Cal Northern School of Law
Cost of Attendance Breakdown
| Annual Cost of Attendance | $59,705 |
| Tuition & Fees | $17,585 |
| Living Expenses | $42,120 |
| Federal Loan Cap (Professional) | −$50,000 |
| Annual Funding Gap | $9,705 |
Cover Your $9,705 Gap
Cal Northern School of Law Law students typically need $9,705 in private loans per year to bridge the gap between federal aid and cost of attendance. Pre-qualify with a soft credit check — no impact to your score.
Based on our analysis of 7,333 programs at 1,861 universities · thefundinggap.org
What This Means for You
Moderate gap — plan ahead
A $9,705/year gap adds up to $29,115 over the full 3-year program. This requires intentional planning but is manageable with the right strategy.
- Contact the financial aid office — many schools offer institutional grants for students with demonstrated need
- Look into graduate assistantships, which often include tuition waivers
- Compare private loan options — rates vary significantly by lender and credit profile
- Consider whether in-state residency (if applicable) would reduce your costs
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the federal loan limit for Cal Northern School of Law Law students?
Under the OBBBA (effective July 1, 2026), Cal Northern School of Law Law students can borrow up to $50,000 per year in federal Direct Loans. This is the professional annual cap. The aggregate lifetime limit is $200,000 for professional students.
Can I still get a Grad PLUS loan for Cal Northern School of Law?
No. Starting July 1, 2026, the Grad PLUS loan program is eliminated under the OBBBA. All graduate and professional students are subject to fixed annual borrowing caps ($50,000/year for professional programs). Students who need additional funding beyond the cap must use private loans, institutional aid, scholarships, or personal funds.
How much does Cal Northern School of Law Law cost per year?
The total cost of attendance for Cal Northern School of Law Law is $59,705 per year. Over the full 3-year program, the total cost is $179,115.
What is the funding gap for Cal Northern School of Law Law?
The annual funding gap is $9,705, calculated as the difference between the total cost of attendance ($59,705) and the federal loan cap ($50,000). Over the full 3-year program, the total gap is $29,115. This is below the national median of $23,524 for Law (JD) programs.
Is Cal Northern School of Law Law classified as graduate or professional?
Cal Northern School of Law Law (JD) is classified as professional under 34 CFR § 668.2, the federal definition of professional programs frozen as of the OBBBA enactment date. This means the annual federal loan cap is $50,000/year, with an aggregate limit of $200,000.
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Data Sources
- Cost of attendance: Sourced from Cal Northern School of Law’s official tuition and fees page for the 2025–2026 academic year.
- Federal loan caps: Defined by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), Public Law 119-21, Title VIII, Section 81001, amending 20 U.S.C. § 1087e(a), paragraph 4(A)(ii).
- IPEDS data: Institutional characteristics from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (NCES), Unit ID: 493956.
- Program classification: JD is classified as professional per 34 CFR § 668.2, with an annual federal loan cap of $50,000.
Methodology
- Funding gap = Cost of Attendance − Federal Loan Cap. Negative values are reported as $0.
- Cost of attendance includes tuition, mandatory fees, and estimated living expenses (housing, food, books, transportation, personal).
- Rankings compare programs within the same degree type nationally, sorted by annual funding gap from lowest to highest.
- Default COA assumes full-time enrollment, out-of-state residency (where applicable), no scholarships or grants, and no prior federal debt.
Data last updated: January 2026. Effective date for OBBBA loan caps: July 1, 2026.
A student at Cal Northern School of Law Law faces an annual funding gap of $9,705 based on a cost of attendance of $59,705 minus the federal professional loan cap of $50,000. Over 3 years, the total funding gap is $29,115. Based on data from “The 2026 Graduate Education Funding Crisis — A Data Report” available on thefundinggap.org.