travel: $1,812
Miscellaneous/Personal Expenses: $4,245

TOTAL: $73,339 ($76,412 with *health insurance)

LLM Full-Time Division

Fixed/Direct Expenses
Tuition: $59,538 | Fees: $868

Living Expense Allowance
Room and Board: $20,010
Books and Supplies: $1,840
Travel: $1,812
Miscellaneous/Personal Expenses: $4,245

TOTAL: $88,313 ($91,386 with *health insurance)

LLM Part-Time Division

**The Part-Time Division tuition is charged on a per credit basis of $2,481. The books and supplies estimate varies depending on the number of credits you are taking for the academic year. The total cost listed below is for a student enrolled in 24 credits.

24 credits

Fixed/Direct Expenses
**Tuition: $59,544 | Fees: $778

Living Expenses Allowance
Room and Board: $20,010
Books and Supplies: $1,840
Travel: $1,812
Miscellaneous/Personal Expenses: $4,245

TOTAL: $88,229 ($91,302 with *health insurance)

MSL Full-Time

Fixed/Direct Expenses
Tuition $ 44,654 | Fees $868

Living Expense Allowance
Room & Board $20,010
Books & Supplies $1,840
Travel $1,812
Miscellaneous/Personal Expenses $4,245

Total: $73,429 ($76,502 with *health insurance)

MSL Part-Time

**The Part-Time Division tuition is charged on a per credit basis of $1,488. The books and supplies estimate varies depending on the number of credits you are taking for the academic year. The total cost listed below is for a student enrolled in 24 credits.

Fixed/Direct Expenses
Tuition per credit $1,488 | Fees $778

Living Expense Allowance
Room & Board $20,010
Books & Supplies $1,840
Travel $1,812
Miscellaneous/Personal Expenses $4,245

Total: Varies based on the number of credits

SJD Program

Fixed/Direct Expenses
Costs: $3,000 for the first year; an administrative cost of $1,500 per year for the second and third years | Fees: $646

After the third year, SJD candidates pay the LLM full-time division tuition rate and the SJD fees (effective for candidates beginning the SJD program in or after the fall 2018 semester; see here for additional information).

Expenses not included in the COA

Students can request a COA adjustment to reflect a one-time purchase of a computer for use during the program. Also, students who have other non-discretionary expenses not included in the cost of attendance budget (e.g., childcare expenses), should inform our office to discuss the circumstances and review the expenses that may be added to the COA.

Any requests must be made in writing and include appropriate documentation. Please note that it is extremely rare for the Law School Financial Aid Office to increase the student budget for anything other than childcare expenses or a one-time purchase of a computer. Requests for COA adjustments should be emailed or delivered to Alison Brande, Assistant Director of Law School Financial Aid.