Understanding UDC Law Tuition Costs and Financial Aid Options

The University of the District of Columbia (UDC) David A. Clarke School of Law provides an accessible legal education, striving to make law school a reality for all admitted students, regardless of their financial circumstances. This article breaks down the tuition costs, fees, residency requirements, health insurance mandates, payment schedules, and financial aid options available to students.

Tuition and Mandatory Fees for 2025-2026

UDC David A. Clarke School of Law offers different tuition rates based on residency status and enrollment type. For the 2025-2026 academic year, full-time students can expect the following tuition rates per semester:

D.C. Residents: \$6,219
Metropolitan Area Residents: \$9,328
Non-District Residents: \$12,437

Part-time, visiting, and non-matriculating students are charged per credit hour:

D.C. Residents: \$422 per credit hour
Metropolitan Area Residents: \$631 per credit hour
Non-District Residents: \$843 per credit hour

In addition to tuition, all enrolled students must pay annual fees totaling approximately \$1,000.

Summer 2025 Tuition & Fees

For the Summer 2025 semester, the tuition structure is as follows:

All Students: \$422 per credit hour (Resident), \$631 per credit hour (Metro), \$843 per credit hour (Non-Resident)
Health Insurance Fee (unless waived): \$326 (new students only)
Mandatory Law Student Fees: \$395 per semester

Breakdown of Mandatory Law Student Fees

Mandatory Law Student Fees are divided into: Law Student Activity Fee (\$210 fall semester only), Athletics/Recreation Fee (\$105 per semester), Health Services Fee (\$25 per semester), Technology Fee (\$75 per semester), Student Center Fee (\$140 per semester), Career/Professional Development Fee (\$40 per semester), and Sustainability Fee (\$10 per semester). The total amount is \$605 for the fall semester and \$395 for the spring and summer semesters.

Residency Requirements for Preferential Tuition Rates

Students can apply for preferential tuition rates if they have resided in the District of Columbia or the DC metropolitan area for 90 days (3 consecutive months) by the start of the fall or spring semester. To be considered, students must submit a Proof of Residency Form by the specified deadlines.

To receive classification as a D.C. resident or D.C. Metro resident, one must have resided in D.C. or the D.C. Metro area for a minimum of 90 days prior to the start date of the student’s enrollment term (not including the summer semester). The D.C. Metro rates apply only to law students admitted for Fall 2018 or later.

If you are an employee of the District of Columbia Government, you will qualify for DC residency status if you submit proof of employment. You may claim residence on your own behalf, or if claimed as a dependent, on behalf of your parent(s) or legal guardian(s).

Approved Supporting Documents include: CERTIFIED STATE TAXES for the most recently completed calendar year (DC Form D-40 or D40EZ, Virginia Form 760 or Maryland Form 502, or other resident individual tax returns that bears student’s name and address.), W-2 FORM/STATEMENT (for the most recently completed calendar year), VALID STATE ISSUED ID (passports are not accepted), VOTER REGISTRATION PROFILE (voter registration card is not acceptable), A SIGNED COPY OF A LEASE AGREEMENT/MORTGAGE STATEMENT, OR DEED (If the student’s name is not on the document, a notarized letter from the named owner or lessor attesting to the fact that the student resides full-time at the property is required.), UTILITY BILL (water, gas, electric, oil, or cable with student’s name and address, issued within the last 90 days. Disconnection notices/bills are not acceptable)PROPERTY TAX BILL (DC, Maryland, or Virginia or tax assessment issued within 90 days before student’s enrollment), HOMEOWNER’S OR RENTER’S INSURANCE POLICY (Current policy reflecting student’s name and address), HOME SECURITY BILL (issued within the last 90 days reflecting student’s name and address), STATE BENEFITS (Must show 90 days of services rendered. State medical benefits are not acceptable) and MILITARY STATUS (Active duty and recently discharged members of the military (and their dependents) may be able to waive the 90-day requirement by verifying their military status with Ms. or D.C. Metro residency and are automatically classified as Non-Resident.

Read also: Affording ECU

Certain visa holders are not eligible for D.C. Metro residency and are automatically classified as Non-Resident. This includes students on (F) Visas, diplomatic (A) Visas, Foreign organization employees with (G) Visas, and persons having other non-immigrant Visas.

