Cheapest Law School in Nigeria and Their Fees
Becoming a lawyer in Nigeria is a long, fee-heavy journey — a five-year LL.B degree at a university, followed by a mandatory year at the Nigerian Law School before you’re called to the Bar. If cost is a major factor in your planning, this article breaks down exactly where you can study law most affordably, both at the university (LL.B) level and at the Nigerian Law School stage that everyone must pass through regardless of which university they attended.
Two Different “Law Schools” — An Important Clarification
In Nigeria, “law school” is used loosely to mean two very different things, and mixing them up causes a lot of confusion:
University Faculties of Law (LL.B programme) — This is your undergraduate law degree, taken at any NUC-accredited university (federal, state, or private) over 4–5 years. This is where cost varies enormously between institutions, and where “cheapest” genuinely means something.
The Nigerian Law School (Bar Part II) — After your LL.B, every aspiring lawyer in Nigeria must attend the Nigerian Law School (run by the Council of Legal Education) for about a year before being called to the Bar. This is not optional and there is only one Nigerian Law School with six campuses (Abuja, Lagos, Enugu, Kano, Yenagoa, Yola, Port Harcourt) — all charging the same fee nationwide, so there’s no “cheaper” campus to shop for.
This article covers both: the cheapest universities for your LL.B, and what you’ll pay at the Nigerian Law School afterward.
Part 1: Cheapest Universities to Study Law (LL.B) in Nigeria
As with most courses, federal universities are consistently the cheapest because they’re heavily subsidized by the government, followed by state universities (more affordable for indigenes of that state), with private universities charging the most.
Cheapest Federal Universities for Law
University
Location
Approx. Tuition (Per Session)
Ahmadu Bello University (ABU)
Zaria, Kaduna State
₦45,000 – ₦120,000
University of Ibadan (UI)
Ibadan, Oyo State
₦50,000 – ₦120,000
University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN)
Nsukka, Enugu State
₦50,000 – ₦120,000
Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU)
Ile-Ife, Osun State
₦80,000 – ₦120,000
University of Lagos (UNILAG)
Lagos
₦55,000 – ₦130,000
ABU is generally cited as the single cheapest federal option for law, with first-year students often paying around ₦45,000–₦55,000 in tuition alone. UI and UNN follow closely behind. Keep in mind these are tuition-only figures — federal universities also charge acceptance fees (typically ₦25,000–₦45,000 for freshers), plus registration, library, ICT, medical, and departmental charges that add several tens of thousands of naira on top of pure tuition.
Cheapest State Universities for Law
University
Location
Approx. Tuition (Per Session)
University of Nigeria, Nsukka (state-rate for indigenes)
Enugu State
₦50,000 – ₦120,000
Ondo State University of Science and Technology (OSUSTECH)
Okitipupa, Ondo State
₦70,000 – ₦150,000
Osun State University (UNIOSUN)
Osogbo, Osun State
₦75,000 – ₦160,000
Lagos State University (LASU)
Ojo, Lagos State
₦80,000 – ₦180,000
State universities are typically cheaper for indigenes of that state and noticeably more expensive for non-indigenes, so your home state matters a lot when comparing these figures.
For Comparison: Private Universities Offering Law
Private universities charge substantially more — often ₦1,000,000 to ₦3,000,000+ per session for an LL.B, though some newer or smaller private institutions market themselves as relatively “cheap private” options at ₦500,000–₦900,000. Even the least expensive private law faculty will typically cost several times what a federal university charges, so if affordability is your primary concern, public universities remain the clear starting point.
What Actually Determines Your Total Cost (Beyond Tuition)
The naira figures above are tuition only. Your real annual cost of studying law also includes:
Acceptance fee (fresh students only, one-time): ₦25,000 – ₦80,000 depending on the university
Accommodation: ₦20,000 – ₦150,000+ per session, depending on the university and hostel type
Feeding, books, and law-specific materials: Law students typically need more textbooks and case-law materials than many other courses, adding a real recurring cost
Departmental/faculty dues, ICT, medical, library, and development levies: Usually a few thousand to a few tens of thousands of naira combined
Moot court, law clinic, and professional society (NBA-SBL) related costs in later years
A federal university charging ₦50,000 in tuition can easily add up to ₦200,000–₦350,000 total per session once accommodation and living costs in a relatively affordable city are included — while the same university in a more expensive city (like Lagos or Abuja) can push total costs to ₦300,000–₦500,000+.
