Full-time and part-time Juris Doctor candidates are eligible to apply for GW Law need-based grants, awarded on the basis of financial need, and subject to availability of funds. Merit scholarship recipients and transfer students are ineligible to receive need-based grants.
The Law School will meet a percentage of unmet need with need-based funds. The remaining cost (including the EFC, expected family contribution) may be met with the Federal Direct Stafford, Federal Direct Graduate PLUS, or other commercial educational loans.
- Financial need is reassessed annually, so you must reapply each year.
- GW Law need-based grants vary in amount annually, ranging from $1,000 to $16,000; renewal is not guaranteed.
- GW Law need-based grants may be awarded only in the first three years of full-time or first four years of part-time study.
- Income tax and asset data from the tax year immediately preceding the academic year is expected from you, your spouse (if married), and your parents (if you were born on or after January 1, 1985), and is used in determining GW Law need-based awards from GW.
- Students receiving GW Law need-based grants are required to borrow the full $20,500 Federal Direct Stafford loan.
Students must be making satisfactory academic progress toward their law degree in order to receive federal and institutional aid. Please see the Law School Financial Aid Office's SAP policy for more information.
How Do I Apply for a GW Law Need-Based Grant?
If you are an applicant for admission, do not wait until you are admitted to begin. The earlier you file your federal tax returns, the more accurate your need analysis will be. If you are an upperclassman, you should file by the Law School’s deadline, June 30.
1) File your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) with as much accurate information as soon as possible after January.
- You and your spouse, if you are married, must complete the FAFSA.
- If you are applying for grants and were born on/after January 1, 1985, your parents must file FAFSA with you.
- The Law School FAFSA code is E00196.
- If you have previously filed a FAFSA, you may submit a new FAFSA online, using your Personal Identification Number (PIN) to retrieve prior year demographic data. Your PIN serves as your electronic signature. If you need a new PIN or have forgotten yours, go to www.pin.ed.gov
2) Complete the Law School Financial Aid Application available June 1 on Gweb for returning students and via paper for incoming 1Ls.
Applicants for J.D. Admission
Once you pay your first tuition deposit and select GW Law as the school you will definitely attend, you will apply for your Federal Direct Stafford Loan and any other loans as part of your financial aid package completion. The Law Financial Aid Office begins processing loans for incoming J.D. candidates in June, after the second admissions deposit deadline.
Continuing J.D. Students
Second-, third-, and fourth-year J.D. students must file their FAFSA by the June 1 deadline and Law School Request for Financial Aid form by June 30 for GW Law need-based aid. Note: the Law School Request for Financial Aid is being converted into an electronic form for GWeb. We expect it to be available by June 1 for returning students.
Return and Refund Policies of Title IV Funds and Institutional Aid
Including Merit Scholarships & GW Law Need-based Grants
The Law School Financial Aid Office is required by regulation to calculate a Refund of Fees and a Return of Title IV Funds amount for all financial aid recipients who withdraw, are dismissed, or who take a leave of absence during a semester. The policy applies to financial aid recipients who discontinue enrollment in all classes, on or after the first day of the semester. The Return of Title IV Funds is the amount of unearned aid you received at the beginning of the semester that must be returned to the federal aid programs. Any aid received in excess of the earned amount is considered unearned. The earned portion is calculated on a daily basis using calendar days from the first day of instruction. The Law Financial Aid Office will also pro-rate or revoke institutional aid depending on the timing of a change in your enrollment status. Contact your financial aid counselor for more details.