Tuition Per Year
A BC Law degree provides one of the nation’s best values, with median private practice starting salaries of $215,000+.
Tuition & Financial Aid
As a BC Law student, you can apply for financial assistance through a variety of scholarships, loans, stipends, and work-study opportunities. Loan repayment assistance programs also help make your education more affordable.
All applicants are considered for Law School merit scholarships—no additional applications or forms are required.
The information on this site was created to help you move through the process as smoothly as possible. More information is below. Information on how to apply for federal financial aid at Boston College, deadlines, and any additional forms that may be needed, can be found on the Graduate and Law financial aid website.
By the Numbers
$69,600
88%
Receive Financial Aid
88% of our students received financial assistance and the majority of our incoming students received scholarships in FY 2023.
10/1
FAFSA Submission Begins
Due to recent changes to the federal student aid process, you can now submit your FAFSA as early as October 1.
Tuition & Cost of Attendance, 2024–2025
Tuition payments are due in two equal installments. Fall semester is billed in June and due in August, and spring tuition is billed in November and due in December. The Trustees of Boston College reserve the right to increase tuition and fees and set new fees. Any changes may be made applicable to students already enrolled in the school.
If you withdraw from classes after they begin, the portion of your tuition that can be refunded depends on the date of your withdrawal.
If you would like a paper copy of the total cost of attendance, please contact the Office of Student Services at studentservices@xyschool.net.
Print
| Expense | Cost per academic year |
|---|---|
Tuition | $69,600 |
Fees | $305 student activity fee $210 federal loan fee (if you are borrowing federal funds) |
Books | $1,300 |
| Total | $71,415 |
| Expense | Cost per academic year |
|---|---|
Room | $12,735 |
Board | $5,317 |
Utilities | $1,485 |
| Transportation | $1,800 |
| Personal | $2,651 |
| Total Living Expenses | $23,988 |
Total Cost
Budget for continuing JD law student: $95,403
Budget for incoming JD law student: $95,453 (includes $50 ID card fee)
Student Health Insurance (2024-25): $1,830 fall/$2,451 spring = $4,281
Scholarships
We consider all admitted students for our merit-based scholarships, which we award based on the information in your admission application. Notification of merit scholarship awards begins by email in February and continues on an ongoing basis throughout the spring.
Applying for Federal Loans
Applicants seeking federal financial aid will need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the appropriate year. Students enrolling in the fall 2024 will complete the 2024 - 2025 FAFSA. The FAFSA is required to receive federal loans, including Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan and Federal Direct Grad PLUS Loan.
- Students can file their FAFSA as early as October 1. Our school code is 002128.
- Students will receive a SAR (Student Aid Report) after they have filed their FAFSA. Students should review their SAR for accuracy and to see if they have been selected for Federal Verification. If you are selected for verification, additional information will be requested from you.
Please note that you should not complete the Graduate and Law Verification Form if your FAFSA was not selected for federal verification.
Students will be notified by email if additional information is needed. Students can also check the status of their application or documents here.
Financial aid is a component of all information sessions geared toward prospective and admitted students. This information includes an overview of the cost of attendance, how to prepare for law school, and a number of internal and external programs and resources that support financing a legal education.
Individual student loan counseling is also available through the Law School, University Financial Aid, and from third party sources such as AccessLex. Please contact the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid to learn more.
Law School Scholarships
Law School Scholarships are to be used for tuition only. The total amount of all scholarships in any year cannot exceed your tuition charges. If you receive outside assistance that exceeds your tuition charges, we must adjust your BC Law scholarship assistance.
Diversity Scholarships
Ruth-Arlene W. Howe Black Student Leadership Program (current students)
As the first African-American female faculty member to achieve tenure and the rank of full professor, Ruth-Arlene W. Howe first arrived at BC Law as a student in 1970. More than 50 years later, her hard work, passion, and commitment to diversity and social justice as a student, alumna, and faculty member have helped shape BC Law into what it is today.
The Ruth-Arlene W. Howe Black Student Leadership Program brings together current students and alumni, in collaboration with the Black Alumni Network (BAN) of Boston College Law School, who have demonstrated a commitment to the Black/African descent community at the law school and/or underrepresented communities.
Scholars are chosen on the basis of commitment to promote Black/African descent community engagement, demonstrated leadership, academic achievement and contribution to the educational mission of the law school.
