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Bar Exam Cost & Fees by State - Find Your Bar Exam Costs

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by   Eric CervoneFeb 08, 2022
Bar Exam Cost & Fees by State - Find Your Bar Exam Costs
An often overlooked aspect of preparing for the bar exam is the cost and fees associated with sitting for the exam. While some employers will pay for bar exam costs, many examinees must foot their own bill. Because these fees can easily add up to over $1,000 (and this doesn’t even include travel expenses!), it’s important for examinees to understand what they’ll be required to pay to sit for the bar exam. Below, we’ve broken down the costs and fees associated with the bar exam in each state (as of this writing).

For a detailed view of bar exam-related fees across the country, visit the National Conference of Bar Examiners’ website.

Alabama Bar Exam Cost and Fees

First-time takers: $575
Attorneys: $575
Repeaters: $575
Laptop fee (note that in many jurisdictions, examinees wishing to take the exam on a laptop must pay both a laptop fee and a software fee): $121

For more information, visit the Alabama State Bar Admission Office’s website.

Alaska Bar Exam Cost and Fees

First-time takers: $800
Attorneys: $800
Repeaters: $500
Laptop fee: $100

For more information, visit the Alaska Bar Association’s website.

Arizona Bar Exam Cost and Fees


First-time takers: $880
Attorneys: $880
Repeaters: $580
Laptop fee: $125

For more information, visit the Arizona Supreme Court’s website.

Arkansas Bar Exam Cost and Fees

First-time takers: $1,000
Attorneys: $1,000
Repeaters: $1,000
Laptop fee: $0

For more information, visit the Arkansas Judiciary’s website.

California Bar Exam Cost and Fees

First-time takers: $677
Attorneys: $983
Repeaters: $677 for non-attorneys; $983 for attorneys
Laptop fee: $153

For more information, visit the State Bar of California’s website. 

Colorado Bar Exam Cost and Fees

First-time takers: $710
Attorneys: $710
Repeaters: $710
Laptop fee: $0

For more information, visit the Colorado Supreme Court’s website.

Connecticut Bar Exam Cost and Fees

First-time takers: $800
Attorneys: $800
Repeaters: $800
Laptop fee: $125

For more information, visit the Colorado Supreme Court’s website.

Delaware Bar Exam Cost and Fees

First-time takers: $700
Attorneys: $800
Repeaters: $700
Laptop fee: $100

For more information, visit the Board of Bar Examiners of the Supreme Court of Delaware’s website.

District of Columbia Bar Exam Cost and Fees

First-time takers: $100 +  $45 to sit for the Multistate Essay Examination (MEE) and the Multistate Performance Test (MPT); $60 to sit for the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE)
Attorneys: $100 + $45 (MEE + MPT) + $60 (MBE)
Repeaters: $100 + $45 (MEE + MPT) + $60 (MBE)
Laptop fee: $145

For more information, visit the District of Columbia Committee on Admissions’ website.

Florida Bar Exam Cost and Fees

First-time takers: $1,000
Attorneys: $1,600–$3,000 depending on time in practice
Repeaters: $450
Laptop fee: $125

For more information, visit the Florida Board of Bar Examiners’ website.

Georgia Bar Exam Cost and Fees

First-time takers: $442
Attorneys: $378
Repeaters: $442
Laptop fee: $100

For more information, visit the Georgia Office Of Bar Admissions’ website.

Hawaii Bar Exam Cost and Fees

First-time takers: $500
Attorneys: $500
Repeaters: $500
Laptop fee: $133.50

For more information, visit the Hawaii State Judiciary’s website. 

Idaho Bar Exam Cost and Fees

First-time takers: $600
Attorneys: $800
Repeaters: $200–$300
Laptop fee: $125

For more information, visit the Idaho State Bars’ website.

Illinois Bar Exam Cost and Fees

First-time takers: $950
Attorneys: $950
Repeaters: $500
Laptop fee: $105

For more information, visit the Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar’s website.

Indiana Bar Exam Cost and Fees

First-time takers: $250
Attorneys: $250
Repeaters: $250
Laptop fee: $110

For more information, visit the Indiana Judiciary’s website.

Iowa Bar Exam Cost and Fees

First-time takers: $550
Attorneys: $800
Repeaters: $550 for nonattorneys, $800 for attorneys
Laptop fee: $122

For more information, visit the Iowa Judicial Branch’s website.

