Financial Aid: Frequently Asked Questions for Prospective Students

What types of financial aid can I apply for?
All applicants are considered for merit-based aid, which does not require a separate application. There are three main types of financial aid for which you can apply: 1) grants, that is, outright grants of money that do not have to be repaid, 2) federal loans including unsubsidized and Grad PLUS, and 3) private loans, which are funded by outside lenders. You can apply for all three types of aid through our office. For more information on each of these types and other sources of financial aid, visit Forms of Aid.

How do I apply for financial aid?
Please read through our application instructions for additional information.

When do I apply for financial aid?
The earliest that you can apply is January 1st, for the upcoming summer or fall semesters.

Is there a financial aid deadline for first-year law students?
No, there is not a financial aid deadline for first-year law students; you can apply right up to the start of the school year, if you wish, however, tuition for your first semester will be due in full by the first day of classes. Of course, the sooner we have your completed application, the sooner we can issue your award letter. Our continuing students do have a financial aid application deadline in May of each year.

When will I receive my award letter?
We begin processing financial aid requests in early March. You must be admitted to the Law School and your financial aid file must be complete before we can process your request. You should receive an e-mail with your award amount from us no later than two weeks from the date your financial aid application is complete. If you have not heard from us after three weeks of submitting all your information, please follow up with our office by e-mail at lawfinaid@umich.edu or phone at 734-764-5289.

Am I at a disadvantage because I was admitted late in the spring or during the summer?
Absolutely not! Candidates who receive offers late in the admissions cycle receive consideration for need-based grants and loans on exactly the same terms as those admitted earlier in the season.

Do I have to include parental information with my financial aid application?
No.

Am I required to submit my tax return to your office?
If you are eligible for need-based grants, we will need your 2011 federal tax return before we can disburse your funds.

Am I required to apply for financial aid each year?
Yes, in order to be considered for federal aid you must complete a new FAFSA each year. Happily, since we award three year aid packages, we will not be asking you to provide us with any additional information.

Under what circumstances might my financial aid award change in future years?
Your financial aid is awarded for three years, so your aid will not decrease. It is possible that your aid could increase if you work in eligible public interest jobs over the summer before your third year of law school.

How do I pay for law school if the financial aid that was offered to me does not cover my cost of attendance?
You can apply for additional loans (federal Grad PLUS or private loans) to make up any shortfall in Michigan Law's budget for you. If this is not clear when viewing your award information on Wolverine Access, make sure you have selected the Award Notices tab, and not Award Summary. The amount that you can request is listed as Grad PLUS/Alternative Loan Eligibility. By clicking on that link, you will be given a comparison of federal Grad PLUS and private loans, along with application instructions.

Should I borrow federal Grad PLUS or private loans?
For most of you, Grad PLUS is going to be your best option. Federal Grad PLUS loans are eligible for the loan repayment assistance programs (LRAP) that are offered by Michigan Law School and the federal government. Grad PLUS also offer generous amounts of deferment for unemployment and economic hardship. Private loans are not eligible for any of the loan repayment assistance programs, and they come with very little flexibility during repayment. Further information is available on our loan comparison chart/FAQ.

Are computer loans available?
A detailed computer loan FAQ is available for further information.

Do you offer any merit-based scholarships?
While the University of Michigan Law School devotes many of its financial aid funds to applicants who have demonstrated financial need, we do also offer merit awards. The Admissions Office administers our two merit aid programs: Darrow Scholarships, which cover as much as full tuition plus a stipend, are awarded to a handful of exceptional students in each entering class selected by the faculty in reflection of the recipient's outstanding scholastic achievements as well as the sense that they will one day go on to a remarkable career; we also offer Dean's Scholarships, which vary in size, and are offered to those whose academic achievements and demonstrated leadership promise significant contributions to both the Law School and the legal profession. All admitted applicants will be considered for merit-based aid, and no separate application is required. If you have additional questions about merit aid, please contact the Admissions Office at 734.764.0537 or by e-mail to law.jd.admissions@umich.edu. In cases where no merit aid has been offered, the Financial Aid Office is occasionally able to take financial aid offers from competing schools into account.

Where can I find information on outside scholarships?
For your convenience we have a listing of scholarships that are available to our students. Some Web scholarship searches are available online. You can research scholarships at your local library or on the internet. We also post scholarship opportunities at the Law School as they come to our attention. If you receive an outside scholarship, in most cases it will not decrease grant assistance from us, so it is definitely worthwhile to pursue outside funding.

What is the cost of Law School tuition?
Tuition rates for the current academic year are available, but rates for next year will not be available until the Regents of the University of Michigan meet in June.

When is tuition due?
Typically, summer tuition is due at the end of June; fall tuition is due at the end of August; and winter tuition is due at the beginning of January. For exact billing due dates visit the Student Financial Services website. 

What forms of payment are acceptable?
The University of Michigan accepts cash, check, and online payments. We cannot accept credit card payments. For further information visit the Student Financial Services website.

When will I receive my financial aid disbursement?
Typically, each of your financial aid sources (grants and loans) will be available on the first day of classes of each semester for which you are enrolled. Your financial aid will be applied directly to your student account, and any excess funds will be refunded directly to you.

How will I receive my refund?
The fastest, most convenient way to receive your refund is by direct deposit. We strongly encourage you to set up direct deposit on Wolverine Access under Student Business > Payroll & Compensation > Direct Deposit. If you do not sign up for direct deposit, your refund check will be mailed to the current local address that is listed on Wolverine Access.

What types of financial aid are available for non-U.S. citizen J.D. students?
Non-U.S. citizen students who are pursuing their J.D. are automatically considered for merit-based scholarship decisions, and no separate application is required. Additionally, applicants can be considered for need-based grants through the Financial Aid Office. Complete application instructions are available on our website. Please note that non-U.S. citizen students are not eligible for Federal Stafford loans or Grad PLUS, and private loan programs typically require a U.S. cosigner. Our non-U.S. citizen sample loan comparison chart/FAQ provides an overview for several lenders. 

What types of financial aid are available for transfer students?
You are eligible to be considered for loan assistance only. There are two types of loans for which you can apply: 1) federal loans including unsubsidized, and Grad PLUS, and 2) private loans. Step by step application instructions are available.

Does Michigan Law offer assistance to graduates who choose modest-paying employment after graduation?
Yes we do! We have an amazing loan repayment assistance program (LRAP). For further information about our Income-Based Debt Management Program and the federal government's programs, please visit the Loan Repayment Assistance Programs section on our website.

How does the federal government's loan repayment assistance program work?
Please visit our CCRAA FAQ for details.

What types of loans should I borrow if I might need loan repayment assistance after I graduate?
You should only borrow federal loans (Stafford and Grad PLUS).

I have read about these programs, but I'm still confused?
Please direct all questions to the Financial Aid Office. You can even schedule an appointment to meet with a financial aid counselor.

Do I have to make payments on my loans while I'm in school?
Federal Stafford and Grad PLUS loans do not require any monthly payments until 6 months after you graduate or drop below half-time enrollment. If you have federal loans from before law school, you should request an in-school deferment (contact your lender for the form) to postpone repayment until after you graduate or drop below half-time. Private loans might require payments while you are in school so you should contact the lender.

What if I can't find a job right away?
Federal loans (Stafford and Grad PLUS) come with generous amounts of deferment for unemployment and economic hardship. Private loans do not offer nearly as much flexibility during repayment so proceed with caution.