Tuition and Fees
For the 2024-25 academic year, tuition at the College of Law is $434.00 per credit hour for residents of Nebraska and $1,170.00 per credit hour for nonresidents. In addition to tuition, students will pay estimated University fees of $694.90 each semester and a Law College fee of $1,050.00 each semester. First year students take 15 credit hours in both the first and second semester. First year tuition and estimated fees for a resident are $16,549.80. First year tuition and estimated fees for a nonresident are $38,629.80.
Upperclass students take an average of 15 credit hours each semester, although full time upperclass students can take between 12 and 18 hours each semester. A total of 93 credit hours is required to graduate.
Learn more about the estimated cost of attendance at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, including all estimated cost components.
For information on non-JD program tuition and fees for Space, Cyber, and National Security Law programs please visit the program's Prospective Student page.
The following schedule shows the tuition and estimated fees for 2024-25:
Tuition Per Credit Hour:
Resident $434.00/hour
Nonresident $1,170.00/hour
| RESIDENT | NONRESIDENT | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
CREDIT HOURS | SEMESTER | YEAR | SEMESTER | YEAR |
| 12 | $5,208.00 | $10,416.00 | $14,040.00 | $28,080.00 |
| 15 | $6,510.00 | $13,020.00 | $17,550.00 | $35,100.00 |
| 18 | $7,812.00 | $15,624.00 | $21,060.00 | $42,120.00 |
| Estimated Fees | Semester | Year |
|---|---|---|
| University | $694.90 | $1,389.80 |
| University Registration | $20.00 | $40.00 |
| Law College | $1,050.00 | $2,100.00 |
| Total | $1,764.90 | $3,529.80 |
*Students new to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln will also be assessed a one-time ID fee during their first semester.
Student Budgets
2024-25 First Year JD Student Budget
| Tuition & Fees | Housing & Food | Books & Supplies | Personal Expenses | Loan Fee | Total | |
| Resident Student | ||||||
| Resident Hall | 16,549.80 | 15,440 | 2,000 | 4,652 | 142 | 38,783.80 |
| Off-Campus | 16,549.80 | 15,440 | 2,000 | 4,652 | 142 | 38,783.80 |
| Living with Parents | 16,549.80 | 6,826 | 2,000 | 4,652 | 142 | 30,169.80 |
| Nonresident Student |
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|
|
|
|
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| Resident Hall | 38,629.80 | 15,440 | 2,000 | 4,652 | 142 | 60,863.80 |
| Off-Campus | 38,629.80 | 15,440 | 2,000 | 4,652 | 142 | 60,863.80 |
| Living with Parents | 38,629.80 | 6,826 | 2,000 | 4,652 | 142 | 52,249.80 |
Scholarships
Incoming Students
Applicants with outstandingly strong academic credentials may be awarded scholarships in varying amounts ranging from a few thousand dollars to full tuition and, in some exceptional cases, full tuition and fees. Academic credentials are not the only things considered by the scholarship committee when making awards. Additional factors include economic or educational disadvantages which were overcome by the student to obtain their undergraduate degree, academic promise, whether the student was a college student or would be a law student, past or present military service, and whether the student has a commitment to provide legal services to underserved communities after graduation from law school.
Scholarships are awarded to enhance the diversity of perspectives in the entering class. Thus, students are welcome to include an optional diversity statement with their application, if applicable.
The College of Law awards scholarships for both incoming and upper-class students. All admitted students are automatically considered for scholarship and no separate application is required unless the applicant would like to apply for one of the additional privately-funded scholarships below.
Upper-class Students
Students not awarded scholarship prior to their first year at Nebraska Law are able to apply for Schmid Honors Scholarships prior to their second and/or third years of law school. Factors considered by the Scholarship Committee when awarding Schmid Honors Scholarships include, but are not limited to, academic excellence, leadership and involvement, volunteer experience, ability to work well with others, and
Scholarship Renewal and Retention
Scholarship renewal and retention requires students to remain regularly enrolled (12 credits) and are in Good academic standing which is a “C” average.
*A “conditional scholarship is any financial aid award, the retention of which is dependent upon the student maintaining a grade point average or class standing, other than that ordinarily required to remain in good academic standing.” ABA Rule 509-4.
Scholarships
Schmid Family CASNR Scholarships
The Schmid Family Scholarships are for students and/or graduates of the University of Nebraska – Lincoln’s College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR). These awards provide full tuition and fees scholarships to CASNR students admitted to Nebraska Law’s 3+3 or traditional JD program for legal studies at the University of Nebraska College of Law. Applicants may apply online. For additional information about the scholarship, please contact the College of Law Admissions Office.
Duane W. Acklie Honor Scholarship
Scholarships covering half tuition are being awarded to select applicants who graduated from a Nebraska high school or have a parent or grandparent who graduated from a University of Nebraska-system school. Preference is given to students who are from rural parts of Nebraska (outside Lincoln and Omaha) and to students who have financial need. Applicants must apply and be admitted to Nebraska Law and must also apply online for the Acklie Honor Scholarship by no later than February 1st. Successful candidates must pay their first and second deposits by March 1st, 2025.
