Best Law Schools for Lowest Cost of Attendance — What the Data Actually Shows

The gap at the top of this ranking is not a gap — it's a canyon. Brigham Young University's J. Reuben Clark Law School posts an annual cost of attendance of $36,500, and the next school on the list, the University of Georgia School of Law, comes in at $41,502. From there, the numbers climb fast: by rank 3 you're already at $56,000, and by rank 10 the annual figure crosses $91,000. In other words, the difference between the cheapest school here and the most expensive one is more than $64,000 per year — roughly $192,000 across a three-year J.D.

These figures are pulled directly from ABA 509 disclosures, the standardized cost-of-attendance data every ABA-accredited law school is required to publish. This ranking orders Lovare's verified set of top law schools by that annual cost, lowest first. It measures one thing and one thing only: sticker cost of attendance before scholarships. That's a deliberate limitation, and we'll be candid about it throughout — because the school with the lowest sticker price is not automatically the cheapest school for you, and understanding why is the whole point of reading past the table.

Key Takeaways

• BYU J. Reuben Clark Law School has the lowest annual cost of attendance in this set at $36,500 (ABA 509).
• The University of Georgia School of Law ranks second at $41,502 per year.
• The top two schools cost less than half the annual figure of the schools ranked 10th through 15th.
• Cost of attendance is sticker price before scholarships — your actual net cost can rank a school very differently.
• This ranking reflects Lovare's verified top-school data set and is expanding as more schools are added.

How We Ranked These (Methodology)

These schools are ranked by annual cost of attendance, lowest first, using ABA 509 disclosure data. The ABA 509 is the single most reliable cost source in legal education: every accredited law school must report it in a standardized format, which makes it directly comparable across schools in a way that self-reported marketing numbers never are.

Cost of attendance (COA) as reported on the ABA 509 typically bundles tuition and fees with an estimated living-expense budget — housing, books, transportation, and personal costs — for the academic year. That means COA is not the same as tuition alone. A school in a low-cost city can post a lower COA than a school with identical tuition in an expensive metro, simply because the living-expense estimate is smaller. When you compare these numbers, you are comparing total budgeted annual cost, not just what the registrar charges.

The ordering here is purely quantitative — we did not weight, adjust, or editorialize the rank. The school with the lowest reported annual COA is ranked first; the highest is ranked last. We did not fold in scholarship generosity, bar passage, or employment outcomes, because those belong to different rankings. This is a cost ranking, and it answers exactly one question: which of these schools carries the lowest published annual price tag?

One transparency note: this list reflects Lovare's verified data set of top law schools, which we are actively expanding as additional schools are added. It is not a ranking of every ABA law school in the country — it is the lowest-cost schools within our current verified set. That distinction matters, and we'd rather state it plainly than imply completeness we don't have.

The Rankings

Below is the full ordered list by annual cost of attendance, followed by detailed analysis of each school.

RankSchoolAnnual Cost of Attendance1Brigham Young University J. Reuben Clark Law School$36,5002University of Georgia School of Law$41,5023Ohio State University Moritz College of Law$56,0004University of North Carolina School of Law$57,2405University of Wisconsin Law School$63,2426University of Texas at Austin School of Law$63,4107Texas A&M University School of Law$72,5228University of Minnesota Law School$72,9149Wake Forest University School of Law$82,92010Boston University School of Law$91,40211Boston College Law School$98,10612UCLA School of Law$99,13013University of Notre Dame Law School$99,42014George Washington University Law School$100,66015Washington University in St. Louis School of Law$101,395

1. Brigham Young University J. Reuben Clark Law School — $36,500

BYU Law posts an annual cost of attendance of $36,500, the lowest in this set by a wide margin. To put that in perspective, it is roughly $5,000 lower than the second-place school and less than 40% of the cost of the schools at the bottom of this list. BYU's tuition structure has long been unusually low, in significant part because the school is subsidized by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; students who are members of the church pay a substantially reduced rate.

