Financial Aid: Types Of Financial Aid

Academic Scholarships

The School of Law offers a variety of scholarships based on merit to entering students. Students with strong academic backgrounds, outstanding professional or extracurricular achievements and significant undergraduate cumulative GPA's and LSAT scores are automatically considered for these entering awards. Scholarship awards range from $2,000 to 90% tuition. The Law School offers both 1-year, as well as renewable scholarships.   Some awards have academic performance requirements for renewability.  While undergraduate GPA and LSAT scores are not the only metrics of determining merit, strong consideration for these scholarships is extended to accepted applicants in the upper half of our GPA and LSAT percentiles. For fall 2012, our median statistics for enrolled students were 3.50 GPA and an LSAT score of 160.  Below is a listing of USD Law’s scholarship program.

Dean’s Honor Scholarships    

This prestigious scholarship is awarded to the strongest admitted full-time students.  For the 2013-14 school year, the annual award is $40,000 and renewable for two additional years as long as the student remains in good academic standing*.  The total value of this scholarship over three years will be $120,000.

 

Students Matriculating in	Number of Renewable Scholarships Awarded	Conditional Scholarships Reduced or Eliminated
Fall 2009	12	1
Fall 2010	14	3
Fall 2011	8	0
Fall 2012	17	N/A

 

Dean’s Outstanding Scholarships

A Dean’s Outstanding Scholarship is awarded to admitted students with superb academic credentials and academic promise.  This scholarship will begin to be awarded effective the 2013-14 academic year in the amount of $35,000 annually.  This is a renewable award for two additional years as long as the student remains in good academic standing*. The total value of this scholarship over three years will be $105,000.

Faculty Honor Scholarship

Similar to the Dean’s Honor Scholarship and Dean’s Outstanding Scholarship, the Faculty Honor Scholarship is awarded to a group of the most qualified admitted students in the full-time program.  Totaling $32,000 annually for three years, the scholarship is renewable as long as the student remains in good academic standing*.  The total value of this scholarship over three years will be $96,000.

 

Students Matriculating in	Number of Renewable Scholarships Awarded	Conditional Scholarships Reduced or Eliminated
Fall 2009	19	11
Fall 2010	17	6
Fall 2011	21	2
Fall 2012	19	N/A

 

Faculty Outstanding Scholar Awards

Faculty Outstanding Scholar Awards are awarded to admitted students in the full-time program with excellant academic credentials.  This scholarship will begin to be awarded effective the 2013-14 academic year in the amount of $25,000 annually.  This is a renewable award for two additional years as long as the student remains in good academic standing*. The total value of this scholarship over three years will be $75,000.

* A student is considered to be in good academic standing if he/she maintains a cumulative GPA above 2.0 (a requirement to remain enrolled).

Note:  Between Fall 2009 and Fall 2011, all renewable scholarships were conditional.  Beginning with the class of 2012, the conditions on the Dean’s Honor Scholarships and Faculty Achievement Scholarships have been removed.

USD School of Law Honor Scholarship

Entering students in the full-time program with strong credentials may be awarded a Law Honors Scholarship.  In 2013-14, the full-time award is $20,000 while part-time awards range between $12,000 and $15,000.  This scholarship may be awarded as a 1-year scholarship or it may be granted as a renewable award for subsequent years contingent on the student remaining enrolled and placing in the top half of their class rank. View the spring 2012 GPA cut-offs. 

 

Students Matriculating in	Number of Renewable Scholarships Awarded	Conditional Scholarships Reduced or Eliminated
Fall 2009	32	19
Fall 2010	33	13
Fall 2011	38	11
Fall 2012	34	TBD

 

 

USD School of Law Merit Scholarship

Students who display strong academic potential are eligible for a Law Merit Scholarship.  In 2013-14, the award totals $10,000.  This scholarship may be awarded as a 1-year scholarship or it may be granted as a renewable award for subsequent years contingent on the student remaining enrolled and placing in the top half of their class rank. View the spring 2012 GPA cut-offs. 

Law Faculty Achievement Scholarship

Awarded with the approval of the law faculty, this scholarship is typically a 1-year award and ranges between $2,000 and $7,000.  The scholarship is awarded to admitted students who have extraordinary personal or academic achievements prior to enrolling in law school.

USD School of Law Grants

The Law School considers entering students for a number of need-based partial tuition grants. These awards 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 70 percent tuition in the appropriate entering day or evening division. Some of these grants are renewable each academic year contingent on the student demonstrating continued financial need. To be considered, applicants must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on an annual basis and continue to establish financial need.

Academic Achievement Scholarships

After the first year, scholarships for varying amounts are offered to top students in each year. These awards are based on the previous year's academic performance and rank in class.