Scholarships & Aid
The University of San Diego School of Law is committed to providing all possible financial assistance to eligible students to help pursue and plan a legal education through a comprehensive financial aid program. Entering students are automatically considered for merit-based as well as need-based scholarships. In awarding scholarship assistance, the Admissions Committee focuses on students with academic merit or promise, and/or financial need. Financial aid awarded to School of Law students includes more than 370 scholarships and grants. All scholarships and grants are coordinated with any other financial aid that a student receives.
All students must file a FAFSA to be considered for scholarships.- Academic Scholarships
- Dean's Outstanding Scholar Awards
- Academic Achievement Scholarships
- USD Law School Grants
- USD Private Scholarships
- Veteran's Benefits
Academic Scholarships
The School of Law offers a variety of scholarships based on merit to entering students. Students with strong academic backgrounds, significant undergraduate cumulative GPA's and strong LSAT scores are automatically considered for these entering awards. Scholarship awards range from 40 percent to 90 percent of tuition. Some of these scholarships are renewable each year provided that the student maintains specified academic performance requirements. Generally, consideration for these scholarships is extended to accepted applicants in the upper quarter of our GPA and LSAT percentiles. For fall 2008, our upper quarter statistics were approximately 3.66 GPA and 164 LSAT.Deans Outstanding Scholar Awards
Entering students who come from non-traditional and diverse backgrounds and with outstanding academic records may be considered for the Dean's Outstanding Scholar Awards. These prestigious awards are based on merit and potential for contributions to the diversity of the USD community and the legal profession. The Dean's Outstanding Scholar award includes full tuition and a living stipend for up to three years of study at USD School of Law.Academic Achievement Scholarships
After the first year, scholarships for varying amounts are offered to top students in each year of the day and evening divisions. These awards are based on the previous year's academic performance and rank in class, need and/or diversity. The number of awards for the year 2009-10 has been announced. Graduating law students are also eligible for monetary prizes for academic excellence.USD School of Law Grants
The law school considers entering students for a number of need-based partial tuition scholarships. These scholarships are based on the applicant's financial need, academic promise, potential for service to the community and for contribution to the diversity of the USD community. Generally, these awards are for up to 75% tuition in the appropriate entering day or evening division. Some of these grants are renewable each academic year. To be considered, applicants must file aFree Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as well as the School of Law Institutional Financial Aid Application.USD Private Scholarships
Each year the USD School of Law awards several scholarships sponsored by various university benefactors to upper-division students. The awards vary in amount and criteria. These scholarships require a separate application for consideration. Continuing students apply in the fall semester for spring awards. Private scholarships include the following:- Kevin Briscoe Memorial Scholarship
- Copley Press Scholarship
- Fiorenza and Hernando Courtright Endowed Scholarship
- C. Hugh Friedman Endowed Scholarship
- Lou Kerig Endowed Scholarship Fund
- Michael Konz Memorial Scholarship
- Law Alumni Scholarship Fund
- Ronald Maudsley Memorial Scholarship
- Michael Mohr Memorial Scholarship
- Delroy Richardson Endowed Law Scholarship
- Scholarships for Disabled Students in Memory of Gary Shoemaker and Richard Mulvey Endowment
- Seltzer Caplan Wilkins & McMahon Scholarship
- James E. Spain Family Law School Student Aid Endowment
- S. A. Sutterfield Memorial Book Scholarship
- Warren Family Endowment for Student Assistance
- The Honorable Louis M. Welsh Endowed Scholarship
- John Winters Memorial Fund
- The Christopher McCallister Memorial Scholarship
- Lawyers Club of San Diego, Honorable Lynn Schenk Scholarship
- The Kroha Family Scholarship
- Gerald L. and Donna M. McMahon Scholarship
- Donna Lee Arledge Memorial Scholarship
- Bernard H. Siegan Scholarship
- David S. Casey Trial Advocacy Scholarship