That subsidy is the single most important thing to understand about this number. BYU's headline COA is genuinely low, but the deepest tuition discount is tied to church membership, and the school maintains an honor code that applies to all students regardless of faith. For an applicant who fits that environment, BYU may be the best pure-cost value in American legal education. For an applicant who doesn't, the relevant figure may be the non-member rate rather than the lowest published number — so read the fine print before treating $36,500 as universally applicable to you.

2. University of Georgia School of Law — $41,502

The University of Georgia School of Law reports an annual cost of attendance of $41,502, second-lowest in this ranking. Unlike BYU, this is a straightforward public-university figure: a well-regarded flagship state law school with in-state pricing that keeps the total budget low. Georgia is a genuine value story because the low cost is not conditional on membership in any organization — it's driven by state subsidy and a relatively affordable Athens living-expense budget.

Georgia is the standout for applicants who want a strong regional reputation at a public-school price. It places well throughout the Southeast, and for a Georgia resident the in-state COA makes it one of the highest-ROI options on this list. Non-residents should verify whether this figure reflects in-state or out-of-state status, because that distinction can move the number materially.

3. Ohio State University Moritz College of Law — $56,000

Ohio State's Moritz College of Law comes in at $56,000 in annual cost of attendance, opening the second cost tier. There is a real jump between Georgia at $41,502 and Moritz at $56,000 — nearly $15,000 a year — which is why the top two schools sit in a category of their own. Moritz is still a strong value: a respected public flagship in Columbus, a mid-cost city, with a solid statewide and regional footprint.

For applicants targeting the Midwest, Moritz offers a well-balanced combination of reputation and cost. The Columbus living-expense budget helps keep the total figure down relative to coastal schools of similar standing.

4. University of North Carolina School of Law — $57,240

UNC School of Law reports $57,240 in annual cost of attendance, essentially neck-and-neck with Ohio State. UNC is another flagship public law school with strong in-state value and a durable reputation across the Southeast, particularly in North Carolina's growing legal and corporate markets. Chapel Hill's living costs are moderate, which keeps the COA competitive.

The comparison between UNC and Georgia is instructive: both are Southeastern public flagships, but UNC's total budget runs about $16,000 higher per year. That's the kind of spread where an applicant admitted to both would want to look hard at scholarship offers, not just sticker COA.

5. University of Wisconsin Law School — $63,242

The University of Wisconsin Law School posts an annual cost of attendance of $63,242. Wisconsin carries a distinctive advantage that no cost figure captures: the diploma privilege, which allows graduates of Wisconsin law schools to be admitted to the state bar without sitting the bar exam. For a student who intends to practice in Wisconsin, that eliminates both the cost of a bar-prep course and the risk of not passing — a real financial benefit layered on top of a mid-tier COA.

6. University of Texas at Austin School of Law — $63,410

UT Austin School of Law reports $63,410 in annual cost of attendance, virtually identical to Wisconsin. UT is the strongest reputation on this list relative to its cost — a top-tier public law school with national reach and dominant placement across Texas, one of the country's largest and fastest-growing legal markets. For a Texas resident, the combination of in-state pricing and UT's market power makes this one of the most compelling value propositions in the entire ranking.

Applicants should confirm whether $63,410 reflects in-state or out-of-state cost, since UT's non-resident figure runs meaningfully higher and would reorder its position on a pure-cost basis.

7. Texas A&M University School of Law — $72,522

Texas A&M School of Law comes in at $72,522 in annual cost of attendance. A&M's law school, based in Fort Worth, has climbed sharply in reputation over the past decade, and its cost remains reasonable for the value it now delivers. For applicants focused on the Dallas–Fort Worth market, it offers a rising brand at a mid-tier price.