Health Insurance Requirement

All students enrolled at the University of the District of Columbia are required to have adequate health insurance to provide coverage for medical and mental health care needs in case of an illness. Domestic and international students, undergraduate, graduate, and law school students are automatically enrolled in the United Health Care Plan offered through the University. The University-sponsored plan costs \$1,593 per year. Students starting coverage in the fall semester will be covered through the following summer semester. Students entering in Spring or Summer will be charged a pro-rated fee for coverage unless they waive coverage by the waiver deadline.

Students are encouraged to waive the university-sponsored plan if they have health insurance that provides adequate coverage to avoid being charged for the insurance provided by United Health Care.

Payment Schedule and Late Fees

The School of Law requires full payment of law school tuition and fees by the first day of classes each semester and does not offer a payment plan. Students who do not settle their accounts by the first day of class will be assessed a \$150 late registration fee and have a hold placed on their accounts to prevent registration in subsequent semesters until they have pre-paid their bill.

Current students may log onto myUDC to view their accounts online.

Read also: Withdrawals for College: A Guide

Tuition Refund Policy

A student who voluntarily withdraws from the School of Law shall receive a tuition refund of monies paid to and received by the School according to the following schedule:

Registration to last day of the second week after Registration: 75%
Third week to the last day of the fourth week after Registration: 50%
Fifth week after Registration: 30%
Sixth week after Registration: 10%
After the last day of the sixth week after Registration: 0%

A student who is required to withdraw as a penalty for violating school regulations shall not be entitled to receive a refund of any tuition paid.

Financial Aid Resources

Financial assistance at UDC Law is available from a variety of sources, including Federal Direct Loans (Unsubsidized and Graduate PLUS), need-based and merit scholarships, and work-study. The UDC Law Office of Financial Aid is open weekdays from 8:30 am - 5:00 pm to assist students with their questions or concerns about financial aid.

When you apply for financial assistance, the Office of Financial Aid makes a determination of what you and your family can afford to contribute toward the cost of your education. Expenses deemed acceptable in building a Cost of Attendance budget are those directly related to the cost of attending the School of Law.

Students must apply annually for financial assistance. The priority consideration deadline is March 15th for incoming students and April 1st for continuing students. The 2024-2025 FAFSA covers Fall 2024, Spring 2025, and Summer 2025 semesters. You may apply for financial aid while your admission application is under review.

Applicants must complete the UDC Law Financial Aid Application annually and the UDC Law Title IV Authorization Release for Non-Institutional Charges Form.

As of July 1, 2012, graduate and professional students are eligible for Direct Unsubsidized Loans only. The maximum Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan per academic year is \$20,500. The Graduate PLUS Loan is credit-based and the maximum varies from student to student. For loans disbursed between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026, Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans have a fixed interest rate of 7.94%, and Graduate PLUS Loans have a fixed interest rate of 8.94%.

The School of Law awards several types of scholarships, including academic merit scholarships, non-academic merit scholarships, and need-based scholarships. Institutional scholarships are not offered during the summer semester. Students who enroll at least half time (3 credits) during the summer semester may borrow loans to cover their tuition and living expenses. Generally, disbursements occur approximately 7-10 days prior to the start of the semester. Once the disbursement occurs, aid will first be applied to tuition/fees. Any remaining excess funds will be issued to the student in the form of a refund check.

Preparing for Law School Finances

Law school is a costly endeavor, often requiring students to adjust their lifestyles. Preparing for law school should include undertaking a number of steps such as paying off credit cards and other consumer debt, putting away some savings, and paring down living expenses.

Additional Information

The David A. Clarke School of Law at University of the District of Columbia (Clarke) has an application deadline of June 1. The full-time program application fee is \$40, as is the part-time program application fee. Its tuition is full-time: \$13,438 (in-state); full-time: \$25,874 (out-of-state); part-time: \$9,018 (in-state); and part-time: \$17,017 (out-of-state). The student-faculty ratio is 6.5:1.

For the 2024 admissions cycle, UDC David A. Clarke School of Law received 620 JD applications and 230 acceptance letters. Of those accepted, 58 chose to enroll. With an acceptance rate of 44.3%, UDC David A. Clarke School of Law is considered moderately competitive.

Law school tuition at UDC David A. Clarke School of Law is \$49k annually (calculated from semester costs). After completing their JD program at UDC David A. Clarke School of Law, graduates entering private law firms earn a median starting salary of \$100,000. JD graduates pursuing public sector legal careers start at approximately \$72,750. Additionally, 7.9% of graduates obtain prestigious judicial clerkships, and 27.0% pursue public interest law careers. For JD graduates from UDC David A. Clarke School of Law, the first-time bar exam pass rate is 47.92%.

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