Analyzing trends in law school costs, financial burden, and affordability at Penn State 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 Penn State Law is $50,438 for in-state and $50,438 for out-of-state students for the academic year 2025-2026.
Over the past decade, tuition costs have decreased from $60,479 to $50,438, 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 $23,768, while off-campus living averages $23,768 and living at home costs approximately $7,744 for the 2025-2026 academic year.
Living expenses have decreased significantly, with on-campus housing rising from $28,902 to $23,768 over the past decade.
Tuition and fees have increased significantly over time. Year-over-year, Penn State Law saw a 5.08% increase, while over the past decade the increase has been 19.91%.
| Academic Year | In-State | Out-of-State | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $50,438 | $50,438 | - |
| 2022 | $52,228 | $52,228 | 3.55% |
| 2023 | $55,344 | $55,344 | 5.97% |
| 2024 | $56,436 | $56,436 | 1.97% |
| 2025 | $57,556 | $57,556 | 1.98% |
| 2026 | $60,479 | $60,479 | 5.08% |
The total cost of attendance, including tuition and living expenses, has increased over time. Year-over-year, Penn State Law saw a 17.21% increase, while over the past decade the increase has been 20.45%.
| 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 | $74,206 | $74,206 | $58,182 | $74,206 | $74,206 | $58,182 |
| 2022 | $76,260 | $76,260 | $59,972 | $76,260 | $76,260 | $59,972 |
| 2023 | $80,874 | $80,874 | $63,088 | $80,874 | $80,874 | $63,088 |
| 2024 | $84,278 | $84,278 | $64,180 | $84,278 | $84,278 | $64,180 |
| 2025 | $81,602 | $81,602 | $81,602 | $81,602 | $81,602 | $81,602 |
| 2026 | $89,381 | $88,573 | $73,379 | $89,381 | $88,573 | $73,379 |
Living expenses significantly impact the total cost of attendance for law students. Over the past decade, Penn State Law's living costs have increased from $23,768 to $28,902 for on-campus students. Off-campus living costs have similarly increased from $23,768 to $28,094.
| Academic Year | On-Campus | Off-Campus | At Home | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $23,768 | $23,768 | $7,744 | - |
| 2022 | $24,032 | $24,032 | $7,744 | 1.11% |
| 2023 | $25,530 | $25,530 | $7,744 | 6.23% |
| 2024 | $27,842 | $27,842 | $7,744 | 9.06% |
| 2025 | $24,046 | $24,046 | $24,046 | -13.63% |
| 2026 | $28,902 | $28,094 | $12,900 | 20.19% |
