The rules and regulations for establishing residency for tuition purposes are defined by state statutes. A financially independent adult must have resided in New Mexico for a period of twelve consecutive months immediately prior to the term for which residency is being sought. Residency in this context means legal residence. Legal residence requires intent to remain in the state indefinitely, in the sense of making it one's permanent home, as well as physical residence.
The residency decision is based on the information contained in the application for admission.
All students are classified according to their residency status for tuition purposes. Nonresident students may be eligible for resident tuition rates after the first year if they fulfill the requirements for residency and petition for the resident classification.
Any student wishing to change from non-resident to resident classification must submit a petition to the UNM Enrollment Management Office before the end of the second week of classes for a given semester. For further information, including frequently asked questions, requirements for establishing New Mexico residency, and residency petitions, visit the University Registrar's Office website.
Resident tuition for 2012-2013 is $7549 per semester or $15,098 per year. Non-resident tuition is $16,954 per semester or $33,908 per year.
Tuition and Fees (in-state) |
$15,098 |
Room and Board |
$8,774 |
Books and Supplies |
$1,160 |
Curricular Fee |
$500 |
Transportation |
$1,736 |
Personal Expenses |
$3,184 |
Supplement for out-of-state tuition |
$18,810 |
Most of our students finance their legal education through a combination of federal loans and work study. Eligible students may also receive law school need-based grants. While applicants must be admitted to receive an offer of aid, you should not wait until you are admitted to file your federal loan application.
Law students are required to pay a $25.00 Graduate and Professional School Association fee per semester.
All law students are charged a fee each semester to cover curricular costs including but not limited to Westlaw, Lexis, and CALI passwords; Extegrity Exam4 licenses; student copying and printing quotas; classroom, courtroom, clinic, computer lab, student organization offices and journal suite IT equipment including computers, monitors and software licenses; and emails and media servers, media center equipment and staff support. This fee is $500.00 for the regular 2012-2013 academic year. The fee is payable in two installments—one half is billed in Fall semester; the remainder is billed in Spring semester. In addition, a $175.00 fee will be billed for anyone enrolled in Summer Semester for 6 or more credits. The UNM Bursar's Office bills students each semester for the curricular fee, and payments should be made directly to that office
Officers of the Student Bar Association collect one-time voluntary dues of $90 during the first week of the fall semester. Transfer students pay $60; the fee for visiting students is $30. Payment entitles the student to a locker and participation in SBA-sponsored activities. Withdrawal refunds are prorated to the semester of withdrawal.
Students are given a good discount on subscriptions to United States Law Week, a national survey of current law published by the Bureau of National Affairs, Inc. Information regarding actual rates and deadlines is distributed early each Fall Semester.
New Mexico attorneys are not required to carry malpractice insurance. The School of Law Clinic, however, believes it is a fundamental professional responsibility to protect clients from potential harm which may be caused by our negligence. The Clinic negotiates a new malpractice insurance premium each year, buying the most coverage for the most reasonable rate. All students enrolled in Clinical courses are required to pay an equitable share of the cost of malpractice insurance. This fee is approximately $120. Students are informed of the actual rate no later than the first day of Clinic classes and pay their fee to the School of Law no later than the second Friday of the semester in which the student is enrolled.
The group health and accident insurance is available to UNM students carrying six or more semester hours during a regular semester. Participation is at the student's option, except that foreign students are required to have this coverage for themselves and dependents. Please contact the Student Health Center for current rates, application, and payment.
UNM School of Law
1117 Stanford NE MSC11 6070, 1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
© The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, (505) 277-0111
New Mexico's Flagship University