Eligibility
In order to qualify for student financial assistance, students must meet all the federal eligibility requirements. Students must:
- Be officially accepted by the School of Law Admissions Office or Graduate Programs Admission Office in an eligible degree program. A diploma is not an eligible degree program for financial aid purposes.
- Be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen.
- Be registered with the selective service (males only).
- Demonstrate financial need as determined by the need analysis process on the FAFSA for the following programs: Federal Carl Perkins Loan Program, Federal Graduate Plus Loan Porgram, Federal Stafford Student Loan Program, Federal-Work Study Program and most scholarships. The Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Student Loan and Graduate Plus Loan Programs are not based on financial need, however they are subject to consideration for the cost of attendance. Private loan applicants generally are required to prove credit worthiness.
- Be enrolled in an eligible program (J.D., J.D./M.B.A., J.D./I.M.B.A., J.D./M.A., LL.M.)
| Fall & Spring Semesters | Summer Session | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-Time | Eight units or more | Five units or more |
| Half-Time | Six units or more (tuition and books only) | Three units or more |
| Eligibility | No financial aid eligibility for less than six units. | No financial aid eligibility for less than three units. |
- Not be in default on a federal Student Loan, or have made satisfactory arrangements to repay it, or do not owe money back on a Federal Student Grant, or have made satisfactory arrangements to re-pay it.
- Not have borrowed in excess of the statutory loan limits.
- Not owe a refund/repayment on any TITLE IV grant, (Pell Grant, SEOG, SSIG).
- Sign a Statement of Education Purpose stating you will use federal student aid funds only for expenses related to attending school.
- Complete the verification process.
- Your eligibility for any of the federal programs may be suspended or terminated by a court as part of a conviction for possessing, distributing or manufacturing drugs.
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress, as follows:
- Completion of a minimum of 14 academic units during each full academic year (including the summer semester). In
addition to the minimum units per year, students must complete the following cumulative units. This determination
will be made at the end of the spring term grading period.
- First-Year: 14 Units
- Second-Year: 28 Units
- Third-Year: 42 Units
- Fourth-Year: 56 Units
- Fifth-Year: 80 Units
- Students must maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.0.
- Students must complete J.D. degree requirements within six years. J.D./LL.M. programs must complete the remaining LL.M. program requirements within two consecutive semesters. Students enrolled in the dual degree program J.D./M.B.A., J.D./I.M.B.A., J.D./M.A., must complete the J.D. requirement within five years. Graduate degree requirements vary by program.
- Students enrolled in the LL.M. General, LL.M. Tax, LL.M. Comparative or other graduate law degree programs must complete the degree within two years or four consecutive semesters in order to receive financial aid. Students in these programs should consult the applicable academic rules regarding minimum GPA requirements. Students enrolled in the Diploma in Taxation Program are not eligible for financial aid.
- Incompletes, withdrawals, audits, failed courses, repeated courses and any additional units or courses above the specified program requirements for graduation cannot be considered in the computation of minimum units and cannot be awarded financial aid. Repeated coursework as a result of incompletes, withdrawals or failed courses cannot be funded by Financial Aid.
- Students on academic probation or academic watch will have one semester to remove the probationary status. Financial aid for the term immediately following the probationary semester will be placed on hold until the probationary status is cleared by the Records Office. Students who are disqualified are not eligible for further financial aid.
- Students enrolled in six or seven units during the fall or spring semester will be eligible for tuition only funding. No living expenses will be included in the half-time student budget during the academic year.
- USD students visiting another law school must check with the Office of Financial Aid about eligible programs and visiting agreement criteria.
Students who do not meet these minimum standards will be advised by the Financial Aid Office that they are not eligible to receive financial aid under the Title IV programs. Students who receive this notification have the right to appeal the aid denial. All appeals will be reviewed by the Financial Aid Committee. This committee will make a recommendation to the assistant dean of financial aid who will make the final decision.
