Pricing and Costs of Illinois Law Schools
Find the best prices for law schools in IL
The pricing and costs of Illinois law schools is generally very expensive compared to other types of formal education. The bar exam that is taken after graduation from law school also requires additional expenses, such as the course review, exam registration, transportation and accommodations.The average Illinois state law school student leaves school with more that $84,000 in debt, which is a major factor in the decision of many law students to seek employment with major law firms, rather than in the public or non-profit sectors. There are three general factors that affect the cost of an Illinois law school:
- Tuition and other fees. Tuition can vary dramatically between IL law schools.
- Additional expenses for law schools in Illinois. These costs for Illinois law schools primarily consist of living expenses, books and other school supplies. Law school also requires unique fees, such as the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) fee, the law school application fee and the subscription fee to the Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS).
- Financial aid. Scholarships, grants and loans are a common way to reduce the costs for Illinois law schools.
Compare annual Illinois law school tuition prices
The tuition for private Illinois law schools is often dramatically higher than it is for public law schools. Tuition and other law school expenses are typically less expensive for residents of Illinois than for non-residents. The tuition and other fees for a year of law school in Illinois ranges from about $14,000 to $35,000 for residents.
Try: The Chicago-Kent College of Law estimates full time tuition to be about $35,000 per year. The DePaul University College of Law charges tuition of about $35,000 per year for full-time students and $23,000 per year for part-time students.
Determine the other costs of attending Illinois law colleges
Living expenses tend to be determined more by geography than by the law school. Some law schools in Illinois may provide the average costs of living and other pricing information on housing, books, supplies and other miscellaneous law student expenses.
Try: The John Marshall Law School estimates student living expenses, including books and supplies, to be approximately $24,000 per year. Northern Illinois University College of Law provides a cost of living expense figure of $14,000 per year, which includes housing, books and miscellaneous personal expenses.
Save money on Illinois law universities with grants and scholarships
Financial aid, such as grants, loans and scholarships, is the most common way of reducing law school expenses. Federal loans like the Stafford and Perkins loans frequently have the lowest interest rates and are guaranteed by the United States government. Employment is also an option, but many law schools place limits on the number of hours per week a student may work while attending law school.
Try: The Northwestern University School of Law, Chicago Office of Financial Aid offers private loans up to the attendance cost less any additional financial aid. The University of Chicago Law School offers a variety of financial aid options, including a one-time loan of $1500 to buy a computer.
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