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How Much Does Law School Cost at Harvard University? (2026–27)

Harvard Law School’s 2026–27 J.D. cost-of-attendance budget is $126,650, including tuition, a mandatory health fee, and estimated indirect expenses. Aid and personal spending affect what students actually pay.
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For the 2026–27 academic year, Harvard Law School’s standard nine-month J.D. cost-of-attendance budget is $126,650, including $84,400 in tuition. The budget also includes a mandatory health fee and estimated living and other expenses; it is not an individual bill or a guaranteed net price. Harvard Law School’s published cost figures are for the J.D. unless otherwise noted.

Harvard Law School J.D. costs for 2026–27

Harvard Law School’s standard nine-month J.D. budget separates billed direct costs from estimated indirect expenses. The direct-cost total is what the school bills to the student account; indirect amounts are planning allowances rather than charges from HLS.

Budget item 2026–27 amount How it is treated
Tuition $84,400 Direct cost
Mandatory HUHS Student Health Fee $1,944 Direct cost
Total direct costs $86,344 Billed to the student account
HUSHP health insurance $4,954 Indirect budget allowance for students enrolled in the plan
Housing $18,900 Nine-month allowance
Food $6,760 Nine-month allowance
Personal expenses $6,042 Includes an allowance for optional dental coverage
Books, course materials, supplies, and equipment $1,750 Budget allowance; no specific required product is identified on the cost page
Travel $1,900 Budget allowance
Total indirect costs $40,306 Estimated expenses
Total estimated cost of attendance $126,650 Standard nine-month student budget

HLS says the student budget sets the annual limit for financial aid from all sources under ordinary circumstances. Aid is credited to the student account by semester; any remaining funds are distributed to the student. The HLS cost page lists the budget components and billing treatment.

What changes your personal cost

Housing, food, and personal spending

HLS identifies housing, utilities, food, and personal expenses as the most variable parts of the budget. The $18,900 housing allowance is based on $2,100 per month for nine months and is used for both on-campus and off-campus budgets. Housing, food, and personal expenses together total $31,702 for the academic year, or about $3,522 per month across nine months. These are planning figures, not a promise of what an individual will spend. HLS’s budgeting guidance explains how to plan around these allowances.

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Health insurance and dental coverage

The $4,954 HUSHP health-insurance allowance applies to students enrolled in that plan. A student who waives it has a $4,954 reduction to both the student budget and maximum aid eligibility. HLS says a student may appeal to add the documented cost of an alternate insurance plan. The optional dental plan is treated differently: an approximately $546 annual single-student allowance is included within personal expenses and can be used for other costs if the student does not enroll. HLS’s budget guidance describes these insurance and spending allowances.

How financial aid affects the amount you pay

Harvard Law School describes its financial aid program as entirely need-based. Its 2026–27 sample materials use a $58,500 grant-eligibility threshold; they illustrate how calculated student and parent resources are subtracted from the standard budget and threshold to determine grant eligibility. Students below the threshold may use loans to meet need, while grants may be available for demonstrated need above it. The examples explain the method, but they do not determine an individual applicant’s award. HLS’s financial-aid information and aid examples and FAQ describe the program.

An individual’s net cost depends on their aid determination and spending choices. HLS says packages can include grants and loans; students may also consider outside scholarships and employment. The published $126,650 budget is therefore a gross planning figure, not a forecast of every student’s out-of-pocket cost.

J.D. and LL.M. budgets are different

The figures above are for the J.D. program. HLS separately estimates at least $127,250 for the 2026–27 LL.M. program, which has the same listed tuition of $84,400 but different fees and expenses. Do not use one degree’s total budget as the other’s. The HLS cost page provides the J.D. and LL.M. figures.

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How the budget compares with 2025–26

For context, HLS’s prior-year J.D. budget was $121,250 for 2025–26, including $80,760 in tuition. The current 2026–27 budget is the relevant figure for planning that academic year; future amounts may change when HLS publishes a later budget. HLS’s cost page lists both academic-year figures.

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