How to Finance your Vanderbilt J.D.
At Vanderbilt Law, all admitted applicants are automatically considered for Law School merit scholarships. The Law School also provides innovative Access2VLS need-based grants to entering J.D. students with the greatest financial need for tuition funding.
Additionally, Federal Direct Loans are available for tuition costs not covered by scholarships / grants and living expenses. Vanderbilt Law students also have access to MAX, a comprehensive personal finance program created exclusively for law students by AccessLex, free of charge throughout their time at Vanderbilt Law School.
Scholarships Awarded in the Admission Process
During the J.D. 1L admission process, all admitted applicants are automatically considered for Law School merit scholarships that are awarded in varying amounts based on an individuals' full application for admission in the context of the admitted pool. All scholarships and need-based grants awarded in the admission process automatically renew each semester the recipient is enrolled in the Law School.
In a separate, subsequent process, admitted students may request consideration for Access2VLS need-based grants, which are allocated to those with demonstrated need for funds to pay tuition costs not covered by their Vanderbilt Law School merit scholarships.
Vanderbilt Law does not award conditional scholarships. Students must remain in good academic standing to retain their Law School scholarships or grants.
While we provide Law School scholarship decisions as soon as possible following an offer of admission, timing will vary in individual cases.
Law Scholar Merit Awards
Each year, Vanderbilt provides several merit awards valued at full tuition to admitted applicants through a competitive selection process. To be considered, admitted applicants must complete the Application for Law Scholars Merit Awards contained in the Vanderbilt Law Application Status Portal. The deadline for submitting Law Scholars applications is January 10.
The selection committee reviews candidates' Law Scholar applications along with their applications for admission. All admitted applicants who have submitted timely Law Scholar applications will be considered for all available Law Scholar Awards. Recipients are normally notified in February. The following Law Scholar Merit Awards provide full-tuition scholarships making each currently valued at more than $200,000 over 3 years of law studies.
External Scholarships
We maintain a listing of external scholarship opportunities that come to our attention. In addition, school counselors, civic associations, local bar associations, and other organizations may be helpful to identifying scholarship funds for law school.
Support for U.S. Military Veterans
Scholarships Awarded to Rising 2Ls
Vanderbilt's Law & Business Program allows students to build expertise in business law, corporate management, accounting and finance by choosing among an extensive array of elective courses, including intensive transactional courses and seminars, without extending their studies beyond the normal 3-year J.D. program. Law and Business students take 5 required core classes and then pursue an elective curriculum specifically designed to produce lawyers who understand the complexities of corporate governance, finance and accounting.
Each year, the Law School will select at least one Cheek Business Law Scholar from among current first-year J.D. students who apply. The Cheek Business Scholars receive supplemental scholarship funds for their second and third years of study and complete the requirements for a certificate of specialization in Law & Business.
Vanderbilt's International Legal Studies Program (ILSP) prepares students to practice law in a global environment by combining substantive classroom exposure to cutting-edge international law topics with practical experience through the International Law Practice Lab and intern/externships in the U.S. and abroad. The ILSP core faculty includes respected scholars with expertise in key areas of international law.
Each year, the Law School will select one Helen Strong Curry International Legal Studies Scholar from among current first-year J.D. students who apply. The Helen Strong Curry Scholar will receive supplemental scholarship funds to support study in the field of international law for each of the second and third years of study at Vanderbilt Law School.
Each summer, Vanderbilt Law students receive stipend and fellowship funding awards to help defray their living expenses while they engage in summer pro bono work.
Alumni Scholarships
Estimating personal cost of attendance
We encourage prospective students to estimate their personal cost of attendance at Vanderbilt as an important factor in deciding where to attend law school. The value of outlining a personal budget cannot be overstated; small differences in expenses can reap large rewards. Consider that reducing expenses $5.00 per day, five days per week, saves $3,900 over three years. Consider further that the total interest on a $3,900 loan repaid over ten years at an annual interest rate of 6.8% would be $2,264, making savings equal to $6,164. Looking for opportunities to lower law school expenses before you enroll can pay off in the future by protecting your future income from debt repayment obligations.
