What is the total cost of attending Harvard Law School?
Asked by: Cierra McCullough | Last update: February 20, 2026Score: 4.2/5 (53 votes)
The total estimated cost for one year at Harvard Law School (HLS) for the 2025-2026 academic year is around $117,750 to $121,800, including roughly $80,760 in tuition and an additional $41,000-$41,540 for living expenses (housing, food, health fees, books, personal costs). Costs vary by program (JD, LLM, SJD) and personal lifestyle, with family budgets requiring significantly more.
How much does it cost to go to Harvard Law School for 4 years?
Harvard Law School tuition for a 3-year JD program is roughly $235,000-$250,000 for tuition alone (around $78k-$80k per year), but the total 4-year cost of attendance, including living expenses, books, and fees, can exceed $450,000, with estimates suggesting around $111,000-$120,000 per year. Actual costs vary, but expect roughly $300k-$320k in tuition plus living expenses for three years, potentially reaching over $400k for four years when factoring in all costs and potential increases.
Can I get a 100% scholarship in Harvard Law School?
Yes, you can get a 100% scholarship (full tuition) at Harvard Law School (HLS) if you demonstrate significant financial need, especially with family income below certain thresholds, through their need-based aid, including a new Opportunity Fund for the highest need, though HLS doesn't offer traditional merit-based full rides. Aid is determined by family income and assets, with families earning under $100,000 typically seeing full cost of attendance covered, and those earning up to $200,000 often having tuition covered by aid.
What is the most expensive law school in the US?
1. Columbia Law School. The most expensive law school in the country is Columbia Law School.
What GPA do you need to go to Harvard Law?
Harvard Law School (HLS) doesn't have a strict minimum GPA, but successful applicants typically have near-perfect undergraduate records, with recent median GPAs around 3.96, the middle 50% falling between 3.89 and 4.00, and the 25th percentile at 3.89, indicating extremely high academic achievement is expected. While exceptional stats are crucial, strong LSAT scores, work experience, compelling essays, and unique experiences can help offset a slightly lower GPA, but generally, you need to be at the very top of your class.
Ivy League coach reveals why HARVARD didn't accept me
What did Barack Obama get on the LSAT?
Barack Obama's specific LSAT score has never been officially released, but it's widely believed he scored very highly (likely above 170, potentially near perfect) to gain admission to Harvard Law School despite a lower undergraduate GPA, suggesting he was in the top few percentile of test-takers for his application year. While no official number exists, analyses point to a score in the top tier (e.g., 94th-98th percentile) to overcome his GPA for admission to a top-ranked program like Harvard.
Is it harder to get into Yale law or Harvard Law?
Yale Law School (YLS) is generally considered harder to get into than Harvard Law School (HLS) due to its significantly lower acceptance rate and smaller class size, making it the most selective law school in the U.S., though both are exceptionally difficult with similar elite academic profiles (high GPAs, LSATs). YLS often admits fewer students relative to applicants, focusing on a very small cohort, while HLS accepts a larger number to fill its much bigger class, creating a perception that YLS is more exclusive despite comparable applicant quality, notes Quora users and TestMax.
What is the #1 law firm in the world?
There isn't one single "number 1" law firm, as rankings vary by criteria (revenue, size, prestige, specific practice), but Kirkland & Ellis consistently ranks as the #1 highest-grossing firm globally by revenue, exceeding $8.8 billion in 2024, followed by firms like Latham & Watkins and DLA Piper. For prestige or "feared" status, firms like Quinn Emanuel might top lists, while others excel in specific areas like M&A or IP, so "best" depends on the context.
What is the hardest law school in the US?
Yale Law School is widely regarded as the hardest law school to get into, with an acceptance rate of 5.25% and exceptionally high admissions standards. Applicants typically need top-tier LSAT scores, a near-perfect GPA, and outstanding personal statements to stand out in this highly competitive process.
What LSAT score gets you a full ride?
To get a full law school scholarship, aim for an LSAT score in the mid-to-high 160s or 170s, especially above a school's median, though scores in the mid-160s can secure full rides at strong regional schools like Illinois or UMass, while top-tier schools often require 170+. A higher LSAT significantly boosts chances, often alongside a strong GPA (3.5+) and a holistic profile, with scores above 173-180 making you a prime candidate for many programs.
Is Harvard law worth the debt?
Harvard Law School has the lowest debt-to-earnings ratio of all U.S. law schools, according to a new study by The HEA Group and Student Defense. Four years after graduation, Harvard Law graduates had a median annual salary of $233,589 and a median debt of $93,235, for a debt-to-income ratio of 39.9%.
