School of Law Costs

Cost of Attendance (2023-2024 Academic Year)*, Financial Aid & Scholarships

Tuition and Fees for the JD & LLM

*The Cost of Attendance is the estimated total cost for the nine months (two semesters) that one is enrolled in law school.  It is important to note that students, if eligible, may borrow up to, but not to exceed, the Cost of Attendance as determined by each school.

**The living allowance noted includes rent, utilities, food,  transportation and miscellaneous personal expenses.

In comparing scholarships at each school to which students have applied, it is important to compare the Net Cost of Attendance. To arrive at the actual net cost of attendance (and to compare the value of any scholarship students have been offered) use this simple formula:  Total Cost of Attendance minus any scholarship awarded equals Net Cost of Attendance.

Merit-Based Financial Aid for the JD

All students are considered for merit-based scholarships automatically upon the submission of their application; no additional information will be necessary during the application process. Separate scholarship applications may be made available for certain awards during the application cycle. 

Tuition and Fees for the JD/MBA

• Pay tuition and fees at the Law School rate for two and a half years (five semesters).
• Pay tuition and fees at the Business School rate for one and a half years (three semesters) - typically the first three semesters of MBA study.

Financial Assistance for the JD/MBA

• If eligible, students can be considered for available scholarship funds at either school.
• If eligible, students can receive up to five semesters of Law School-administered aid.
• If students receive Law School scholarship funds or aid, they are not available during the three semesters students are paying tuition to the Business School.
• Educational loan applications are processed by the Office of Student Financial Aid for William & Mary.

Tuition and Fees for the JD/MA in American Studies

• Students will pay tuition and fees at the Law School rate for three years.

• Students will pay tuition and fees at the Graduate Arts & Sciences rate for any remaining term needed to complete the M.A. degree.

Financial Assistance for the JD/MA in American Studies

• If eligible, students can be considered for available scholarship funds at either school.

• If eligible, students can receive up to three years of Law School-administered aid.

• If students receive Law School scholarship funds or aid, they are not available during the year students are paying tuition to the other program.

• Educational loan applications are processed by the Office of Student Financial Aid for William & Mary.

Tuition and Fees for the JD/MPP  

• Pay tuition and fees at the Law School rate for two years (four semesters).
• Pay tuition and fees at the Public Policy rate for one year (two semesters) - typically the first two semesters of MPP study.

Financial Assistance for the JD/MPP 

• If eligible, students can be considered for available scholarship funds at either school.
• If eligible, students can receive up to five semesters of Law School-administered aid. 
• If students receive Law School scholarship funds or aid, they are not available during the two semesters students are paying tuition to Public Policy.
• Educational loan applications are processed by the Office of Student Financial Aid for William & Mary.

Financial Assistance for LLM Students

William & Mary Law School offers a small number of discretionary scholarships for the LL.M. Program. The probability of receiving aid through the Law School depends on the availability of funds and applicant qualifications. Students must be prepared to pay necessary travel, living and educational expenses from outside sources.

All LL.M. applicants are considered for discretionary scholarships at time of application, unless fully funded through an external source. A separate LL.M. scholarship application is not required.

Although some scholarships are offered to LL.M. students, they are limited in number. Most of our students use individual or family savings and resources to fund their LL.M. Program expenses. Some international students have been funded by their employers for career enhancement. 

Students may also be eligible for external scholarships.

Military Veteran Applicants

William & Mary complies with state and federal regulations for veterans and military students and dependents. Additional information regarding domicile status and support for these individuals may be found on the University Registrar’s website. 

Residency Eligibility for In-State Tuition for JD Students 

Eligibility for in-state tuition at both the undergraduate and graduate level at William & Mary is determined by §23-7.4 of the Code of Virginia. The Code specifies that students must show proof of residency in Virginia for at least one year immediately preceding the first day of classes and an intent to remain in Virginia indefinitely. Applicants are required to submit the Application for Virginia In-State Tuition Privileges to the University Registrar, regardless of how long they have lived in Virginia, for assessment of eligibility. More information about domicile in the state of Virginia can be found on the University Registrar’s website. Students who receive in-state tuition after having previously been designated an out-of-state student will have their scholarship prorated based on new tuition amounts.  

Residency Eligibility for In-State Tuition for LLM students

Residency information for the Commonwealth of Virginia can be found on The University: Student Financial Information and Policies  page. Students who receive in-state tuition after having previously been designated an out-of-state student will have their scholarship prorated based on new tuition amounts.

Law School Scholarships

The Law School offers more than 100 merit and need-based scholarships. Everyone who applies to the Law School is considered for merit-based scholarships. Scholarships awarded by the Law School to admitted applicants are awarded for three consecutive years of study at the Law School. To retain scholarship eligibility, students are required to maintain good academic standing.

Statement of Good Academic Standing for Students Entering Fall 2023 and beyond

• A student who does not achieve a 2.0 grade point average at the end of the first semester of legal study will be dismissed permanently for academic deficiency. The student may not petition for the right to continue or for reinstatement.
• A student who does not achieve a 2.5 grade point average at the end of the first semester of legal study will be placed on academic probation.
• A student who has not achieved a 2.5 cumulative grade point average at the end of the first year of legal study will be dismissed permanently for academic deficiency (whether or not the student was previously placed on academic probation). The student may not petition for the right to continue or for reinstatement.
• To be able to continue in residence at the Law School as a 2L and 3L, a student must maintain a semester and cumulative grade point average of 2.3. To clarify, the student must maintain the minimum grade point average of 2.3 for each semester in the second year and each semester in the third year; as well as a cumulative grade point average of 2.3 at the conclusion of both the second and third year of legal study.
• GPA shall be truncated at the 100th and rounded to the nearest tenth and otherwise calculated according to the normal conventions of the Law School. The Academic Advisory Committee has the authority, in its discretion, to interpret and implement the eligibility criteria set forth herein.

To be eligible to apply for Federal Student Loans and to be considered for a need-based scholarship award, you must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (William & Mary’s title IV code is 003705).

All scholarships are awarded based on residency of the student at the time of admission. Therefore, if a student is granted in-state tuition during their time at William & Mary Law School, the scholarship will be prorated to the appropriate percentage of in-state tuition. 

Note: William & Mary Law School scholarships cannot exceed the total cost of tuition, nor can the total of scholarships and loans exceed the total Cost of Attendance. If students receive military funding or external scholarships that, combined with the scholarship award, total an excess of the yearly total cost of attendance as published in admission publications, the scholarship will be reduced accordingly.

Lemon Legal Scholars Program

William & Mary Law School offers full Lemon Legal Scholars Program scholarships for distinguished graduates of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). William & Mary Law School will award at least five full scholarships (tuition and fees) to admitted HBCU graduates. Graduates of Historically Black College and Universities (HBCUs) will automatically be considered for a Lemon Legal Scholars Scholarship. No other application is required.

For details about upcoming information sessions about this scholarship, please contact lawadm@wm.edu. 

To learn more about the Lemon Project, click here.