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Financial Aid
  

Determination of Financial Need
and Financial Aid Awards

Financial Need

Financial need is the difference between the cost of education and the student’s (and spouse’s, if married) Family Contribution (FC) plus other educational benefits as determined by the need analysis process.

  1. The information utilized in the need analysis process may include the following: student’s and spouse’s income and assets, U.S. income taxes paid, untaxed income and benefits including any assistance and cash received from parents or relatives, family size, the number of family members in college, medical and emergency expenses and unusual circumstances.
  2. All students are expected to contribute toward their cost of education. Other educational benefits considered by the financial aid office as assistance may include aid that was not necessarily processed or handled by that office, i.e., outside loans, scholarships, gifts, benefits from federal or state programs such as educational benefits through Social Security, Veteran’s Administration, AFDC and Vocational Rehabilitation.
  3. The university determines an adequate expected cost of education for the period the student is in attendance at the School of Law. This budget includes expenses for tuition and fees, books, transportation, food, personal expenses and housing allowance. Note: Federal methodology prescribes that the student’s living expenses be considered in the student’s budget; however, family members are considered in the formula used to derive the Family Contribution (FC).

 

Financial Aid Awards

The Financial Aid Office will attempt to meet the student’s financial need* up to the student’s full budget.

*Cost of Education—Family Contribution—Other Educational Benefits = Financial Need

1. The amount of the award will be based on the student’s enrollment status, estimated budget, financial need, availability of funds and individual program criteria.

  • All students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and an Institutional Application in order to be evaluated for all financial aid programs including scholarships.
  • Upon review of all required documents and the completion of the verification process, a tentative Offer of Financial Assistance will be mailed to the student indicating the eligible financial aid programs.
  • All School of Law scholarships or grants are determined as eligibility notification is received from the Admissions or Records Office. University scholarships are part of the award package and the combination of university funds, including scholarships and federal programs, will not exceed the cost of attendance.
  • Priority consideration for other discretionary funds such as Federal Perkins Loans and Federal Work Study funds will be given to students who meet the priority filing deadline and also have a pre-determined high need level. Consideration is given to the student’s preference for loans or Federal Work Study funds. The Federal Work Study Program has specific requirements, i.e., availability of positions and funding that must exist in order for students to initialize the Federal Work Study award.
  • Private loans may be certified when program criteria have been met. However, these loans require that a student be “credit worthy.” This is usually determined by a review of credit bureau information. Total aid awarded cannot exceed the budgeted cost of attendance.

2. Students who have unusual expenses such as emergency medical care may request a revision to their Federal Contribution and aid offered by submitting their special circumstances in writing to the Financial Aid Office.

3. Scholarships awarded after the original notification of award may cause a student’s financial aid package to be revised. Students are responsible for reporting to the Financial Aid Office all changes in status and resources used to meet their cost of education.

4. Verification is the process used by the institution to check the accuracy of the information a student (and their spouse) has given to the U.S. Department of Education when applying for federal aid. Information is verified by securing additional documentation and a signed statement attesting to the accuracy of the information provided.

5. Any combination of university scholarship, loans and grants cannot exceed the cost of tuition.

6. Students who are not eligible for financial aid due to financial or academic reasons will receive a notification from the Financial Aid Office.

7. Because of limited funding, the university is not able to meet every student’s full financial need.

8. Students enrolled in dual degree programs must coordinate the financial aid processing between the law school Financial Aid Office and the Graduate/Undergraduate Financial Aid Office.