Applying To Harvard Law: Understanding The True Cost

Harvard Law School is one of the most famous and competitive law schools in the world. With an acceptance rate of only 7%, applicants need to stand out from the thousands of other submissions. The application fee is $85, and international students can expect to pay approximately $100,000 in tuition fees, as well as additional costs for living in the US and personal expenses.

Tuition fees: $70,430+ per 9-month academic year

Tuition fees for Harvard Law School are substantial, to say the least. For the standard nine-month academic year, students should expect to pay at least $70,430 in tuition fees. This does not include mandatory health fees, insurance, books, supplies, accommodation, food, and transportation, which can add up to over $35,000 per person. This brings the total cost to over $100,000 per academic year.

The cost of attendance for international students is approximately $100,000, including tuition fees, the cost of living in the US, and personal expenses. International students can apply for need-based scholarships, student loans, and financial aid packages.

Harvard Law School grants can be substantial for students in need, but no student receives a "full ride" grant award. Approximately half of all J.D. Student aid applicants qualify for Law School grant assistance.

Financial aid is available at Harvard Law, but it is exclusively need-based, meaning that there are no merit scholarships available. All students who demonstrate financial need according to federal and institutional guidelines are eligible for financial assistance. However, applicants may not begin to apply for financial aid until they receive an offer of admission.

The Low-Income Protection Plan (LIPP) is a loan forgiveness program that many Harvard Law graduates can qualify for. LIPP helps relieve the burden of repaying educational loans for J.D. graduates who choose to work in lower-paying jobs. To qualify for this program, graduates must take a full-time job in a non-profit organization, government, academia, or certain law-related jobs in the private sector.

Mandatory health fees: billed to student account

The cost of applying to Harvard Law School includes a number of mandatory fees, one of which is the student health fee. This fee is billed directly to the student's account and is required as part of enrollment at Harvard. The mandatory student health fee covers most services at Harvard University Health Services (HUHS) with no copay.

Waivers for the HUHS Student Health Fee are generally not available, except in very limited cases. However, students who can document coverage under a comparable health insurance plan, such as a parent's insurance plan, may be eligible to waive the Student Health Program enrollment and associated fee.

In addition to the mandatory student health fee, students are also automatically enrolled in the Harvard University Student Health Insurance Plan (HUSHP) to provide the required level of insurance coverage. This brings the total estimated cost of attendance to over $100,000 per academic year.

The Harvard University Student Dental Plan is optional, and an allowance to cover the single-student cost of this plan (approximately $528 per year) is included in the personal expenses. For students who choose not to enrol in the dental plan, this portion of the allowance can be used to meet other expenses or reduce their variable costs.

Health insurance: mandatory, with waivers possible

The cost of applying to Harvard Law School is $85. However, the tuition fees and other expenses can quickly add up, with the total cost of attendance being over $100,000 per academic year. This includes mandatory health fees and health insurance, which are required as part of enrollment at Harvard.

All students at Harvard Law School are automatically enrolled in the Harvard University Student Health Program (HUSHP) to provide the required level of insurance coverage. However, students who can document coverage under a comparable health insurance plan, such as a parent's insurance plan, may be eligible to waive the Student Health Program enrollment and fee. This waiver must be requested by September 30 to avoid a late fee.

The Mandatory UHS Student Health Fee is required for all students and covers most services at Harvard University Health Services (HUHS) with no copay. Waivers for this fee are generally not available, except in very limited cases.

The cost of health insurance and health fees can be included in a student's financial aid budget if they enroll in the HUSHP plan. For students who waive this coverage, the total student budget (and maximum level of financial aid eligibility) will be reduced by the amount of the HUSHP fee. Students with alternate health insurance plans can request to have the documented cost of their plan added to their budget.

Harvard University Health Services provides a toolkit with information on the healthcare coverage options available to students through the Affordable Care Act (ACA), including a comparison chart to help students make informed choices about their health insurance coverage.

Books and supplies: variable, with higher costs in first year

The cost of books and supplies for Harvard Law School, or any law school, is variable. However, there are higher costs associated with the first year.

The cost of books and supplies for a law student can range from $1,500 to $3,000 a year if purchased brand new. Some textbooks can cost $300 or more. These costs can be mitigated by renting or buying used books, which can save up to 75% of the cost. However, law school casebooks are constantly being updated, so older editions may not be relevant, and it may be necessary to purchase the newest edition.

The Harvard Law School Student Financial Services Committee believes that the Books and Supplies Allowance is sufficient to cover the costs for most first-year students. However, some first-year students may spend more than the allocation due to "start-up" costs not incurred by second and third-year students. Additionally, book costs for the first semester of the first year are typically higher than those for the second semester.

The cost of books and supplies is just one part of the total cost of attending law school, which can vary depending on the institution and a student's individual circumstances. The average cost of law school, including tuition and living expenses, is $68,726 per year. Over three years, a law student can expect to pay anywhere from $88,830 (in-state, public school) to $159,102 (private school) and up.

Therefore, it is important for prospective law students to consider all the costs associated with law school and be prepared and informed before making the decision to attend.

Living expenses: rent, utilities, food, and personal expenses

The cost of living in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where Harvard University is located, is high. The most variable portion of a student’s costs are their rent, utilities, food and personal expenses. The HLS Student Financial Services Committee, which includes faculty, students and administrators, considers Bureau of Labor Statistics data in conjunction with local area rental rates and student-reported living expenses to arrive at a reasonable budget that allows for a moderate standard of living for all students.

The Housing and Utilities line is required to be calculated for both on and off-campus housing. The amount is set as the higher of either the average or median of housing available, which resulted in a total line item of $18,000 ($2,000/month) for both on and off-campus housing. Budget increases for housing expenses will be considered, on appeal, up to a maximum of 130% of the standard allowance; expenses beyond that amount and for more than 9-month academic year will not be considered. The additional need would be met with student loans.

The allocations in each of these lines are interchangeable as decisions about housing, in particular, are highly personal based on your particular needs and priorities. The amounts listed above are meant as a guideline to be used in conjunction with the webpage on Housing Considerations in order to create a budget for the academic year.

Harvard University Student Health Insurance Plan (HUSHP) is mandatory and billed directly to your Student Account. By Massachusetts state law, students must enrol in a qualifying student health insurance program or in a health plan of comparable coverage to provide hospital/specialty care. All students are automatically enrolled in the Harvard University Student Health Program (HUSHP) to provide this required level of insurance coverage. Students who document coverage under a comparable health insurance plan, such as a parent’s insurance plan, may be eligible to waive the Student Health Program enrollment and fee. The deadline to waive HUSHP coverage without incurring a late fee is typically September 30.

Enrollment in the Harvard University Student Dental Plan is optional, and an allowance to cover the single-student cost of this plan (approximately $528 per year) is included in the Personal Expenses line. For students who choose not to enrol in the dental plan, this portion of the allowance can be used to meet other expenses or reduce their variable costs.

Frequently asked questions