Public Interest Scholars Program
The Public Interest Scholars Program at Nebraska Law reflects our commitment to developing inclusive leaders who advance justice, solve problems, and serve with integrity. Through the program, we seek to identify incoming students who demonstrate exceptional dedication to public service and to foster that commitment through financial support, mentoring, individualized assistance, and unique programming and networking opportunities. Our hope is that these students will become leaders within the Nebraska Law community, and eventually, the public interest legal community.
The benefits for Public Interest Scholars include:
- Half-tuition scholarship
- Alumni mentor
- One-on-one advising session with the Director of Public Interest Programs prior to orientation and individualized guidance throughout law school
- Welcome dinner with public interest faculty and alumni
- Guaranteed summer funding for unpaid qualified public interest internships through the Nebraska Public Interest Law Fund
- Individual counseling session on loan repayment and Public Service Loan Forgiveness with an Accredited Financial Counselor through AccessLex
- Exclusive programming and events for Scholars throughout the year
- Paid registration for the national Equal Justice Works Conference & Career Fair and Midwest Public Interest Law Career Conference
- Guaranteed seat in one of the law college clinic programs as a third-year student
Applicants who wish to be considered for the Public Interest Scholars Program must include a separate essay when applying for admission describing their public service commitment and career goals and any factors that have influenced them. In evaluating candidates for the program, we look at the whole person, but will focus primarily on demonstrated interest, experience, and commitment to public service along with leadership potential.
Applications will be reviewed beginning February 1, 2025. Candidates selected for the program will be given a deposit deadline as early as March 1, 2025 so that scholars can be selected until the cohort is filled. We anticipate offering five scholarships for 2025-2026. As such, we strongly recommend submitting your application and required essay as early as possible and before February 1, 2025 for priority consideration.
Schmid Space, Cyber, and National Security Scholarships
Three incoming first-year students who demonstrate an interest in pursuing this area of concentration will be selected to receive an annual award of $1,500. Students with a passion for Space, Cyber, and/or National Security Law should apply to Nebraska Law and complete the supplemental scholarship application before February 1st. Successful candidates will be required to submit seat deposits by March 1st in order to secure the award.
Privately Funded Scholarships for Nebraska Law Students
Standing Bear Scholarship
Regularly enrolled members of federally recognized Native American tribes eligible for resident tuition under the policy of the University of Nebraska Board of Regents are invited to apply for the Standing Bear Scholarship. This full tuition and fees award is given to applicants who have been admitted as a full-time student to Nebraska Law. Standing Bear scholarships are awarded in honor of Ponca Chief Standing Bear whose name and deeds commemorate the importance of the basic human rights guaranteed under our constitution.
Additional Information and Application Materials
Bennett G. Hornstein Scholarship
This award was created to honor the memory of the late Bennett G. Hornstein and to support aspiring law students committed to community service.
Financial Aid
About
Although tuition at the University of Nebraska College of Law is lower than it is at many other law schools, many students need assistance in financing their legal education. At the University of Nebraska, that help can come in a variety of forms, including scholarships and federally sponsored student loans. The total amount of financial aid – academic scholarships, opportunity scholarships, and loans – cannot exceed the estimate of the student expenses for the academic year. The estimate of student expenses is set each year by the University of Nebraska Financial Aid Office.
Application Procedures
In order to apply for any financial aid other than an academic scholarship, you must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The federal financial aid school code for the University of Nebraska is 002565. Your FAFSA form should be filed after January 1, as soon as your prior year tax return is complete. You should file your FAFSA form with Federal Student Aid Programs on-line at https://www.studentaid.gov. All admitted students are sent a more detailed financial aid handout with the letter of admission. It provides additional information about the FAFSA and the University financial aid processing system.
Federal Loans
Because the amount of scholarship money is limited, the primary sources of financial aid are the two types of federally sponsored student loan programs available to law students: Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans and Federal Direct PLUS Loans. The amount that a student can borrow under the Federal Direct Loan program is tied to the individual student’s financial need, which is calculated pursuant to a standardized formula. The total amount of financial aid – scholarships and loans – cannot exceed the estimate of student expenses for the academic year. All law students are considered independent, and parental income and assets will not be considered in calculating a student’s financial need.
Working While Attending Law School
First-year students spend enormous amounts of time reading for class, preparing for class, outlining, studying, researching, writing, and reviewing. Thus, the College of Law strongly discourages first year students from working. During the second and third years of law school, however, many Nebraska Law students will work part time. Nebraska Law follows the ABA guidelines in recommending that full-time second and third year law students should not work more than 20 hours per week.
Residency
The Board of Regents has outlined the requirements for a student to be classified as a resident for tuition purposes. Residency for tuition purposes may differ from residency for voting or other purposes. Click here for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Residency Policy. The Law College non-resident tuition is lower than many schools, and a number of nonresident scholarships are offered to students.