Understanding the Cost of a Wake Forest Law Degree
Wake Forest University School of Law, established in 1894, is located in Winston-Salem, a culturally rich mid-sized city in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina. The law school is located on the beautiful 135-acre main campus of Wake Forest University. For prospective law students, understanding the financial implications of attending law school is crucial. Wake Forest Law School aims to support the career growth of its students without imposing overwhelming financial barriers. This article provides a detailed breakdown of the tuition costs, fees, and financial aid options available at Wake Forest University School of Law.
Tuition and Fees
Juris Doctor (JD) Program
Tuition and fees figures are for the 2025-26 academic year for 1L JD students. For the 2025-2026 academic year, the estimated tuition for Wake Forest Law School is $57,920, ranking it #190 in terms of highest tuition among full-time law students. This figure represents the cost for full-time students and is based on 9-month figures for fall and spring semesters.
Master of Legal Studies (MLS) Program
Wake Forest Law also offers an online Master of Legal Studies program. The tuition for the online MLS program is structured differently, based on a per-credit-hour rate.
- Cost per Credit Hour: $1,222
- Total Credits: 30
- Total Tuition: $36,660
- Additional Fees: $270 technology fee per term (fall and spring terms; no technology fee for the summer term)
Tuition and fees do not include the cost of textbooks and materials, which vary by course. Students will be provided with a list of required textbooks and materials upon registration.
It is important to note that tuition and fees are reviewed annually and are subject to change.
Read also: Understanding Wake Forest Costs
Additional Expenses
Beyond tuition, law students should also budget for additional expenses, which can significantly impact the overall cost of attendance. Below is a breakdown of the estimated additional expenses for the 2025-2026 academic year:
| Expense | 1L, 2L, LLM, SJD | 3L |
|---|---|---|
| Books and Supplies | $1,600 | $1,600 |
| Housing | $15,750 | $15,750 |
| Food | $4,950 | $4,950 |
| Personal Expenses | $3,600 | $3,600 |
| Transportation | $3,135 | $3,135 |
| Average Loan Fees - UN | $204 | $204 |
| Average Loan Fees - GP | $1,400 | $1,400 |
| Average Costs Related to Bar Application | - | $1,160 |
| Total Estimated Additional Expenses | $30,639 | $31,799 |
*Dependent care expenses incurred by the student can be added to the cost of attendance on an individual basis.
Law students are assessed a Wellness Fee and have the option to waive the fee each semester. To access the waiver, log into Workday. Enter “Create Request” in the search bar. Health insurance is required by the University for all degree-seeking students and offered as an option for those needing coverage. Students who are adequately insured by their own coverage must waive prior to the fall semester each year. The 2025-2026 Health Insurance Premium is $2,842 ($1,421 per semester).
Financial Aid Options
Wake Forest University School of Law offers various financial aid options to help students manage the cost of their legal education. Financial assistance for graduate education is quite limited. These options include scholarships, loans, and benefits programs.
Scholarships
All admitted first-year JD applicants are considered automatically for merit-based scholarships. For the 2024-25 academic year, the median scholarship award amount was $40,000 for those who were awarded a scholarship. These scholarships can significantly reduce the overall tuition burden.
Read also: Wake Forest GPA and Admissions Strategy
Loans
Online Master of Legal Studies students are encouraged to request federal and state financial aid by completing their FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Loans can help cover tuition and living expenses, but it’s important to borrow responsibly and understand the repayment terms.
Military and Veterans Benefits
Wake Forest Law is a proud participant in the Yellow Ribbon program. Active military service members, veterans, spouses, and dependents have access to additional funding through the Yellow Ribbon Program in partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Yellow Ribbon Program allows military service members and their families to utilize funds to cover tuition expenses and other costs, including books and fees.
Employer Benefits and Discounts
Wake Forest University and Atrium Health employees are eligible for a 20% discount on tuition costs. Employees of organizations within the AllCampus Workplace Network are eligible for a 15% discount on tuition. To learn more about your waiver and discount eligibility, speak with an enrollment specialist.
Understanding the Application Process and Acceptance Rate
Based on the 2025 ABA 509 Report, 2883 candidates submitted JD applications to Wake Forest Law School and 710 received acceptance letters. This means that of the 710 applicants who received law school acceptance letters, 201 chose to enroll. These figures provide insight into the selectivity of the program.
For a competitive law school application to Wake Forest Law School, students should aim to meet or exceed the median statistics shown below. Wake Forest Law ranks #35 in LSAT composite (165.7), an average of its 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile LSAT scores (163 · 166 · 168). Wake Forest Law ranks #52 in GPA composite (3.76), an average of its 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile GPAs (3.60 · 3.79 · 3.90).
Read also: Wake Forest Student Body
The applicant’s file must be complete for consideration, including receipt of a valid unexpired LSAT and/or GRE score report. The first-year JD application opens September 1st. First-year JD students are admitted only in the fall semester for full-time residential study. Both a regular and binding decision application are available.
Career Services and Bar Passage Rates
Wake Forest Law ranks #56 in terms of bar passage rate among first-time test takers (88.2%), and it outperforms by +9.0% the state of North Carolina's overall bar passage rate of 79.3%. Evaluate the career services and writing programs at schools you’re considering. A national comparison on bar passage should be taken with caution because every state has a different bar passage rate. The most meaningful comparison is between a school's passage rate and the state's overall rate for the same exam administration.
"Bar-required" jobs are full-time, long-term positions that require bar admission. "JD advantage" positions are those where the employer requires a JD or considers it an advantage, but bar admission is not required. The salary statistics are those of full-time, long-term employed law graduates for the Class of 2023, reported ten months after graduation, as self-reported by the graduates.
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