How much does the bar exam cost?
How much the bar exam costs depends on where you apply, because each jurisdiction sets its own fee. In NCBE’s Bar Admission Guide, first-time applicant fees run from $405 in the District of Columbia (plus a character and fitness fee) to $1,200–$1,875 in Illinois. On top come the MPRE at $185, a laptop fee where laptops are allowed, and your study materials.
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Bar exam application fee in six jurisdictions
These are the bar exam application fees for first-time applicants who are not yet attorneys, as listed in NCBE’s Bar Admission Guide (page versions of 17 and 18 October 2026). Where the guide says “plus C&F fee”, the character and fitness investigation is charged separately.
- District of Columbia: $405 plus C&F fee
- New York: $250 / $750 (the guide lists both amounts)
- Washington: $595, plus sales tax on NCBE’s character and fitness services since October 1, 2025
- North Carolina: $850
- Louisiana: $850 / $975 (the guide lists both amounts)
- Illinois: $1,200–$1,875
Source: NCBE Bar Admission Guide — Washington. Checked 19 October 2026.
Why the bar exam price varies
There is no national bar exam price. Each bar admission agency sets its own fees, and some publish a range or two amounts rather than one figure. Illinois lists $1,200–$1,875 without saying on the guide page what decides the amount, so confirm your exact fee with the agency before you file. Its July 2026 filing had a first deadline of February 15 and a late deadline of April 30.
Status matters too. Attorneys admitted elsewhere can pay more: North Carolina charges attorneys $1,650 against $850 for first-time non-attorneys, and Washington $645 against $595.
Source: NCBE Bar Admission Guide — Illinois. Checked 19 October 2026.
How much to take the bar exam again
How much to take bar exam again depends on the jurisdiction as well. Some charge repeaters less, some the same:
- North Carolina: $400 for repeaters against $850 for first-time takers
- Illinois: $650–$1,125 for repeaters
- Washington: $595 for non-attorney repeaters, $645 for attorney repeaters
- District of Columbia: $405 plus C&F fee, the same as the first attempt
- Louisiana: $975
Source: NCBE Bar Admission Guide — North Carolina. Checked 19 October 2026.
Laptop fees and other bar exam costs
If you type your answers, the jurisdictions we checked add a laptop fee: $100 in New York, $119 in Washington, $125 in North Carolina, $135 in Illinois and $136 in Louisiana; the District of Columbia says the fee varies.
So how much is it to take the bar exam in total? Add the MPRE, which all US jurisdictions except Wisconsin and Puerto Rico require and which costs $185 for all 2026 and 2027 administrations. Rescheduling an MPRE appointment costs $25.
Source: NCBE — MPRE registration. Checked 18 October 2026.
Bar exam registration fee for transferred UBE scores
If you already have a UBE score, admission by transferred score has its own fee: $405 plus C&F fee in the District of Columbia, $250 / $750 in New York, $595 / $645 plus C&F fee in Washington, $1,275 / $1,500 in North Carolina and $1,500 in Illinois.
NCBE also charges $30 for each Official Bar Exam Score Transcript, which is how a UBE or MBE score is sent to another jurisdiction.
Source: NCBE — Official bar exam score transcripts. Checked 19 October 2026.
What official study materials cost
The cost to take the bar exam is more than the fee. NCBE’s own practice products include the MBE Complete Practice Exam for $100 and MEE and MPT practice question bundles for $50 each. NCBE also offers free sample questions for all three components, so you can test the format before buying anything.
Certsqill’s bar exam question bank adds expert-developed practice questions with an explanation for every answer option and a readiness score per exam area.
Source: NCBE — Legacy bar exam study aids. Checked 19 October 2026.
Bar Exam cost: questions people ask
How much does it cost to take the bar exam?
It depends on the jurisdiction: for first-time applicants, for example $405 plus C&F fee in the District of Columbia, $595 in Washington, $850 in North Carolina and $1,200–$1,875 in Illinois. Source: NCBE Bar Admission Guide, checked 19 October 2026.
How much is the bar exam in New York?
The NCBE guide lists $250 / $750 for the bar exam fee and $100 for laptops. Source: NCBE Bar Admission Guide, checked 19 October 2026.
How much is bar exam registration with a laptop?
Laptop fees run from $100 (New York) to $136 (Louisiana) in the jurisdictions we checked, on top of the exam fee. Source: NCBE Bar Admission Guide, checked 19 October 2026.
How much to take the bar exam if I failed before?
Repeater fees differ: $400 in North Carolina, $650–$1,125 in Illinois, $975 in Louisiana. Source: NCBE Bar Admission Guide, checked 19 October 2026.
Does the bar exam cost include the MPRE?
No. The MPRE is a separate NCBE exam with its own fee of $185 for 2026 and 2027. Source: NCBE, checked 18 October 2026.
How much does it cost to transfer a UBE score?
NCBE charges $30 per Official Bar Exam Score Transcript; the receiving jurisdiction charges its own application fee. Source: NCBE, checked 19 October 2026.
