JD Residential Cost of Attendance
Thomas Jefferson School of Law is committed to helping students attain a legal education. We are proud that our institution is able to offer more affordable tuition than most other law schools in the nation.
The Cost of Attendance represents the amount believed adequate to cover the tuition, fees, books and living expenses of most students for the academic year. This figure also represents the maximum total financial aid a law student can expect to receive per year.
Because Thomas Jefferson School of Law is a private institution, students pay the same tuition rate regardless of their state residency. In addition, rates for tuition and fees are set annually and are subject to change.
Your actual expenses may differ from those listed here. In some cases, you may have lower expenses in one category to compensate for higher expenses in another area. We are limited in our ability to approve budget increases. You can request a budget increase for certain expenses such as child care costs, disability related expenses, etc. It will not be possible to obtain a budget increase to cover expenses such as credit card and other consumer payments.
2025/26 Academic Year
The Cost of Attendance represents the average amount believed adequate to cover the tuition, fees, books, and living expenses of most students for the academic year. This figure also represents the maximum total financial aid package a law student can expect to receive per year. Your actual expenses may differ from those listed here. In some cases, you may have lower expenses in one category to compensate for higher expenses in another area. We are limited in our ability to approve budget increases. You can request a budget increase for certain expenses such as rent expense, child care costs and disability related expenses.
| JD Residential Program (Based on 9-month academic year) | Fall/Spring Student Budget | ||
| Tuition (per academic unit) | $1,300 | ||
| Books | $1,800 | ||
| Living Allowance | Downtown (92101) | San Diego County | With Parents |
| Room and Board1 | $28,800 | $25,200 | $7,200 |
| Transportation2 | $520 | $4,320 | $4,320 |
| Miscellaneous3 | $1,800 | $1,800 | $1,800 |
| Mandatory Fees4 | $2,480 | ||
| Total Additional Expense Allowance Per Academic Year | $33,600 + Tuition & Books | $33,800 + Tuition & Books | $15,800 + Tuition & Books |
Notes To Student Budget:
- The rent allowance is $2,400/month for downtown and $2,000/month living outside downtown. Food is authorized at$600 and utilities at $200/month. Students living at home have a total living allowance of $800/month. If your actual housing costs exceed this amount, you may petition for a budget increase by providing the Financial Aid office with a copy of your lease and proof of monthly rent payments. ↩︎
- The law school uses the IRS mileage allowance to determine the transportation budget for students living at home with parents or living outside downtown San Diego (zip code 92101). The IRS data is based on the fixed and variable costs of operating an automobile. The 2025 current rate is $0.70/mile. The standard budget provides for 20 miles per day to allow students to go to campus and return home. Parking is estimated at $200/month. Students living downtown have a total transportation allowance equal to $57.60 per month. This is the amount of the unlimited MTA monthly Bus/Trolley pass offered for sale by the law school. ↩︎
- The miscellaneous budget of $200/month may be used for subsidized health insurance offered by Covered California or other education-related costs incurred during the academic year.
Students are permitted one allowance of up to $1,200 to purchase a laptop during law school. Proof of payment will be required to be submitted to the Financial Aid Office before a budget increase will be granted.
The cost of attendance includes an allowance for loan origination fees. For students receiving a Grad PLUS loan, the federal loan origination fees of $2,000 will be included in the student budget. ↩︎ - The non-tuition mandatory semester fees include: Student Activity Fee, BarBri Materials Fee, and Health/Wellness Fee. ↩︎