Standard Cost of Attendance
Financial aid starts with the standard cost of attendance (COA) for a student in the J.D. and LL.M. programs. The items listed below form the basis for what the Office of Financial Aid can permit in overall financial aid, including student loans. The following student budget is for the 2024-2025 academic year.
2024-2025 Expenses | Costs |
---|---|
Tuition | $81,888 |
Student Activity Fee | $340 |
University Services & Support Fee | $1,204 |
Health & Related Services Fee | $1,388 |
Student Health Insurance (may be waived with proof of comparable coverage for U.S. students) | $4,955 |
Total University Charges | $89,775 |
Living costs for the nine-month, 2024–2025 academic year are budgeted as follows:
2024-2025 Living Expenses (For the 9-month academic year) | Costs for Academic Year |
---|---|
Housing (Rent/Utilities = $2,090/month) | $18,810 |
Food | $6,882 |
Personal Expenses | $3,175 |
Total Living Expenses | $28,867 |
Document Fee (one-time charge for new Columbia University students) | $105 |
Books & Supplies [Only books/texts required as part of the academic course(s) will be allowed in the COA] | $1,250 |
Academic Year Budget | $119,997* |
*This is the Standard Cost of Attendance (COA), which is used to determine eligibility for LRAP.
Federal Loan Fee(s): For students borrowing federal student loans for the 2024-2025 academic year, the average educational loan fees for borrowers at Columbia Law School will automatically be added to the cost of attendance at the time of loan certification. Based upon an assessment of Law School borrowing during the 2023-2024 academic year, the average educational loan fees amount to $2,673 ($214 for Unsubsidized loans and $2,459 for Graduate PLUS loans).
Living expenses provide for a moderate standard of living for the New York area during the nine-month academic year. Additionally, most grant and loan funds are divided equally and disbursed at the beginning of each semester and must cover educational expenses for several months. As such, it is very important to plan carefully so that your funds will be sufficient for the entire academic year. Students needing to finance their entire cost of education must keep in mind that they will be living on a fixed income, and must establish their spending priorities accordingly. If you choose to spend more in one area, you will need to reduce your expenses in other areas.
Only books and texts required as part of the academic course(s) will be allowed in the cost of attendance (COA). Discretionary purchases of books, texts and supplies are not accommodated in the COA. Therefore, suggested/recommended books or texts that are discretionary (not required or mandatory for an academic course) will not be included in the COA.
Students may encounter some expenses that are not included the standard COA—for example, the purchase of a personal computer, transportation costs, or unreimbursed costs for medical services which occur within the Law School’s academic year. To cover such expenses, students can request a review of their individual budget for possible adjustments to their COA to allow for additional borrowing through credit-based educational loan programs. To request a budget adjustment, students must complete the 2024-2025 Budget Adjustment Request Form (available from the Financial Aid Office) and submit it to our office, along with receipts and supporting documentation, where applicable (e.g., a letter from an impartial third party provider). Requests for budget adjustments are considered on a case-by-case basis. Statements and explanations provided by the student, family, other relatives/friends, etc. do not constitute supporting documentation for budget adjustments. Depending on the reason for the requested increase, and in order for the Financial Aid Office to determine if an increase is allowable, students may be asked to submit additional supporting documents beyond those originally submitted.
The following expenses will not be considered for budget increases: Payments for prior debts (credit card bills or other); summer expenses or expenses incurred during periods of non-enrollment; suggested or recommended books/texts for courses; other discretionary expenditures (e.g., car, entertainment, other lifestyle expenses). Therefore, students who have high consumer debt or other financial obligations that cannot be deferred while they are in law school must carefully examine their ability to accommodate their needs to the student budget. We strongly recommend that students take all measures to reduce their consumer debt prior to beginning their studies.
Please note that the Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) will not cover any loans borrowed beyond the standard COA. Thus, while the Law School’s Office of Financial Aid may approve budget adjustments beyond the standard COA, these amounts will not be eligible for LRAP benefits. However, loans authorized by the Law School's Office of Financial Aid to cover housing and food expenses will be eligible for inclusion in the calculation of LRAP-eligible debt, even when the amount exceeds the Law School's standard student budget. For more information about LRAP, review the Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) section of this site for a detailed description.
The expected grant and loan disbursement dates are mid- to late August for the fall 2024 semester and early to mid-January for the spring 2025 semester.
Generally, one-half of the total award amount (minus any applicable origination fees for loans) will be credited directly to your student account each semester. Please plan accordingly for your living expenses (housing/utilities/food/etc.).
Finally, please be aware that financial aid documents that are missing from your financial aid file will prevent the disbursement of your aid. We will notify you regarding any necessary documents that are still outstanding. Please make certain to arrange for their prompt submission in order to avoid delays in the disbursement of your aid.
- International Services Fee: Currently, $160 per semester; $320 per academic year.
This fee supports the University's services to international students (those holding a nonresident visa). - Administrative Processing Fee: Currently, $115 fee.
A one-time fee for newly-admitted international students for Columbia University visa supervision.
- Dependent Care Allowance for Cost of Attendance Increases: $5,000 allowance for first child; $4,000 each additional child. Please contact our office for details regarding the regulations and documentation required for a dependent care allowance. Please note that a dependent care allowance is not a grant. The dependent care allowance provides an increase to the cost of attendance to permit additional loan borrowing for eligible students.
- Bar Exam Fee: Since Columbia Law School is located in New York State, the NY Bar exam fee is used as the basis for the budget component included in the cost of attendance. The NY Bar exam is taken after graduation during a period in which the students are not enrolled. Under the federal provision, the costs must be incurred during (not after) a period of enrollment, even if the exam is after the end of the enrollment period. Since the application filing date for the NY Bar exam typically occurs during the enrollment period for our students, the allowance will automatically be included in the cost of attendance for students expected to graduate during the current academic year. The Law School will use the actual cost of the NY Bar Exam when determining the amount of this allowance. This allowance includes the standard cost for a one-time bar exam attempt. If students are taking the bar exam for another state which has a greater exam cost, a budget adjustment will be allowed with appropriate documentation on a case-by-case basis. Since the Executive LL.M. degree does not qualify graduates to sit for the NY State Bar Exam, bar exam costs are not included in the cost of attendance for these students.
NY Bar Exam Amounts for the 2024-2025 Academic Year (as published on 1/10/24):
- J.D. Degree 3L Students: $250.
- LL.M. Degree Students: $750.
- Executive LL.M. Students: none.