Bar Exam Costs: Thinking Ahead

Updated and fact-checked July 22, 2026

There is an old saying that the only two certainties in life are death and taxes. However, it has been my experience that law students preparing to take the bar exam can add one more certainty to this list, and that is that the cost of taking the bar exam will surprise you.

When it comes to navigating the bar exam process, if there is one aspect that law students would benefit by considering earlier, it is engaging in research and planning around the costs associated with this exam. Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School (“AJMLS”) students are fortunate because one of the biggest costs associated with bar preparation is included in the cost of attendance. The school, through its partnership with Kaplan Bar Review, helps students avoid a commercial prep course cost that commonly runs from roughly $2,850 up to $4,000 depending on state and package add-ons (Kaplan Bar Review pricing, verified July 22, 2026). AJMLS students are provided with Kaplan Bar Review at no additional charge upon successfully graduating. A student who chooses to utilize a different bar review course should research the cost of that course and include it in planning a budget (other alternatives include Themis Bar Review and Barbri, although there are a variety of options).

However, despite AJMLS graduates avoiding the end-of-school costs associated with purchasing a bar preparation course, there are plenty of expenses associated with taking the test. Although the below is not all-inclusive (due to the ever-changing nature of fees and specific-state requirements), it should give you a pretty solid idea of what to expect.* Planning and budgeting in advance can help you to avoid plenty of stress down the road.

MPRE Registration

If you have read the associated materials on the AABS webpages, explored your specific jurisdictional requirements, or paid attention in Professional Responsibility class, then you know that successfully passing the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (the “MPRE”) administered by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (“NCBE”) is one of the stepping stones you must traverse on your journey to becoming a licensed attorney in almost every jurisdiction.

The NCBE MPRE overview page provides you with information and links to additional resources you need to know about the test, including costs, dates, and what to expect. Specifically, if you visit the MPRE registration page, you will see that the test fee for all 2026 MPRE administrations is $185, payable to Pearson VUE (up from $150 in prior cycles) (NCBE, verified July 22, 2026). NCBE does not publish a separate late-registration fee — instead, registration simply closes at the deadline with no exceptions. You will also have to account for the costs of travel to and from a testing center.

Fortunately, Kaplan Bar Review and other companies offer free MPRE preparation courses, so you will not incur any additional expense in utilizing these highly recommended courses, and AABS can provide you with physical materials should you desire.

Total Recommended MPRE Budget Allocation: $210 ($185 registration + an estimated $25 for travel/incidentals)

Character & Fitness Application

All states vary on this, so you should make sure to review your jurisdictional requirements, but we will examine Georgia to give you a sense of what to expect. You can visit the Georgia Character & Fitness (“C&F”) overview page for a basic look at the process, and the official Deadlines and Fees schedule has the current figures. A few important things to note:

The current Fitness Application fee for a J.D. candidate who files prior to the award of the first professional degree in law is $450, plus a $17 non-refundable convenience fee if you pay online by credit card (Georgia Office of Bar Admissions Deadlines and Fees, verified July 22, 2026). Pay special attention here, because an applicant who files during the Final filing period (i.e., a late applicant) will pay an additional $500 late fee.

Total Recommended Minimum C&F Budget: $528 ($450 fitness fee + $52 fingerprinting + $9 driving record + $17 credit card convenience fee)

Bar Application

This also varies state-to-state, and you should investigate according to your circumstances, but when it comes to Georgia the state utilizes a two-step process for bar applicants. After you have successfully been certified “fit,” an applicant then must complete the bar application; you can find additional information on the Bar Examination Information page. A review of the current Deadlines and Fees schedule reveals that a current law student who timely files a Two-Day Bar Exam Application will incur a filing fee of $400 payable to the Board of Bar Examiners plus $107 payable to the NCBE — a total of $507 — plus a $7 non-refundable convenience fee if paying online by credit card (verified July 22, 2026). Again, time is of the essence: filing during the Final filing period costs an additional $500 late fee. Depending on your undergraduate institution(s), you may incur fees associated with transcript submission, so it is recommended that you allocate $25 just to err on the side of caution.

Total Recommended Minimum Bar Application Budget: $539 ($400 Board fee + $107 NCBE fee + $7 credit card convenience fee + $25 estimated transcript fee)

Bar Exam Fees

Although this can vary by jurisdiction, in Georgia it will cost you $105 to type or handwrite the bar exam. Yes, you read that correctly. Whether you choose to type your essays and MPTs using the exam software or handwrite them, there is an administrative fee associated with doing so (Georgia Office of Bar Admissions Deadlines and Fees; confirmed via the Rules Governing Admission to the Practice of Law, verified July 22, 2026). This fee has not changed since 2023.

Total Recommended Minimum Bar Exam Fees: $105

Miscellaneous Items to Consider

Personally, I’m a big fan of eating and having a roof over my head, and planning in advance for grocery budgets and rent can save you a lot of worry and headaches during bar prep. If you can plan in advance to save ahead and be prepared, this can also decrease the amount of time that you have to work during the bar prep process. Working during bar prep is one of the biggest obstacles that students face, as not only does working take away from the time you can dedicate to your studies, but it also contributes to exhaustion and increased levels of stress. Planning ahead can help you limit this, or at the least, plan your studies around it, and removing the financial stress to the extent possible via forward-thinking can pay big dividends.

You also want to think about your travel to and from the bar exam during the days that you are engaged in the process. Many students like to stay at hotels close by in order to avoid the potential traffic issues or vehicle breakdowns, so deciding early if you want to stay nearby can help you avoid a surprise expense at the time of the bar exam.

Total Recommended Minimum Miscellaneous Budget: Extremely Variable

Bottom Line

When you add up the above items, the minimum costs associated with taking the bar exam in Georgia as a first-time taker who applies before graduation is at least $1,382 (excluding miscellaneous costs), based on figures verified July 22, 2026:

CategoryAmount
MPRE Registration$210
Character & Fitness Application$528
Bar Application$539
Bar Exam Fees (typing/handwriting)$105
Total$1,382

This is up from the previously published estimate of $1,341, driven mainly by a $35 increase in the MPRE fee (from $150 to $185) and an $11 increase in the NCBE portion of the bar application fee (from $96 to $107). The Character & Fitness fee ($450) and the bar exam typing/handwriting fee ($105) have not changed.

Although this will vary somewhat for each individual (and can vary significantly based on specific jurisdiction, so please verify the respective costs and timelines in your intended jurisdiction), having these potential costs in mind can help you plan ahead in terms of saving, loan utilization, and preventing significant financial surprises as you prepare for bar exam success.

Please note that the above is subject to change, and that respective requirements and fees vary by state. You should explore these costs directly by visiting the state bar website for your intended jurisdiction. All figures above were verified directly against official sources on July 22, 2026; fee schedules are updated periodically by NCBE, the Georgia Office of Bar Admissions, the GBI, and the Georgia DDS, so confirm current amounts before creating a budget or submitting any payment.

Sources (all verified July 22, 2026)