How much law school debt?

Asked by: Rocky Deckow  |  Last update: October 1, 2025
Score: 5/5 (25 votes)

The average law school debt among graduates is $130,000, according to the Education Data Initiative (EDI).

How much debt does law school put you in?

The average law school graduate owes $130,000 in student loan debt. 71% of law school students graduate in debt. $119,292 is the average amount students borrow just to attend law school.

How much debt after law school in Canada?

A 2018 survey suggests the average law student in Canada has $71,444 of student debt. It is important for high school students who want to be a lawyer to ask some hard questions sooner rather than later.

How long to pay off 200k law school debt?

How long does it take to pay off $200,000 in loans? If you choose the standard 10-year repayment plan, you'll pay off your loans in a decade. Longer plans, like those with 15- or 20-year terms, reduce monthly payments but significantly increase the total interest you'll pay over time.

Is 50 000 a lot of student debt?

Having $50,000 in student loan debt can be a tremendous financial burden. Depending on your interest rate and the types of loans you have, the payments can amount to a very large portion of your monthly budget.

I Make $200,000 A Year But Want To Quit My Job!

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How long does it take to pay off 30k in student loans?

For example, if you had $30,000 in student loans at 7% interest and a 10-year loan term, your monthly payment would be $348. Over the life of your loan, you'd repay a total of $41,799; interest charges would cause your balance to grow by over $11,000.

Is it hard to pay off law school debt?

It takes discipline, patience and a strict budget. Most important, it takes a plan. “Graduating with six figures of debt isn't easy,” according to the website Student Loan Hero. “With the average amount of law school debt coming in at more than $139,000, it's the second-most expensive graduate degree out there.

Are law school loans eligible for forgiveness?

Student loan forgiveness and repayment programs can erase some or all of your federal student loan debt for law school and possibly even private student loan debt. Income-driven repayment plans, while not specific to the law field, will cancel your remaining federal student loan debt after 10 to 25 years of repayment.

Can you go to law school debt free?

Getting a full scholarship to law school is possible with careful planning and a strategic approach. To improve your odds of law school acceptance, focus on strong academics, compelling application materials, and leveraging opportunities like merit-based scholarships or fellowships.

What is the average salary after law school in Canada?

Law Graduate salaries in Canada

The estimated total pay for a Law Graduate is $57,957 per year, with an average salary of $56,217 per year. This number represents the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from our users.

How do I stop being in debt after law school?

You could also look into forgiveness options for federal loans after graduation. For those starting jobs in government, public service, or the nonprofit sector, the Public Student Loan Forgiveness program offers federal loan forgiveness after 10 years of eligible payments under a qualifying repayment plan.

How much debt does the average Canadian have?

According to Equifax Canada's Q3 2023 report, the average consumer debt for all of Canada is $21,013. Credit card debt typically accounts for approximately 4.5% of consumer debt.

What is the dropout rate for law school?

The decision to attend law school shouldn't just be financially driven. You'll also want to consider the high dropout rates of law school, particularly among minorities. Overall, dropout rates are over 6% for first-year students. For American Indian, Hawaiian native, and Black students, the dropout rate is 11% to 13%.

Is law school harder than med school?

Although both law and medical schools present their unique challenges, it's generally accepted that medical school demands a higher level of intense coursework and thorough training.

Is it worth it to pay for law school?

Expected Salary After Law School

Taking on such debt might be a smart investment if a law degree provided reasonable assurance of a high-paying job. Ideally, recent graduates should earn yearly salaries equal to or greater than their total student debt.

Are lawyers able to pay off student loans?

The ASLRP is an agency incentive program based on 5 U.S.C. § 5379 in which the Department agrees to repay certain types of Federal student loans as a recruitment or retention incentive for highly qualified attorneys in exchange for a service obligation of three years.

Do people take out loans for law school?

Because at least a portion of your financial aid is likely to come from loans, you can expect to graduate from law school with debt to repay. Keep accurate records of all loans you borrow during your enrollment in law school; this will help you manage repayment of those loans when you complete your education.

Who is excluded from student loan forgiveness?

Private education loans aren't eligible for PSLF and can't be consolidated into a Direct Consolidation Loan. Are Direct Loans that are in default eligible for PSLF? No. Defaulted Direct Loans are not eligible for PSLF, and payments made while the loan was in default cannot count toward the 120 required payments.

How do you pay for law school if you're poor?

Financial aid is available. The primary funding options are Scholarships and grants—the “free” money this is either funded by your law school or funded by private organizations, civic groups, etc.; Loans which can be federal loans or private/alternative/institutional loans.

What happens if you can't pay school debt?

Your wages may be garnished. This means your employer may be required to withhold a portion of your pay and send it to your loan holder to repay your defaulted loan. You can no longer receive deferment or forbearance, and you lose eligibility for other benefits, such as the ability to choose a repayment plan.

How much would a $30,000 student loan be monthly?

A $30,000 private student loan can cost approximately $159.51 per month to $737.38 per month, depending on your interest rate and the term you choose.

How to pay off 30k in 5 years?

Use a debt consolidation loan

This consolidates multiple payments into one, ideally at a lower interest rate than you were paying on credit cards. For example, a 5-year, $30,000 loan at 10% interest would have a monthly payment of about $637 and you'd pay about $8,245 in total interest.