Paying for a Juris Doctor (JD) can feel like solving a puzzle with moving pieces. Tuition is only one tile; living costs, licensing-exam prep, and interest add up fast. For many aspiring attorneys, total borrowing can approach six figures.

The goal isn’t “no debt at all,” but a level that fits expected income so repayment doesn’t dominate the first decade of practice.

Total Price

Start with the published cost of attendance (COA) for each school. COA bundles tuition and fees with books, housing, food, transportation, and personal expenses. Treat it as a ceiling—not a suggestion. If your actual rent or food costs will be lower, adjust downward now; every trimmed dollar is a dollar you don’t have to finance at graduate-loan rates.

Hidden Extras

Budget beyond the COA. Licensing-exam prep courses, exam fees, a few months of living expenses during the licensing-exam study period, and relocation costs can easily add thousands. Also consider technology (laptop replacement), health insurance gaps, clinic apparel, and professional dues. Interest that accrues while in school and during grace periods quietly inflates the final balance if it’s not paid along the way.

Borrowing Math

Calculate an annual funding gap: COA minus scholarships, grants, savings, and family help. Multiply by program length, then add your post-graduation exam-period cushion. Keep a simple tracker: committed aid, your cash, and the minimum loan needed per term. Precision here prevents “just in case” borrowing that becomes expensive later.

Loan Choices

Graduate borrowers typically start with federal loans because they offer fixed rates, flexible income-driven repayment (IDR), forbearance options, and pathways to forgiveness for qualifying public-service work. Annual and lifetime limits apply, so know your remaining eligibility before each year begins. Private loans can fill gaps, sometimes at lower advertised rates, but they generally lack IDR, standardized forbearance, and robust discharge protections. Compare APRs, fees, and co-signer requirements; read the fine print on variable rates and autopay discounts.

Earnings Reality

Post-JD pay isn’t one number. Outcomes vary by market, practice setting, and class rank. Large firms can offer high starting salaries with intense hours; government and public-interest roles pay less but may unlock assistance programs. Before borrowing, study each school’s ABA employment report for median and 75th-percentile salaries by sector and region. Align debt with the salary you are most likely—not ideally—going to earn.

Affordability Test

Stress-test the payment. On a $137,500 balance at 7% interest, a standard 10-year plan runs about $1,596 per month; stretch to 20 years and it’s about $1,066. A common guardrail is to keep required payments within 10%–15% of gross income. If the math doesn’t work at the salary you expect, aim to borrow less, use IDR to reduce required payments, or pivot to a school/offer that reduces out-of-pocket need.

Mark Kantrowitz, a student-aid expert, states, “Borrow as little as you need, not as much as you can.”

Use that lens to separate “need” from “nice to have,” especially during the years when borrowing costs are highest.

Scholarships First

Scholarships are risk-free “returns.” Improve your offer by updating schools on new achievements, competing offers, or cost changes. Understand GPA stipulations—first-year curves mean not everyone keeps a conditional award. Consider service-based scholarships and school-funded loan repayment assistance programs (LRAPs) tied to public-interest careers. A slightly lower-ranked school with a strong scholarship can outperform a pricier brand name on a net basis.

Reduce Borrowing

Control what you can: choose lower-cost housing, share rent, use student transit, buy used casebooks or digital versions, and track every recurring subscription. Apply for research assistant roles, clinics with stipends, and summer funding programs. In-state tuition, accelerated two-year tracks, or part-time options (if compatible with your goals) can meaningfully cut total borrowing.

Repayment Paths

Know your route before you sign. Standard 10-year repayment eliminates debt fastest, but the payment is high. Income-driven plans cap payments to a share of income and can forgive remaining balances after a set number of qualifying years; they trade lower near-term payments for a longer timeline and potential tax consequences on forgiveness (rules vary). Refinancing with a private lender later can lower rates—but only when your income, credit, and job stability are strong and you no longer need federal protections.

Offer Comparisons

Compare schools using after-scholarship cost, not just sticker price. Build a simple ROI grid: total projected borrowing, likely 1L-summer income, expected sector (big firm, midsize, government, public interest), and median starting pay in your target city. Run the payment-to-income ratio for each scenario. Often, the “best” choice is the offer that delivers the most career options with the least mandatory monthly payment.

Risk Guardrails

Set boundaries now to avoid regret later. Cap total debt to an amount that still works on your conservative salary scenario. Borrow only what is needed each term; you can always request more later, but you can’t “unborrow.” If a life event changes your plans, talk early with the financial aid office about budget adjustments or emergency aid before reaching for high-rate credit.

Career Cushion

Career outcomes drive repayment. Prioritize schools with strong licensing-exam pass support, on-campus interview pipelines, and alumni networks in your chosen market. Use career services from day one; early externships and clinics improve odds of landing paid second-year positions, which in turn can reduce post-graduation borrowing and accelerate your first full-time offer.

Conclusion

Law school can be a solid investment when debt and income expectations match. Price the full journey, lead with scholarships, borrow only what you must, and choose a repayment path that preserves flexibility as your career takes shape.