Understanding the Cost of a University of Dayton School of Law Education
The University of Dayton School of Law (UDSL), located in Dayton, Ohio, offers various programs for aspiring legal professionals. Understanding the tuition costs, fees, and related expenses is crucial for prospective students. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the costs associated with attending the University of Dayton School of Law, including tuition for J.D. and LL.M. programs, cost of attendance, and available financial aid options.
University of Dayton School of Law: An Overview
The University of Dayton School of Law is a private law school affiliated with the University of Dayton, a Catholic university of the Society of Mary. Established initially as the University of Dayton College of Law in 1922, it reopened in September 1974 under its current name. The law school is located in Keller Hall. UDSL has a rich history, being one of the first in the country to create a Program in Law and Technology (PILT) in 1989. Through partnerships, such as the one with the University of Dayton's Human Rights Center, the law school offers students opportunities to protect the rights of vulnerable citizens worldwide. The school emphasizes blending theory with practice and fostering an inclusive environment.
Tuition and Fees for the J.D. Program
For the academic year 2026, the tuition & fees for the University of Dayton School of Law is $41,914. Compared to the national average ($59,986) for private law schools in the United States, the University of Dayton School of Law's tuition is significantly lower. The cost of attendance (COA) for 2026 is $57,343, encompassing tuition and fees, living costs, expenses for books and supplies, transportation, and other living expenses. However, this figure may not include health insurance fees, loan fees, and required exam fees.
Historical Tuition Increases
The tuition & fees at the University of Dayton School of Law has increased by 3.96% compared to last year. If this year's increase rate is applied, the estimated tuition & fees for 2025 would be $43,574, reflecting a $1,660 increase.
Cost of Attendance (COA) and Financial Aid
The cost of attendance at University of Dayton includes both direct (billable) costs and non-billable costs commonly associated with law school. After receiving grants and scholarships, the COA can decrease to $24,343.
Read also: Financial Aid at Dayton
LL.M. Program Tuition and Fees
The University of Dayton School of Law offers an LL.M. (Master of Laws) program. The LL.M. tuition & fees is $32,008. The University of Dayton School of Law charges tuition per credit hour rather than per academic year. The cost per credit hour for the Traditional program is $1,380 for the 2025-2026 academic year.
Online LL.M. Program
The Online LL.M. Program in American and Transnational Law addresses the evolving legal challenges presented by an increasingly interconnected global economic order. The courses are fully online and asynchronous, providing flexibility for students to access them anytime. The curriculum aligns with the current requirements for the Washington D.C., California, and Washington state bar exams.
Online LL.M. graduates have free access to a Mini Bar Prep Program that supplements their LL.M. studies. Partial tuition scholarships are available and guaranteed for students who apply by the priority deadline. Reading materials and supplemental resources are included at no extra cost. Students can access free online study resources, Career Services, Academic Support, and Library resources as Online LL.M.
Benefits of the Online LL.M. Program
Students receive personalized career counseling, connect with over 120,000 University of Dayton alumni worldwide, and enhance their job search with their LL.M. Those seeking a broader learning experience may participate in professional development opportunities. Degree-seeking students and graduates from the Online LL.M. Program can benefit from: Customized LL.M.-oriented webinars co-hosted by Dayton Law's Bar Preparation Department and leading commercial bar preparation companies (BARBRI, Kaplan, Themis, Helix).
Online LL.M. Program Features
The online LL.M. program is led by distinguished faculty members, including acclaimed professors and experienced legal practitioners, who bring real-world expertise and deep legal knowledge to every course. The faculty members are not only experts in their fields but also have extensive experience teaching in an online format. In addition to being experts in their fields, several faculty members are multilingual and have experience teaching international students, which enhances our inclusive learning environment. The University of Dayton's Alumni Association fosters lifelong involvement with the University via alumni programs, activities, and services that help you stay connected no matter where you live. University of Dayton graduates automatically become members of the Alumni Association.
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Admission to the Online LL.M. Program
The Online LL.M. program is for law school graduates who already hold a first degree in law. Depending on your background (US or foreign-trained attorney), prepare required documents like transcripts, CV/resume, personal statement, and English proficiency scores.
Dayton Law offers generous partial-tuition scholarships based on a combination of merit, need, and professional and personal accomplishments. All applications submitted and approved by our Priority Scholarship Deadline will have a guaranteed partial tuition scholarship.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
After receiving grants and scholarships, the COA down to $24,343. Dayton Law offers generous partial-tuition scholarships based on a combination of merit, need, and professional and personal accomplishments. All applications submitted and approved by our Priority Scholarship Deadline will have a guaranteed partial tuition scholarship. Outside of the partial-tuition scholarships awarded by Dayton Law at admission, there are limited outside scholarship resources. In addition, there are private lenders who offer loans to international students.
Additional Expenses and Considerations
The Office of Financial Aid establishes annual student budgets to reflect a realistic cost of attendance. These budgets include both your direct (billable) costs, above, and those non-billable costs associated most commonly with law school.
To encourage you to devote your full attention to the rigors of the first year of law school, UDSL policy prohibits employment during the first year with the exception of holiday and summer breaks (This policy does not apply to Online Hybrid students).
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Career Prospects
According to Dayton Law's official 2025 ABA-required disclosures, 89.8% of the Class of 2024 obtained full-time, long-term, bar passage-required or J.D. preferred employment ten months after graduation, excluding solo-practitioners, with 79.6% obtaining bar passage-required employment (i.e.
Hybrid J.D. Program
The University of Dayton School of Law (UDSL) offers a Hybrid J.D. program. The Office of Financial Aid establishes annual student budgets to reflect a realistic cost of attendance. These budgets include both your direct (billable) costs, above, and those non-billable costs associated most commonly with law school.
Concentrations
The law school offers students the ability to take concentrations in seven different areas: Business Law & Compliance, Civil Advocacy & Dispute Resolution, Criminal Law, Human & Civil Rights Law, Law & Sustainability, Law & Technology and Personal & Family Law.
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