Personal cost of attendance = (Vanderbilt tuition - scholarships received) + your estimated living expenses
2025-26 J.D. Estimated Cost of Attendance
| Direct Costs | Tuition and Fees | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $76,440 | $38,220 for each of two semesters; flat rate tuition for all students. |
| VU Student Services Fee | $677 | Recreation / Wellness Center and other University services and activities. |
| Law School Programming Fee | $700 | Student programming, technology, professional development, and co-curricular engagement . |
| One-time transcript fee | $100 | All VU students are assessed a one-time lifetime transcript fee during their first semester. Vanderbilt University only issues official transcripts. |
| Student Health Fee | $882 | Expanded access to student health care and wellness resources, including Telehealth care options, focusing on mental and physical health, nutrition, and sleep. Enhanced satellite services with multiple care locations across campus. |
| Total Tuition & Fees | $78,799 | Pending Vanderbilt Board of Trust final approval. |
| Indirect Costs | 9-month estimates. While actual individual indirect costs vary depending on personal choices and circumstances that influence spending (e.g., living alone or with a roommate, eating out or at home, transportation choices, etc.), the University makes the following indirect cost estimates which determine the maximum federal loan amount available. Please note, however, that students whose actual total indirect costs are less than the total estimated cost can borrow less than the maximum amount available while knowing that additional funds (up to the maximum) are available should the need arise. |
|
| 1L Only Books / Supplies | $1,700 | $1,700 for 1L students; $500 for 2L & 3L students. |
| Housing | $16,030 | $1,781 per month. Studio or shared multi-bedroom typically less. |
| Food | $7,488 | $3,744 per semester. |
| Personal and miscellaneous / Health | $6,086 | For personal expenses not itemized elsewhere and Health Insurance. |
| Transportation | $1,526 | |
| Loan fees | $2,104 | Average loan fees incurred by similarly classified borrowers during the previous academic year. $0 for non-borrowers. |
| Total estimated indirect costs | $34,934 | Figure at left applies to first-year students. Due to the lesser estimate for books, as above, total estimated a second- or third-year student may borrow up to $33,734. |
| Total Estimated Cost of Attendance, 2025-26 | ||
| Tuition & Fees (Direct Costs) | $78,799 | $39,399.50 each of two semesters. A student may borrow the amount of tuition and fees not covered by scholarship or need-based grant, e.g., a student with a $35,000 scholarship may borrow up to $43,799, or a student with no scholarship or grant may borrow up to $78,799 |
| Estimated Indirect Costs | $34,934 | Amount at left includes $1,700 estimate for 1L books. Estimated indirect costs for books as above, for 2L and 3L students is $33,734. As a practical matter, students indirect costs will differ based on personal choices and circumstances. A first-year student may borrow any amount for indirect costs, as needed, up to the amount at left. |
| Total Estimated Cost of Attendance | $113,733 | $112,433 for 2Ls and 3Ls due to lower book cost estimates as above. |
Comparing Estimated Living Expenses
Law schools' living expense estimates are not tied to cost-of-living differences between locations, and they are not necessarily based on comparable living situations. This means that schools with lower living expense estimates do not necessarily cost less to attend.
Tuition Payment
Tuition for the academic year is payable in 2 equal installments, at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters. In addition to tuition, fees include:
- A nonrefundable seat deposit when you accept admission, which is credited toward the fall semester bill.
- Student health insurance through Vanderbilt which may be waived if you have comparable coverage through another provider.
- Annual activities and recreation fee, which provides access to the campus recreation center, the Sarratt Student Center and many campus events.
Refunds of Tuition and Other Charges, Tuition Payment Programs, and Other Information on Student Accounts is available from the Vanderbilt University Office of Student Accounts.
Loans
Most students pay their tuition charges and living expenses through a combination of savings, earnings during law school, and education loans. If a student decides to borrow, the first step is to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and list Vanderbilt University's Title IV code, 003535.
An admitted student who submits a FAFSA to Vanderbilt will receive a Financial Aid Award Notice that shows:
- Vanderbilt Law School tuition and estimated living expenses for the coming academic year;
- Scholarship funds Vanderbilt Law School has offered to the student; and
- The maximum amount of loans the student may borrow to pay tuition expenses that are not covered by scholarship funds and living expenses for the coming academic year.
Please note that the maximum amount students may borrow is not necessarily the amount each student actually needs to borrow. Living expenses depend, in part, upon personal choices regarding housing, food, entertainment, transportation, and other non-tuition expenses, and many students live comfortably while spending less than estimated by the University. In addition, many students pay some tuition and living expenses using savings, gifts, and income earned during law school, which limits borrowing, thus protecting future income from loan repayment obligations.
Complete information for Vanderbilt graduate / professional students applying for loans is available through the University Office of Student Financial Aid, which awards all forms of federal aid, including Federal Direct Stafford Loans, Federal Work-Study, as well as alternative loans.
The importance of good credit
Your credit history stays with you for a long time and can impact your eligibility for student loan programs. It is a good idea to check your credit report 6 to 9 months before you apply for student loans. A free copy of your credit report from each of the 3 national consumer reporting agencies is available at Annual Credit Report.