Southwestern Law School

What is the cost of studying for a year at Southwestern Law School?

Southwestern's annual cost depends on the J.D. schedule, credit load and living arrangements. An IPEDS graduate-tuition figure is not, by itself, a reliable quote for a full year in every J.D. program.

• IPEDS reported in-state and out-of-state graduate tuition of $20,240 for 2024-25, with $0 in separately reported required fees.
• IPEDS reported a part-time graduate charge of $2,024 per credit hour for 2024-25.

Those figures should not be added together or treated as a complete current J.D. budget. Students need the tuition schedule for their specific program and academic year, plus estimates for books, housing, food, transportation, personal expenses and any applicable charges. Financial aid can change the amount paid, but scholarships and loans work differently: scholarships reduce the cost a student must cover, while loans generally must be repaid with interest.

Eligible law students may use institutional scholarships, federal graduate loans and qualifying military education benefits. Reported graduate military benefits averaged $21,538 in the 2024-25 IPEDS data, but that average is not an individual award or a promise of eligibility. Applicants should compare their own aid offer and full cost-of-attendance budget before deciding how much to borrow.

What are the work-study opportunities at Southwestern Law School?

Southwestern students can pursue paid work while studying, but an ordinary part-time job, a legal internship and Federal Work-Study are not interchangeable. Work-Study is a need-based federal aid program that pays eligible students for approved employment; it is not an automatic cash award.

Students interested in Work-Study should ask the financial aid office whether they qualify, which positions are available and how earnings are paid. Career-related work may also come through employer hiring, externships or clinics, but some placements are unpaid or award academic credit instead of wages. Southwestern's career services can assist with job-search preparation and employer connections; the program schedule matters, particularly for students trying to balance employment with full-time or accelerated coursework.