Average Law School Debt: How Much Do Grads Owe?

Law school can lead to a high-earning career, but getting there often requires taking on debt. About 4 in 5 law school graduates reported borrowing to pay for law school or prior education, and 21% used a private loan to cover bar exam preparation costs, according to the American Bar Association (ABA). For many new lawyers, starting salaries may be modest compared with their student loan balances, which can make repayment difficult. 

This guide explores average law school debt statistics and strategies to pay it off.

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How much debt do law school graduates have?

Among law school graduates who borrowed, the median balance was $112,500 in J.D. loans and $137,500 in total education debt at graduation. Graduates who took out a loan for bar exam preparation borrowed a median of $7,500.

The table below shows average law school debt by graduation year.

What's driving law school debt higher?

Law school debt has risen alongside the cost of earning a J.D. Tuition and fees have increased at many schools, while students also have to cover living expenses such as housing, food, transportation, and books.

Federal borrowing rules also changed on July 1, 2026. Previously, law students could use Direct Unsubsidized Loans and grad PLUS loans to borrow up to their school’s full cost of attendance. Grad PLUS loans are no longer available to new graduate and professional students. Instead, law students are limited to $50,000 per year in federal loans with a $200,000 cumulative total.

Students at law schools where the cost of attendance exceeds these caps may have a larger gap to cover with scholarships, savings, income, or private law school loans.

How does law school debt vary by school?

The amount of debt you take on can vary widely depending on where you attend law school. Tuition differs considerably by school, and public law schools typically charge lower rates for in-state students than for out-of-state students.

The table below shows average debt among graduates at selected law schools:

How does law school debt compare to earnings?

Lawyer salaries vary widely after graduation. In 2025, lawyers earned a median annual salary of $159,670, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, many new lawyers start out earning less than they owe in student loans, which can make repayment more difficult early in their careers.

Earnings also vary by practice setting. The table below shows average lawyer salaries across different types of legal work:

How does law school debt compare to other degrees?

Law school graduates generally leave school with more debt than students earning most master’s degrees. In the 2019-20 school year, master’s degree recipients graduated with an average of $53,920 in student loan debt, compared with $132,740 for law school graduates.

Law school debt was still lower than debt for some other professional degrees. Medical school graduates, for example, left school with an average of $191,950 in debt in 2019-20.

How can you pay off law school debt? 

The right repayment strategy depends on your loan type, career plans, income, and financial goals. Here are some options to consider:

Pursue loan forgiveness

If you have federal Direct Loans and work full time for a qualifying government or nonprofit employer, Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) could eliminate your remaining balance after 120 qualifying monthly payments.

“If you have a desire to work in government or qualifying nonprofit work, PSLF can make a big difference in managing your student debt,” says Leslie H. Tayne, Esq., founder of Tayne Law Group. “Just make sure you understand the requirements early on, and thoroughly document your employment as well as your payments.”

Choose the right repayment plan 

Your federal repayment plan can greatly affect your monthly payment and how long you remain in debt. The plans available to you depend partly on when your loans were disbursed. For borrowers with loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2026, the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) is the only income-driven repayment option. Borrowers with older loans may have additional choices.

RAP bases payments on income and can make monthly payments more manageable when earnings are relatively low. However, stretching repayment over a longer period can also mean staying in debt longer, so compare your options based on both the monthly payment and total repayment cost.

Alan Heimlich, president of Heimlich Law, also cautions graduates against letting student debt dictate every career decision. “New lawyers should focus on building their skills and finding the most rewarding and lucrative career option,” he advises. 

Refinance law school debt

Refinancing can be worth considering if you have strong credit and can qualify for a lower interest rate. A lower rate could reduce your monthly payment, total interest costs, or both.

However, be cautious about refinancing federal loans with a private lender. Doing so permanently converts them into private loans, which means giving up federal benefits such as income-driven repayment and PSLF.

If refinancing makes sense for your situation, prequalify with multiple lenders when possible to compare rates and terms without a hard credit check.