The program will award two $5,000 scholarships to current students. This is a one-time award.
Merit Scholarships
We consider all admitted students for our merit-based scholarships, which we award based on the information in your admission application. Notification of merit scholarship awards begins in February and continues on an ongoing basis throughout the spring.
Public Service Scholarships
We award full-tuition Public Service Scholarships to highly qualified applicants committed to practicing public service law after graduation. A committee appointed by the Dean selects recipients, and Public Service Scholarship applications are included in the J.D. application.
The committee uses the following criteria for evaluating applicants:
- Demonstrated commitment to serve the public through employment, advocacy, or volunteer activities
- Stated intent to pursue a career in public service or public interest law
- Evidence of leadership ability; and
- Past academic performance and evidence of exceptional academic promise
You must have at least nine months of full-time professional experience in public service prior to the start of law school. Internships, co-ops, and similar experiences completed while you were enrolled in a degree program do not qualify. Applicants for this scholarship must also submit an additional essay that speaks to their past experiences in public service. Furthermore, an additional letter of recommendation specific to this scholarship is required. More information regarding these requirements may be found in the application.
Finalists for the Public Service Scholarships must be available for in-person, video or phone interviews. These scholarships are renewable for 2L and 3L years.
Applicants who have not yet been accepted for admission will be considered on a rolling basis after they are admitted only if the Committee has not yet awarded all scholarships at the time of their acceptance. Late scholarship applications may be considered if all Public Service Scholars have not yet been awarded.
Employment Requirements
Public Service Scholars must work for government or public interest organizations during both of their law school summers and after graduation.
Three categories of employers qualify as public interest organizations:
- Organizations that provide direct legal services to clients who are indigent and/or members of traditionally underrepresented groups
- Private, non-profit employers
- State, municipal or federal government
Exceptions to this policy are considered in extraordinary circumstances and must be authorized by the Committee.
Public Service Scholarship recipients must sign a statement acknowledging their intention to enter a career in public service and their moral obligation to repay BC Law the pro-rated value of the scholarship if the minimum, five-year commitment to working in public service after graduation is compromised. Public Service Scholars who work fewer than five years in public service are expected to repay the scholarship for the remaining years of their commitment.
Other Requirements
Recipients must reapply each year for the award. The Committee requires an updated resume and list of activities, including summer work (either paid or volunteer) that demonstrates the recipient's continued commitment to public service and public interest law. Public Service Scholars will be required to provide new commitment letters before the beginning of each fall semester.
Public Service Scholars are expected to take a substantial leadership role in the BC Law public interest community. Activities that fulfill this expectation include:
- Helping to develop and run the annual Public Interest Law Retreat
- Providing substantial support or assuming a leadership role with our Public Interest Law Foundation, Pro Bono Board, or other public interest organizations as appropriate
- Offering significant programming and communications suport promoting public service at BC Law
Outside Scholarships
There are many outside scholarships to which BC Law students can apply. Several examples are listed below. We maintain a spreadsheet of scholarship opportunities here. Free, online scholarship searches like the AccessLex Law School Scholarship Databank or Fastweb can also be helpful resources.
Law Preview Scholarships Sponsored by WilmerHale and Morrison & Foerster
Law Preview (the nation's largest law school prep course) has teamed up with sponsors' to provide Law Preview Scholarships to ten (10) members of our entering class. Select members of our entering class can attend a law school prep course this summer at no cost. To learn more about this scholarship opportunity and see if you qualify, visit the following URL: bit.ly/BC-Law-Scholarships.
Law Preview’s One Lawyer Can Change The World Scholarship
Each year, BARBRI Law Preview honors 10 future change agents who are heading to law school. Ten finalists will be rewarded with scholarships to help pay for the first year of law school: First Place ($10k), Second Place ($5k) and Eight Runners-up ($1k). You can review scholarship details here: http://bit.ly/10K_Scholarship.
Adler Pollock & Sheehan Diversity Scholarship
The annual Adler Pollock & Sheehan (AP&S) Diversity Scholarship awards $10,000 to a minority student with demonstrated financial need, academic excellence, and a commitment to community. Applicants must have permanent residency in Massachusetts or Rhode Island. Scholarship recipients with high academic achievement during their 1L year are also considered for summer employment at AP&S.