Kansas Bar Exam Cost and Fees

First-time takers: $700
Attorneys: $700
Repeaters: $700
Laptop fee: $0

For more information, visit the Kansas Judicial Branch’s website.

Kentucky Bar Exam Cost and Fees

First-time takers: $875
Attorneys: $1,200
Repeaters: $325
Laptop fee: $125

For more information, visit the Kentucky Office of Bar Admissions’ website.

Louisiana Bar Exam Cost and Fees

First-time takers: $750 for in-state applicants, $850 for out-of-state applicants
Attorneys: $875
Repeaters: $875
Laptop fee: $125

For more information, visit Louisiana’s Committee on Bar Admissions’ website.

Maine Bar Exam Cost and Fees

First-time takers: $600
Attorneys: $650
Repeaters: $600 for nonattorneys, $650 for attorneys
Laptop fee: $110

For more information, visit the Maine Board of Bar Examiners’ website. 

Maryland Bar Exam Cost and Fees

First-time takers: $750
Attorneys: $750
Repeaters: $400
Laptop fee: $130

For more information, visit the Maryland State Board of Law Examiners’ website.

Massachusetts Bar Exam Cost and Fees

First-time takers: $815
Attorneys: $815
Repeaters: $815
Laptop fee: $175

For more information, visit the Massachusetts Board of Bar Examiners’ website.

Michigan Bar Exam Cost and Fees

First-time takers: $775
Attorneys: $775
Repeaters: $300
Laptop fee: varies

For more information, visit the State Bar of Michigan’s website.

Minnesota Bar Exam Cost and Fees

First-time takers: $600
Attorneys: $1,050
Repeaters: $600
Laptop fee: $100

For more information, visit the Minnesota State Board of Law Examiners’ website. 

Mississippi Bar Exam Cost and Fees

First-time takers: $525 if applying as a law student; $825 if not applying as a law student
Attorneys: $825
Repeaters: $550
Laptop fee: varies

For more information, visit the State of Mississippi Judiciary’s website.

Missouri Bar Exam Cost and Fees

First-time takers: $485 for candidates who applied for a character and fitness report, $910 for candidates who did not apply for a character and fitness report
Attorneys: $485 if applied for a character and fitness report, $910 if did not apply for a character and fitness report
Repeaters: $485 for candidates who failed the most recent exam, $585 for candidates who failed any other exam
Laptop fee: $105

For more information, visit the Missouri Board of Law Examiners’ website.

Montana Bar Exam Cost and Fees

First-time takers: $620
Attorneys: $875
Repeaters: $310
Laptop fee: $125

For more information, visit the State Bar of Montana’s website.

Nebraska Bar Exam Cost and Fees

First-time takers: $490
Attorneys: $490
Repeaters: $225 for first time repeaters, $515 for other repeaters
Laptop fee: $100

For more information, visit the Nebraska Judicial Branch’s website. 

Nevada Bar Exam Cost and Fees

First-time takers: $700
Attorneys: $1,000
Repeaters: $700 for nonattorneys, $1,000 for attorneys
Laptop fee: $150

For more information, visit the State Bar of Nevada’s website.

New Hampshire Bar Exam Cost and Fees

First-time takers: $725
Attorneys: $725
Repeaters: $725
Laptop fee: $52.50

For more information, visit the New Hampshire Judicial Branch’s website.

New Jersey Bar Exam Cost and Fees

First-time takers: $675
Attorneys: $675
Repeaters: $675
Laptop fee: $0

For more information, visit the New Jersey Board of Bar Examiners’ website.

New Mexico Bar Exam Cost and Fees

First-time takers: $500 for applicants within one year of graduating law school, $1,000 for other applicants
Attorneys: $500 for applicants within one year of graduating law school, $1,000 for other applicants
Repeaters: $100
Laptop fee: $100

For more information, New Mexico Board of Bar Examiners’ website.

New York Bar Exam Cost and Fees

First-time takers: $250 for applicants from U.S. law schools and $750 for candidates educated in a foreign country
Attorneys: $250 for applicants from U.S. law schools and $750 for candidates educated in a foreign country
Repeaters: $250 for applicants from U.S. law schools and $750 for candidates educated in a foreign country
Laptop fee: $100

For more information, visit the New York State Board of Law Examiners’ website.

North Carolina Bar Exam Cost and Fees

First-time takers: $850
Attorneys: $1,650
Repeaters: $400
Laptop fee: $125

For more information, visit the Board of Law Examiners of the State of North Carolina ‘s website.

