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Financial Aid

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finaid@wcl.american.edu

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AUWCL Financial Aid Office 4300 Nebraska Avenue NW Capital 305 Washington, DC 20016 United States

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Cost of Attendance

The cost of attendance (COA) is the maximum amount of financial aid permitted from all sources; including but not limited to federal and private student loans, merit scholarships, need-based grant, and other institutional and external funding sources. Institutional funds awarded by AUWCL, in combination with tuition-only outside assistance, cannot exceed AUWCL tuition. Tuition and fees are set by the board of trustees on an annual basis.

 

2026-2027 JD Full-Time Semester Cost of Attendance (12-17 Credits)
Tuition  $34,835
Fees  $1,091*
Total Billable Charges   $35,926 (One semester)
   
Books  $1,600
Housing  $9,747**
Food  $3,411
Transportation  $693
Personal  $1,080
Total for One Semester  $52,457***


*Figure does not include the cost of AU medical insurance
**Based on off-campus housing
***Cost of attendance is increased for unsubsidized loan borrowers by an additional $108 and Graduate PLUS* loan borrowers by an additional $1,262 to help offset federal loan fees incurred at disbursement. (*Graduate PLUS loan is not available to new borrowers after July 1, 2026.)


The full-time JD COA is for students enrolled between 12 and 17 credits. Students taking more than 17 credits (with Registrar approval) are charged per credit above the standard rate. Enrollment in six credits per fall/spring semester is required for receipt of federal financial aid. Actual enrollment in a given term determines the COA calculation and students cannot exceed the COA in either the term or the overall academic year.

Full-time students, including international students (for visa purposes), are automatically enrolled in the AU student health insurance. The charge in 2025-2026 is $2,506 for the academic year and is not included in the standard COA. Students with alternate coverage may waive the AU student health insurance through the Student Health Center. Metro U-pass for full-time students only (12 or more credits) is included in the mandatory student fees.

While the COA cannot be increased to meet non-educational obligations, documented extraordinary expenses and/or special needs may be considered per federal regulations. The COA can be increased for a one-time computer and/or related equipment purchase under specified conditions, to cover the cost of AU medical insurance, or to cover the cost of bar exam fees. A separate form is required through the AUWCL Office of Financial Aid for the computer, medical, and bar exam fee reimbursements, and are posted on the Financial Aid Forms webpage.

Prior Years:

AUWCL reserves the right to modify or change the contents of the cost of attendance without notice.

Summer Semester

Full-time JD students enrolled in a minimum of three (3) credit hours, including courses on main campus, during the summer semester may be eligible to apply for financial aid through the Direct PLUS Loan program. For more information, please click here. 

Summer 2026 Cost of Attendance

AUWCL reserves the right to modify or change the contents of the cost of attendance without notice.