Analyzing trends in law school costs, financial burden, and affordability at Irvine School of Law
Tuition and fees are the largest component of the cost of attendance for law students. The average tuition and fees for full-time students at Irvine School of Law is $50,130 for in-state and $55,730 for out-of-state students for the academic year 2025-2026.
Over the past decade, tuition costs have decreased from $73,533 to $55,730, reflecting broader trends in higher education costs and institutional funding challenges.
In addition to tuition, living expenses significantly impact the total cost of attendance. On-campus housing costs $22,238, while off-campus living averages $34,571 and living at home costs approximately $21,152 for the 2025-2026 academic year.
Living expenses have decreased significantly, with on-campus housing rising from $25,786 to $22,238 over the past decade.
Tuition and fees have increased significantly over time. Year-over-year, Irvine School of Law saw a 3.83% increase, while over the past decade the increase has been 31.95%.
| Academic Year | In-State | Out-of-State | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $50,130 | $55,730 | - |
| 2022 | $51,968 | $60,211 | 8.04% |
| 2023 | $54,183 | $64,298 | 6.79% |
| 2024 | $56,025 | $68,270 | 6.18% |
| 2025 | $58,578 | $70,823 | 3.74% |
| 2026 | $61,288 | $73,533 | 3.83% |
The total cost of attendance, including tuition and living expenses, has increased over time. Year-over-year, Irvine School of Law saw a 20.95% increase, while over the past decade the increase has been 27.38%.
| Academic Year | In-State On-Campus | In-State Off-Campus | In-State At Home | Out-of-State On-Campus | Out-of-State Off-Campus | Out-of-State At Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $72,368 | $84,701 | $71,282 | $77,968 | $90,301 | $76,882 |
| 2022 | $73,875 | $85,546 | $73,574 | $82,118 | $93,789 | $81,817 |
| 2023 | $76,499 | $85,120 | $76,906 | $86,614 | $95,235 | $87,021 |
| 2024 | $81,430 | $93,158 | $80,316 | $93,675 | $105,403 | $92,561 |
| 2025 | $84,468 | $95,975 | $80,302 | $96,713 | $108,220 | $92,547 |
| 2026 | $87,074 | $98,581 | $61,288 | $99,319 | $110,826 | $73,533 |
Living expenses significantly impact the total cost of attendance for law students. Over the past decade, Irvine School of Law's living costs have increased from $22,238 to $25,786 for on-campus students. Off-campus living costs have similarly increased from $34,571 to $37,293.
| Academic Year | On-Campus | Off-Campus | At Home | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $22,238 | $34,571 | $21,152 | - |
| 2022 | $21,907 | $33,578 | $21,606 | -1.49% |
| 2023 | $22,316 | $30,937 | $22,723 | 1.87% |
| 2024 | $25,405 | $37,133 | $24,291 | 13.84% |
| 2025 | $25,890 | $37,397 | $21,724 | 1.91% |
| 2026 | $25,786 | $37,293 | - | -0.4% |
