Cost of Attendance

Tuition & Costs

The Cost of Attendance Budgets are based on direct expenses (tuition & fees) and estimated indirect expenses (housing & food, books & supplies, transportation, and miscellaneous personal expenses) for one academic year; two semesters (fall and winter) spanning nine months. Actual expenses vary based on student lifestyle and personal choices. We want our students to make the best decisions today to make sure they are prepared for tomorrow.

You are in control of how much you spend on your indirect expenses. The indirect expense portions in the budgets below are created using data provided by the College Board, which is developed using data from the Consumer Expenditure Survey produced by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, each student has their own living expenses and their own financial goals. 


On This Page: US JD Program I Canadian & American Dual JD Program I Personal Budgeting

JD Program

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    Tuition

    Tuition is charged at a fixed per credit rate regardless of the number of credits.

    For the 2024-25 school year, the tuition rate is $1,584 per credit.

    During the first year of law school students elect to study one of three different pathways to completing their degree: Full-Time (30 credits), Part-Time (23 credits), or Extended Part-Time (15 credits); the direct expenses are based on these credit numbers.

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    Thrifty Budget

    We've created the Detroit Mercy Law Thrifty Budget to assist students in reducing the amount they may need to finance their law degree. The Thrifty Budget approach focuses on a reduced budget for housing & food, books & supplies, and miscellaneous personal expenses by encouraging students to live with roommates, purchase used books or rent books, and reduce their overall spending while in law school. 

    Students are not required to use the Detroit Mercy Law Thrifty Budget but should consider it as an option when looking for housing, purchasing books, and planning other living expenses during law school. First-year law students are awarded financial aid using the Thrifty Budget. If you would like to opt-out of the Thrifty Budget and use the Standard Budget, please contact the Detroit Mercy Law Financial Aid Office.

    2024-25 Thrifty Budget
    Expenses Full-Time Part-Time Extended
    Total Credits 30 23 15
    Tuition ($1,584/credit hour) $47,520 $36,432 $23,760
    Student Bar Association Fees $134 $134 $134
    Parking Pass $515 $515 $515
    Sum of Direct Expenses $48,169 $37,081 $24,409
    Books & Supplies $1,950 $1,495 $975
    Housing & Food $9,546 $9,546 $9,546
    Transportation $3,752 $3,000 $2,250
    Personal/Miscellaneous $6,188 $6,188 $6,188
    Direct Loan Fees $1,198 $1,198 $1,198
    Sum of Indirect Expenses $22,634 $21,427 $20,157
    Total Estimated Cost of Attendance $70,803 $58,508 $44,566
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    Standard Budget

    The standard student cost of attendance budget represents the maximum estimated expenses that a law student will incur during the academic year without submitting additional paperwork. If your personal budget estimates spending more than that, we can increase your budget a reasonable amount but you will need to complete the financial aid re-evaluation paperwork and meet with financial aid. 

    2024-25 Standard Budget
    Expenses Full-Time Part-Time Extended
    Total Credits 30 23 15
    Tuition ($1,584/credit hour) $47,520 $36,432 $23,760
    Student Bar Association Fees $134 $134 $134
    Parking Pass $515 $515 $515
    Sum of Direct Expenses $48,169 $37,081 $24,409
    Books & Supplies $2,550 $1,955 $1,275
    Housing & Food $14,250 $14,250 $14,250
    Transportation $3,752 $3,000 $2,250
    Personal/Miscellaneous $9,236 $9,236 $9,236
    Direct Loan Fees $1,198 $1,198 $1,198
    Sum of Indirect Expenses $30,986 $29,639 $28,209
    Total Estimated Cost of Attendance $79,155 $66,720 $52,618

Dual JD Program

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    Dual JD Program

    Dual JD program allows students to earn both an American JD and a Canadian JD in three years. The cost of earning both of these degrees at once is comparable to the cost of earning one US JD degree. The Dual JD program has a transnational tuition rate for the US JD portion of the degree. This rate reduces the cost of the US JD program. Students pay tuition and certain fees to each institution.

    The Detroit Mercy portion of the budget includes the direct costs (tuition & fees) and an estimate of the indirect costs (housing & food, books & supplies, personal/miscellaneous, and transportation). Living expenses (housing & food and miscellaneous) are based on the location of residence; some students choose to live in Metro Detroit while others choose to live in and around Windsor. University of Windsor will determine the living expenses budget for those students who choose to live in Canada. Please note, the Detroit Mercy Law expenses in the estimated cost of attendance are shown in US dollars while the Windsor Law tuition is shown in Canadian dollars. We recommend using a currency converter to see the most up-to-date cost.

    2024-25 Estimated Cost of Attendance Dual JD
    Expenses Detroit Mercy Law (All Students)
    Tuition $27,254
    Student Bar Association Fee $134
    Parking Pass $515
    Sum of Direct Expenses $27,903
    Books & Supplies $2,550
    Housing & Food $14,250
    Transportation $3,752
    Miscellaneous $9,236
    Loan Fee $1,198
    Sum of Indirect Expenses $30,986
    Total Estimated Cost of Attendance $58,889

    Windsor Law tuition and fees for the upcoming school year can be found on the University of Windsor Tuition Fee Estimator. Windsor Law tuition and fees are listed in Canadian Dollars (CAD).

Personal Budgeting

Being fiscally responsible during law school reaps rewards later on in life. We encourage students to complete a personal budget to help evaluate their costs.

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    Plan ahead

    One of the most important things you can do before you enter law school is to make a plan for your finances. Take the time now to think about your money and how you want to spend it or not spend it. 

    Here are some easy steps to being more financially wise:

    Step 1 - Track Your Spending. Keep a record of every penny you spend for a couple of months, especially the months before law school starts. It will feel difficult, tedious, and boring, but it's important to see where your money is going.

    Step 2 - Actually Save. Saving a few dollars every month is still saving. Put your change in a jar every day. Transfer money from your checking to your savings; if you don't see it you might not spend it. 

    Step 3 - Pay Off/Reduce Consumer Debt. If you have consumer debt, we encourage you to pay off as much of that debt as possible before entering law school. Consumer debt typically has a high-interest rate, and monthly credit card payments are not allowed in the student budget as an expense covered by financial aid.

    Step 4 - Create a Budget. You don't have to use the budget we provided. An app might be better for you and there are plenty of free ones out there. The bottom line is that it is important to create a personal budget so you can track what you are spending and where you are spending it.

    Step 5 - Review Your Budget. If you have a budget you've been using, take a look at it again. Then about halfway through your first year of law school, take a look at your budget again and see how things have changed. If you have questions, come meet with a financial aid member to talk about your finances. We're here to assist you.

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    Practical Ideas

    • If moving, look for an apartment/housing where your rent includes heat; try to avoid apartments with electric heat.
    • Live with one or more roommates.
    • If you live near campus, think about riding a bike/scooter or walking to campus. If you don't have a car, you don't have to pay for the parking pass or car insurance in the city of Detroit. Ask yourself if your car is necessary?
    • Meal prep and pack your meals, including snacks, especially for long days on campus.
    • Make your coffee/tea at home and bring it to school. Investing in a good thermos or good travel mug will save you in the long run.
    • Know your credit score now and resolve any questions you have about it before law school starts. This will help if you are interested in private educational loans during your degree or may want bar study loans after graduation.
    • Get a Detroit Public Library card or a card from your city of residence. You can do a lot more than just rent books from a library.