Who is eligible for free tuition at Harvard?
In brief: starting in the 2025-26 academic year, Harvard College will be free for students from families with incomes of $100,000 or less and tuition-free for students from families with annual incomes of $200,000 or less.
How do people afford Harvard Law School?
Financial aid is offered in the form of both grants (scholarships) and loans. The average grant is approximately half of tuition; for a small number of students with particularly acute financial need, we are able to offer grants covering full tuition and a portion of living expenses.
Who is the most famous Harvard Law alumni?
Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States, is one of the most distinguished Harvard Law School notable alumni. Graduating magna cum laude in 1991, Obama made history as the first African American president of the prestigious Harvard Law Review.
What is the cheapest law school in the US?
Most Affordable Law Schools
- UNIVERSITY OF DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
- TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY.
- NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY.
- CUNY SCHOOL OF LAW.
- BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY.
- UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA.
- UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS.
- UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE – KNOXVILLE.
Can I get a full ride to Harvard Law?
The Financial Aid Program at Harvard Law School is 100% need-based. We do not have any merit-based financial assistance available through our office. The aid offered is designed to help students who demonstrate financial need to meet the gap between the annual cost of attendance and the student's family resources.
Has Kim Kardashian taken the LSAT?
Kim takes the California Bar Exam's “baby bar” without completing a bachelor's degree or taking the LSAT. Kim continues to balance her legal pursuits with media and business ventures, using her platform for criminal justice reform advocacy.
What is the happiest law school?
1 in Best Quality of Life, Best Professors, Best Classroom Experience | University of Virginia School of Law.
Is law school harder than med school?
Medical school is generally considered harder due to its intense, fact-heavy curriculum requiring massive memorization and dealing with life-or-death stakes, while law school focuses more on reading, critical thinking, and analysis, though both are rigorous and demand significant commitment. Med school involves vast scientific knowledge and clinical rotations, whereas law school builds analytical "thinking like a lawyer" through heavy reading, writing, and case application, culminating in high-stakes final exams.
Who is the richest law firm?
The richest law firm by revenue is consistently Kirkland & Ellis, leading global rankings with billions in gross revenue (around $8.8 billion in 2024) and a large number of lawyers, specializing in private equity, M&A, and litigation, followed closely by firms like Latham & Watkins and DLA Piper, though profitability per lawyer can vary, with firms like Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP often topping profitability lists despite smaller size.
What percentage of lawyers make $500,000?
A small percentage of lawyers earn over $500k; while the median salary for lawyers is around $150k-$170k, the top 10% earn over $239k, but reaching $500k+ usually requires being a top partner in a "Big Law" firm, specializing in high-value areas like corporate or IP law, or having a very successful practice, notes the BLS and Legal Brand Marketing.
What is the difference between a lawyer and attorney?
A lawyer is someone with a law degree, while an attorney is a lawyer who has passed the bar exam and is licensed to practice law and represent clients in court; therefore, all attorneys are lawyers, but not all lawyers are attorneys, a distinction that matters for courtroom advocacy. While "lawyer" refers to legal education, "attorney" signifies the official authorization (the license) to act as a legal representative in court, handle specific legal matters, and provide court-related services.
What law school is better than Harvard?
While also small in number, law professors have an huge impact on legal education and the future of the legal profession. Harvard Law and Yale Law dominate when it comes to federal judges and law professors. But surprisingly, University of Chicago edges them out to be ranked as the top school in our study.
Where do the 1% go to college?
The 1% of families disproportionately attend highly selective, elite universities like Dartmouth College, Yale University, University of Pennsylvania, Brown University, Duke University, Stanford University, and Princeton University, with studies showing over 20% of students at some of these schools come from the top 1% of the income ladder, often more than from the entire bottom 60% combined. Other affluent institutions like Washington University in St. Louis, Vanderbilt University, Georgetown University, and Bowdoin College also have significant representation from the wealthiest families.
What are the big 3 Ivies?
The "Big Three" of the Ivy League traditionally refers to Harvard University, Yale University, and Princeton University, renowned for their long-standing prestige, academic power, and dominance in early college football, often ranking at the very top of national university lists and considered the most selective Ivies. While these three hold immense status, other Ivies like Columbia, Penn, Brown, Dartmouth, and Cornell also offer exceptional education, with some lists occasionally seeing Columbia join the top tier.