North Dakota Bar Exam Cost and Fees

First-time takers: $150
Attorneys: $150
Repeaters: $150
Laptop fee: $110

For more information, visit State of North Dakota Courts’ website.

Ohio Bar Exam Cost and Fees

First-time takers: $358
Attorneys: $358
Repeaters: $358
Laptop fee: $121

For more information, visit the Supreme Court of Ohio’s website.

Oklahoma Bar Exam Cost and Fees

First-time takers: $400
Attorneys: $1,100
Repeaters: $400
Laptop fee: $125

For more information, visit the Oklahoma Board of Bar Examiners’ website. 

Oregon Bar Exam Cost and Fees

First-time takers: $750
Attorneys: $1,175
Repeaters: $750 if not admitted in another jurisdiction; $1,125 if admitted in another jurisdiction
Laptop fee: $150

For more information, visit the Oregon State Bar Board of Bar Examiners’ website.

Pennsylvania Bar Exam Cost and Fees

First-time takers: $650
Attorneys: $650
Repeaters: $650
Laptop fee: $115

For more information, visit the Pennsylvania Board of Law Examiners’ website.

Rhode Island Bar Exam Cost and Fees

First-time takers: $975
Attorneys: $1,475
Repeaters: $975
Laptop fee: $0

For more information, visit the Rhode Island Judiciary’s website.

South Carolina Bar Exam Cost and Fees

First-time takers: $1,000
Attorneys: $1,000.00, but the cost is $1,750 for applicants who have been admitted in another jurisdiction for one year or more
Repeaters: $1,000
Laptop fee: $125.50

For more information, visit the South Carolina Office of Bar Admissions’ website.

South Dakota Bar Exam Cost and Fees

First-time takers: $450
Attorneys: $450
Repeaters: $450
Laptop fee: $100

For more information, visit the South Dakota Board of Bar Examiners’ website.

Tennessee Bar Exam Cost and Fees

First-time takers: $575
Attorneys: $575
Repeaters: $375
Laptop fee: $100

For more information, visit the Tennessee Board of Law Examiners’ website.

Texas Bar Exam Cost and Fees

First-time takers: $300 for in-state applicants, $490 for out-of-state applicants
Attorneys: $1,040
Repeaters: $225
Laptop fee: $50

For more information, visit the Texas Board of Law Examiners’ website.

Utah Bar Exam Cost and Fees

First-time takers: $550
Attorneys: $850
Repeaters: $550 for nonattorneys, $850 for attorneys
Laptop fee: $150

For more information, visit the Utah State Bar’s website.

Vermont Bar Exam Cost and Fees

First-time takers: $300
Attorneys: $300
Repeaters: $300
Laptop fee: $50

For more information, visit the Vermont Judiciary’s website.

Virginia Bar Exam Cost and Fees

First-time takers: $950
Attorneys: $950
Repeaters: $950
Laptop fee: $125

For more information, visit the Virginia Board of Bar Examiners’ website.

Washington Bar Exam Cost and Fees

First-time takers: $585
Attorneys: $620
Repeaters: $585 for nonattorneys, $620 for attorneys
Laptop fee: $134.50

For more information, visit the Washington State Bar Association’s website.

West Virginia Bar Exam Cost and Fees

First-time takers: $500
Attorneys: $800
Repeaters: $500 for nonattorneys, $800 for attorneys
Laptop fee: $125

For more information, visit the West Virginia Judiciary’s website.

Wisconsin Bar Exam Cost and Fees

First-time takers: $450
Attorneys: $450
Repeaters: $450
Laptop fee: $100

For more information, visit the Supreme Court of Wisconsin’s website.

Wyoming Bar Exam Cost and Fees

First-time takers: $600
Attorneys: $600
Repeaters: $600
Laptop fee: $77

For more information, visit the Wyoming State Bar’s website.

Quimbee Bar Review

We know how quickly expenses can add up when applying for the bar exam. Between application fees, hotel reservations, and bar prep courses, most exam takers are looking at a bill that can total in the thousands of dollars. That’s why Quimbee decided to offer one of the most affordable, comprehensive bar review courses available. Starting at just $1,199, Quimbee Bar Review will give you everything you need to pass the bar exam, at a fraction of the cost of other courses. Check out Quimbee Bar Review today!

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