8. University of Minnesota Law School — $72,914

The University of Minnesota Law School reports $72,914 in annual cost of attendance, essentially tied with Texas A&M. Minnesota is a highly regarded public law school with strong placement into the Twin Cities market and beyond. The Minneapolis living-expense budget nudges the total above the lower-cost public flagships, but it remains well below the coastal private schools that dominate the bottom of this list.

9. Wake Forest University School of Law — $82,920

Wake Forest School of Law posts an annual cost of attendance of $82,920, marking the transition from public-flagship pricing into private-school territory. Wake Forest is a well-regarded private law school in Winston-Salem with strong Southeastern placement. Its COA reflects private tuition, though the North Carolina living costs keep it below the top-market private schools.

10. Boston University School of Law — $91,402

Boston University School of Law reports $91,402 in annual cost of attendance, crossing the $90,000 threshold. BU is a nationally respected private law school with strong outcomes, but its position at rank 10 illustrates how much a high-cost metro drives total budget: Boston's living-expense estimate is a significant share of that figure. The COA here is more than double BYU's.

11. Boston College Law School — $98,106

Boston College Law School comes in at $98,106 in annual cost of attendance. Like its crosstown peer BU, BC combines private tuition with an expensive Boston-area living budget. It's a strong school with excellent regional placement, but at nearly $100,000 a year, cost-conscious applicants will want to weigh scholarship offers heavily.

12. UCLA School of Law — $99,130

UCLA School of Law reports $99,130 in annual cost of attendance — a striking figure for a public university, driven almost entirely by the cost of living in Los Angeles. UCLA is one of the best law schools on this entire list by reputation and outcomes, but that quality comes attached to one of the highest total budgets here. This is the clearest example on the list of why COA and prestige are separate axes.

13. University of Notre Dame Law School — $99,420

Notre Dame Law School posts an annual cost of attendance of $99,420. A prominent private law school with a strong national brand and distinctive institutional identity, Notre Dame sits near the top of the cost range in this set. Its figure reflects private tuition plus the full residential budget.

14. George Washington University Law School — $100,660

George Washington University Law School reports $100,660 in annual cost of attendance, one of only two schools in this set to cross $100,000. GW's D.C. location gives it exceptional access to government, regulatory, and public-interest careers — but Washington's living costs push its total budget to the top of the range.

15. Washington University in St. Louis School of Law — $101,395

Washington University in St. Louis School of Law is the highest-cost school in this ranking at $101,395 in annual cost of attendance. That's notable because WashU sits in a relatively affordable city, which means the figure is driven primarily by private tuition rather than living costs. WashU is a well-regarded private law school known for generous merit scholarships — which is precisely why its high sticker COA can mislead. Many admitted students pay far less than $101,395 after aid.

How to Read This Ranking — Who Each Tier Fits

The lowest published cost of attendance is not always the cheapest school for a given applicant. This ranking breaks cleanly into tiers, and each tier fits a different profile.

The value leaders (ranks 1–2, $36,500–$41,502): BYU and Georgia. These belong to applicants for whom the conditions attached to the low price actually apply — a church-affiliated environment at BYU, in-state residency and a Southeastern career target at Georgia. If those conditions fit you, the value is genuine and hard to beat.

The public-flagship tier (ranks 3–8, $56,000–$72,914): Ohio State, UNC, Wisconsin, UT Austin, Texas A&M, Minnesota. These fit residents of the relevant states and applicants targeting those regional markets. UT Austin in particular offers national reach at public pricing for Texas residents. Wisconsin's diploma privilege adds hidden value for anyone staying in-state.

The private and high-cost-metro tier (ranks 9–15, $82,920–$101,395): Wake Forest, BU, BC, UCLA, Notre Dame, GW, WashU. A lower-ranked school here can be the smarter financial pick if it offers you a large scholarship. WashU sits last on sticker cost but is famous for merit aid — meaning your net cost there could easily beat a higher-ranked school that offers you nothing. Never let sticker COA be the final word when scholarship offers are on the table.

What This Ranking Doesn't Tell You

This is a sticker-cost ranking, and sticker cost is only half the money story. Here's what the numbers above deliberately leave out.