Part 2: Nigerian Law School (Bar Part II) Fees
Regardless of which university you graduate from — cheapest or most expensive — every intending lawyer must complete the Bar Part II programme at the Nigerian Law School before being called to the Bar. As of the 2025/2026 academic session, the approved tuition fee is ₦476,000 for Nigerian students, payable strictly through the Remita platform to the Council of Legal Education. This fee is uniform across all six campuses (Abuja headquarters, Lagos, Enugu, Kano, Yenagoa, Yola, and Port Harcourt), so there’s no cheaper campus to target — the amount is fixed nationally by the Council of Legal Education.
This ₦476,000 figure represents a significant increase from the ₦296,000 charged before the 2023/2024 session, and it covers tuition and core compulsory charges. On top of this, students typically budget separately for:
Hostel accommodation and feeding at their assigned campus
Course materials and law textbooks
Call-to-Bar ceremony costs (gown, wig, photographs, and related expenses)
Transport and relocation to whichever campus they’re posted to
Practical Tips for Minimizing Your Total Law Degree Cost
Prioritize federal universities if cost is your primary concern — they remain dramatically cheaper than state or private options across the board.
Apply to a state university where you’re an indigene if you don’t gain admission to a federal university — indigene rates are often close to federal rates, while non-indigene rates can rival private universities.
Factor in city cost-of-living, not just tuition — a ₦45,000-tuition university in an expensive city can end up costing more overall than a ₦120,000-tuition university in a cheaper town.
Budget early for Nigerian Law School fees — since the ₦476,000 Bar Part II fee is fixed and non-negotiable, many students start saving for it well before their final year of the LL.B programme.
Always confirm current figures directly with each university’s admissions or bursary office, and with the Council of Legal Education for Law School fees — these amounts are reviewed periodically and can change.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the cheapest university to study law in Nigeria?
Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) is generally cited as the cheapest federal option, with tuition often as low as ₦45,000–₦55,000 for first-year law students. University of Ibadan and University of Nigeria, Nsukka follow closely.
2. Is the Nigerian Law School itself “cheaper” at some campuses than others?
No. The Nigerian Law School charges a single, uniform fee (currently ₦476,000 for the 2025/2026 session) across all its campuses — Abuja, Lagos, Enugu, Kano, Yenagoa, Yola, and Port Harcourt. There is no cost advantage to choosing one campus over another; posting is typically assigned rather than fully chosen by the student.
3. Are state universities cheaper than federal universities for law?
Not usually — federal universities tend to be the cheapest overall. State universities can be competitively priced for indigenes of that state, but non-indigenes often pay considerably more, sometimes approaching private university rates.
4. Does a cheaper law school mean a lower-quality legal education?
Not necessarily. ABU, UI, UNN, OAU, and UNILAG — all relatively affordable federal options — are also among Nigeria’s most respected and accredited law faculties, producing many of the country’s leading legal professionals. Affordability and reputation aren’t mutually exclusive at the federal university level.
5. How much should I budget in total for a law degree plus Nigerian Law School in Nigeria?
As a rough guide: roughly ₦200,000–₦500,000 per session for five years at an affordable federal or state university (₦1,000,000–₦2,500,000 total, depending on city and lifestyle), plus around ₦476,000 in Nigerian Law School tuition alone, before accommodation, feeding, and Call-to-Bar costs. Private university routes can multiply the university-stage cost several times over.
Tuition figures for universities in this article are approximate ranges compiled from recent public reporting and vary by session, faculty policy, and indigene/non-indigene status — always confirm the exact current amount directly with each university’s admissions office. The Nigerian Law School Bar Part II fee (₦476,000) reflects the officially confirmed rate for the 2025/2026 session as announced by the Council of Legal Education; check the Council’s official channels for any updates to this figure.