Deadline: June 1
Sidney B. Williams, Jr Scholar Program from the Foundation for Advancement of Diversity in IP Law
The Sidney B. Williams, Jr Scholar Program from the Foundation for Advancement of Diversity in IP Law awards these scholsrships to students with diverse backgrounds who are scientists or engineers with an interest in BC Law.
Types of Federal Loans
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans allow students enrolled at least half time to borrow up to $20,500 per academic year at a fixed 8.08% interest rate for the 2024-2025 year. Interest begins to accrue upon disbursement of the loan funds. There is an origination fee of 1.057% that is deducted from the loan prior to disbursement. Repayment begins six months after you graduate or are no longer enrolled at least half-time.
Federal Direct Grad PLUS Loan
Federal Direct Grad PLUS Loans are offered at a fixed 9.08% interest rate for the 2024-2025 year. The Direct Grad Plus Loan is a credit based loan whose interest begins accruing at disbursement. There is an origination fee of 4.228% that the government deducts from the loan prior to disbursement. Repayment begins six months after graduation or when you are no longer enrolled at least half-time. Law students may be able to borrow a Federal Direct Grad Plus loan up to cost of attendance minus any other aid offered.
Loan Processing for Federal Loans
To receive the loan funding for which you are eligible, you must complete all of the following steps:
Entrance Counseling
Federal regulation requires that students who borrow Federal Direct Unsubsidized or Federal Direct Grad Plus loans must complete an entrance counseling session prior to funds being disbursed to student accounts. You may complete this short online session at http://studentaid.gov. Boston College will not be able to receive your loan funds until you complete this step.
Master Promissory Note (MPN)
Students must also complete a master promissory note (MPN) for your Direct Unsubsidized Loan. To complete your MPN, please visit studentaid.gov. You will need your FSA ID in order to e-sign your MPN. Your loans will not be disbursed to your student account until you complete this process.
Federal Direct Grad PLUS Loan
If a student needs additional funds after you have applied for the Direct Unsubsidized loan, you can apply for a Federal Grad PLUS loan. Students will need to complete a separate Entrance Counseling and Master Promissory Note (MPN) for the Federal Grad Plus loan. To learn more about the Federal Grad PLUS loan, please visit xyschool.net/altloans or studentaid.gov.
Student Employment
Federal Work-Study Programs
Boston College offers a variety of employment opportunities through the Federal Work-Study Program. Academic-year and summer work-study opportunities may be on campus or at off-campus, non-profit agencies and often involve law-related work. Federal Work-study is awarded through the Financial Aid process. Please see the Grad and Law financial aid website for more information and deadlines.
Students who are specifically interested in summer work study: please pay close attention to the deadlines for the FAFSA and Grad and Law Supplemental form. Summer work study deadlines are hard deadlines.
Other Student Employment
The Student Employment Office is a clearinghouse for all positions on and off campus. Students may apply for positions during the academic year and the summer. View a list of the current student employment opportunities.
The Law School recognizes that students may need to work during the academic year to finance their educations. American Bar Association accreditation standards require full-time students to limit employment to a maximum of 20 hours per week. We strongly discourage substantial employment during the first year of law school.
BC Law also supports students who spend one or more of their summers working in public interest. Summer work-study and stipends are awarded to approximately 170 students each year to fund 10-week, full-time positions in government, public interest, or non-profit sector jobs.
BC Law graduates who choose to pursue careers in public interest may acquire additional assistance through the Francis X. Bellotti Loan Repayment and Forgiveness Program.
International Students
International Students with Citizenship
International students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents are fully eligible to receive all types of financial aid, including federal student loans.
International Students without Citizenship
International students who don’t hold U.S. citizenship or permanent residency status should make arrangements for their financial obligations to BC Law and their entire stay in the U.S. before leaving their home country.
Financial aid for international students is limited to Public Service Scholarships and merit-based scholarships.
Some private companies may make student loans to international students. Many of these companies require a U.S. citizen as a co-signer on the loan application, but a few, such as MPOWER Financing, do not.
Visa forms will be mailed to students once they have been accepted and have verified they can meet their financial obligations.
Please see the university's financial aid page for more information.
LLM Students
In addition to the information for international students above, there are outside scholarships available to LLM students. Please see our LLM costs & aid section for more information.
“The Law School allowed me to fulfill my goals of making a difference in the international tax world and helping generations of students move into successful careers. BC Law’s generosity of spirit and tradition of service to others inspired me to establish a financial aid fund to make a BC Law education accessible to more students.”