American University Washington College of Law: Tuition, Costs, and Financial Aid
American University's Washington College of Law (WCL), founded in 1893, is a top law school accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA). U.S. News & World Report ranks the Washington College of Law 89th among Best Law Schools and 16th in Part-time Law. Located in Washington, D.C., the capital city famous for national landmarks, memorials, and museums, the Washington College of Law is recognized for its courses in international affairs. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the tuition fees, associated costs, and financial aid options available at the Washington College of Law.
Tuition and Fees
Tuition and fees are set by the board of trustees on an annual basis. For the 2024 JD application cycle, law school tuition at American University Law School was $128k annually (calculated from semester costs).
WCL students who register for 12 to 17 credit hours are charged for tuition at a flat full-time rate. WCL students who register for fewer than 12 credit hours are charged tuition per credit hour based on the number of credit hours taken. For the academic year, the full-time tuition is $64,414, while the part-time tuition is $47,720.
Payment Options and Policies
Payments can be made online by eChecks (using a checking or savings account) and by credit cards (using Visa, MasterCard or Discover) through the student portal (myAU.american.edu). A non-refundable convenience fee (2.55% of the charge amount) will be charged to your credit card account when making credit card payments applied to your student account bill. Payments by check may be sent to the address provided by the Office of Student Accounts.
Students must pay the balance due on or before the due date as indicated on the bill sent from the Office of Student Accounts. A finance charge will be assessed against a student’s account for failure to meet the initial payment due date. Late payments will result in a financial restriction being placed on the student’s account. The financial restriction places a “hold” on the student’s academic records, including transcripts and diplomas, and results in denial of priority registration and use of the payment plan or other credit privileges. Students who incur financial obligations in the parking and traffic office, library, health center, or athletic department may be subject to late payment fees and financial restriction procedures.
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Additional Costs
Prospective law students should budget approximately $66k for the total annual cost of attending (including tuition, fees, books, and living expenses).
Tuition Refund Policy
A “course drop” is the complete removal of a course or credits from a student’s schedule without a transcript notation. Students who reduce their course load by dropping courses during the refund period of the semester will have the course tuition cancellation calculated as of the date of the course drop. Unless a course requires special permission to drop, a student may drop a course without instructor permission before the end of the Add/Drop period through the University’s online registration portal. Transcript notations will not be added to courses that are dropped before the Deadline to Drop a Class without Transcript Notation.
Students who have been charged with or are under investigation for a violation of the Honor Code may not withdraw from a course that is implicated in the charge. Subject to the provisions of Section VI below, in no situation may a student withdraw from any class after the applicable Deadline to Withdraw from a Course with a Transcript Notation. The student will receive no reimbursement and will receive a failing grade for any course that is not successfully completed.
Students who seek to withdraw from all courses simultaneously must work with the Office of Student Affairs and the Office of the Registrar to file a Withdraw from All Classes form. Students who have been charged with or are under investigation for a violation of the Honor Code may not withdraw from a course that is implicated in the charge. Subject to the provisions of Section VI below, in no situation may a student withdraw from any class after the applicable Deadline to Withdraw from a Course with a Transcript Notation. The student will receive no reimbursement and will receive a failing grade for any course that is not successfully completed. After meeting with the Dean of Students, the student must meet with the Office of the Registrar to file a petition requesting withdrawal from all courses or reduction of course load and all affected instructors must be consulted during the routing of the petition. The Senior Associate Dean for Faculty and Academic Affairs will make the final decision for such late withdrawals.
When students withdraw from courses with a standard face-to-face schedule during a regular semester (fall/spring), refunds are based on the published dates in the Academic Calendar. The calendar week for cancellation of tuition ends on Friday. Based on University policy and federal financial aid regulations, the tuition cancellation policy is strictly enforced based on the date a student drops a course or withdraws from the law school (“change in registration”). The effective date of the change in registration is the date on which the student provides all necessary information to the Office of the Registrar. The Office of Student Accounts will use this information to assess a student’s financial obligation to the University.
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If a student’s situation provides exigent circumstances, the student may appeal to WCL’s Tuition Refund Assessment Committee. The statement should not exceed 1000 words and may include supporting documents. All requests must be made in writing within thirty days of the change in registration or the assessment on the student account, whichever comes later. The Committee will assess all appeals within thirty days of receipt.
Complete withdrawal from all classes: University charges are prorated per the university tuition cancellation schedule, based on the date of the course drop. Students who withdraw from all of their classes before completing the first 60 percent of the semester will have a portion of their financial aid prorated, based on their length of attendance during the semester.
Students who withdraw from some but not all of their classes, at any point during the semester, will have their financial aid recalculated based on the final number of credit hours enrolled. Students withdrawing before the end of the semester may also need to repay funds received for non-institutional costs (off-campus room, board, books, and personal expenses) under a Title IV program. In this case, the university determines whether or not the student received an overpayment.
No special waiver or refund of tuition and fees is made when a student discontinues attending classes due to medical reasons. However, when a student is hospitalized on an emergency basis and is therefore unable to formally withdraw from classes, the Office of the Registrar is authorized to process a retroactive withdrawal based on the last date that the student attended class. The student must present evidence of his or her hospitalization and the date of last attendance in class as verified by the instructor.
The Tuition Refund Plan can minimize financial loss incurred in a medical withdrawal from the university. This elective insurance plan provides coverage for tuition and housing charges. The plan extends and enhances the university’s published refund policy. To participate, applications and fees must be returned before the first day of fall semester classes.
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Financial Aid
The Washington College of Law provides a range of scholarships for international applicants, though the specific offerings may periodically change. Merit-based scholarships recognize students with outstanding academic achievements, professional experience, and leadership potential. The Dean's Fellowships are awarded to exceptional students displaying promise in their academic and professional endeavors.
Prodigy Finance
Prodigy Finance offers borderless financing to international students. There is no need to provide guarantors, collateral, or cosigners. Furthermore, there are no hidden fees! Our loan facilities include no penalties for early repayment and a 6-month grace period after graduating from full-time study.
Career Prospects and Salaries
After completing their JD program at American University Law School, graduates entering private law firms earn a median starting salary of $100,000. JD graduates pursuing public sector legal careers start at approximately $74,000. Additionally, 19.8% of graduates obtain prestigious judicial clerkships, and 13.1% pursue public interest law careers. Of JD graduates, 60% earn between $50,000 and $60,000 per month. A significant percentage of JD graduates were employed at jobs that required a JD within 10 months of graduation. For JD graduates from American University Law School, the bar exam pass rate is 74.9% on the first attempt.
The law school also provides valuable resources such as online job boards, alumni networks, employer directories, and industry-specific research tools to help students explore different career paths, research potential employers, and stay updated on job opportunities. Experienced professionals provide guidance in resume and cover letter preparation, interview techniques, and effective job search strategies.
The school organises career fairs and networking events, enabling students to connect with employers, learn about job openings, and expand their professional networks. Workshops, panels, and speaker series featuring legal practitioners and experts are regularly held, providing valuable insights and advice on various career-related topics.
Application Information
The Washington College of Law at American University (Washington) has an application deadline of March 1. The full-time program application fee at the Washington College of Law at American University (Washington) is $70. The part-time program application fee at the Washington College of Law at American University (Washington) is $70. The acceptance rate at the Washington College of Law is approximately 48%.
Applicants are required to respond to the character and fitness questions fully and honestly, as state bars require applicants to do so.
Admission Requirements
- Bachelor's degree from a recognised college or university.
- Applicants are required to respond to the character and fitness questions fully and honestly, as state bars require applicants to do so.
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