Financial Aid

The College of Law Office of Financial Aid is committed to serving Syracuse Law students through the administration of financial aid from a variety of sources.  We encourage you to stay in touch with our office.  Please contact us if you have questions or concerns about how to finance your legal education.

Welcome, Class of 2016!

Prospective students have the opportunity to apply for four basic types of financial aid: merit-based scholarships from SU Law, need-based tuition grants from SU Law, Federal Student Aid (such as Federal Direct Loans and Federal Work Study), and scholarships or grants from agencies outside of Syracuse University College of Law (such as Americorps, awards from Bar Associations, or Veteran's Benefits).  Below is information on how to apply for each of these types of awards:

1. Merit-Based Scholarships - scholarships are awarded by Syracuse College of Law without regard to financial need.  All candidates will be considered for merit-based scholarships through the admission application process.  Scholarship recipients will be notified of their eligibility at the time of their acceptance to SU Law.  Scholarships range in value from nearly half tuition up to three-quarter tuition scholarships.
2. Need-Based Tuition Grants - the College of Law awards partial tuition grants to students who qualify based on their demonstrated financial need. Candidates wishing to be considered for these grants should complete the Tuition Grant Application and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by the Priority Deadline: February 15, 2013.  Tuition Grants are limited and will be awarded until expended.  Late applicants should still submit the required financial aid applications to be considered for any remaining awards.
3. Federal Student Aid - To qualify for federal student aid (William D. Ford Direct Student Loans and/or Federal Work Study), students must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and then wait for notification from the College of Law Financial Aid Office.
4. Outside Scholarships & Grants - students are encouraged to research scholarship opportunities that exist outside the College of Law.  See our Outside Scholarship Index as a sample of what is available to students pursuing a legal education.

Know Your Financial Aid ABC's

Application Steps:

• You may access your financial aid information online by signing onto the MySlice, Syracuse University's portal to computing resources. For more information about setting up your Net ID and Password to log onto MySlice, visit Access Your Financial Aid on Myslice.

• A Financial Aid Calendar has been created to help you understand the steps and timeframe to apply for financial aid. 

• Go to the Financial Aid Application Steps section for more information. You should log onto the Financial Aid "To Do List" on MySlice frequently to view the application requirements and to ensure receipt of all financial aid application materials.

• Tuition Grant Application Deadline:  The priority deadline to submit the FAFSA and the College of Law Tuition Grant Application is February 15, 2013.  If you miss the priority deadline, you should still complete the financial aid applications promptly in order for us to determine your eligibility for any remaining grants and to begin the application process for federal student loans.

Budget

• Managing Your Debt:  The financial choices you make before attending law school, and throughout your legal education, will have a long-lasting financial impact.  We encourage you to make wise financial decisions prior to attending law school and to manage your debt while in attendance.

• 2013-2014 Cost of Attendance:

  The cost of tuition for students in the Juris Doctor program at Syracuse University College of Law in the 2013-2014 academic year is $44,000. Required fees for students in the J.D. program are $2,050.

  In addition to the direct tuition and fee charges, average indirect costs for a typical J.D. student in 2013-2014 are estimated as follows:

  Books & Supplies: $1,610

  Housing & Meals: $12,000

  Additional Expenses: $3,200 (estimated personal expenses and local transportation costs)

  Average Federal Loan Fees: $1,440

  A budget worksheet is available to download and/or print.

Credit

• Maintaining Good Credit:  Having a clean credit history is important for students who plan to borrow from the Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan program.  To obtain Graduate PLUS Loans, borrowers must go through a credit approval process.  We encourage you to review the status of your credit history prior to applying for loans.  Everyone is entitled to a free credit report every 12 months on www.annualcreditreport.com (the only site authorized by Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union).  Read more about maintaining Good Credit.