Scholarships. Cost of attendance is the price before aid. A school ranked 15th on sticker cost can be the cheapest school you actually attend if it gives you a full-tuition scholarship and a school ranked 3rd gives you nothing. Across Lovare's verified aggregate scholarship data, merit awards at the top-school tier frequently move a student's net cost by tens of thousands of dollars per year — enough to completely reorder a cost ranking on an individual basis. Treat this list as a starting point, then run your actual offers.

In-state vs. out-of-state. Several schools here are public flagships whose low COA reflects in-state residency. If you're an out-of-state applicant, the number that applies to you may be substantially higher. Always confirm which residency status a reported figure reflects.

Living-cost variation. COA bundles an estimated living budget, and those estimates vary by city and are only estimates. A frugal student in a low-cost city may spend well below the reported figure; a student in an expensive metro may spend more.

Outcomes. This ranking says nothing about employment, salary, or bar passage. The cheapest school is not automatically the best return on investment — a slightly more expensive school with far stronger placement can be the better financial decision over a career. Cost is one input, not the answer.

How to Actually Minimize Your Law School Cost

The lowest-cost school on paper is rarely the lowest-cost outcome you can engineer. To genuinely minimize what you pay, work these levers in order.

Maximize scholarship leverage first. Your LSAT and GPA relative to a school's medians are the single largest driver of merit aid. A score above a school's 75th percentile often triggers substantial awards. This is why applying strategically to schools where you sit at the top of the applicant pool can produce a lower net cost than applying to a cheaper school where you're merely average.

Negotiate. Competing offers are real leverage. Schools routinely reconsider aid when presented with a stronger offer from a peer school. This is educational information, not a guarantee — but it's a standard and legitimate part of the process.

Weigh residency. For public flagships, in-state status can save tens of thousands. Some states allow you to establish residency after the first year; investigate whether that's realistic before enrolling.

Account for hidden savings. Wisconsin's diploma privilege eliminates bar-exam cost and risk for in-state graduates. A lower cost of living in one city versus another can matter as much as tuition. Factor the full picture.

Common Mistakes Applicants Make With Cost

• Treating sticker COA as final. The published number is the pre-scholarship price. Never choose a school on sticker cost before your actual offers are in.
• Ignoring the in-state/out-of-state distinction. A public flagship's low COA may not apply to you as a non-resident. Confirm before you compare.
• Overlooking BYU's tuition conditions. BYU's lowest rate is tied to church membership and an honor code. Read what actually applies to your situation.
• Confusing cost with value. The cheapest school is not automatically the best investment. A modestly more expensive school with far stronger outcomes can pay off more over a career.
• Forgetting living costs. A high-COA school in an expensive city may reflect living estimates you can partly control — and a low-COA city can save real money.
• Skipping negotiation. Applicants leave money on the table by not leveraging competing offers.

Frequently Asked Questions

See the FAQ section for the most common questions about lowest-cost law schools.

Direct Answer

Among Lovare's verified set of top law schools, Brigham Young University's J. Reuben Clark Law School has the lowest annual cost of attendance at $36,500, per ABA 509 data — the deepest tuition discount is tied to church membership. The University of Georgia School of Law ranks second at $41,502, and Ohio State's Moritz College of Law third at $56,000. These figures are sticker cost of attendance before scholarships, so your actual net cost can differ substantially depending on merit aid, residency status, and living expenses. The cheapest school on paper is not always the cheapest school for you — always compare your real scholarship offers, not just published COA.

Sources & Methodology

All cost-of-attendance figures are drawn from ABA 509 disclosure data. Ranking reflects Lovare's verified data set of top law schools, ordered by annual cost of attendance (lowest first), and is expanding as additional schools are added. Aggregate scholarship insights reflect Lovare proprietary data presented in anonymized, aggregate form only. This page is educational content and not legal or financial advice. Last reviewed 2026.