Financial Aid General Information 2012-2013
It is the goal of the GW Law Financial Aid Office to provide you a financial aid package that makes attending GW Law possible. Unlike many law schools that offer only a limited number of merit scholarships, GW Law offers need-based grants to all who demonstrate significant financial need, as well as a number of merit-based scholarships. GW Law will also assist you in obtaining federal and private student loans.
If you apply for financial aid, you will be provided with a financial aid award package outlining scholarships, grants and federal student loans for which you may be eligible. You may also choose to borrow private student loans. Although most law students are likely to take on significant student loan debt, it is our goal to help you minimize your debt to the greatest extent possible.
The total amount of your financial aid package (scholarships, grants and loans) cannot exceed the total cost of attendance as set by the GW Law Financial Aid Office. This total cost of attendance changes each year and includes tuition expense, as well as average student living expenses. For the curent 2011-2012 academic year, the total cost of attendance for a full-time student is $74,400, and the total cost of attendance for a part-time student is $60,400. Please note that tuition rates and total cost of attendance figures are subject to change at any time. Attendance costs for the 2012-2013 academic year will be published in early February.
Students are assigned a financial aid counselor who will assist and guide them through the loan application process. Counselor assignments are as follows:
If your last name begins with: A-I, your counselor is:
Nancy LaMotta, 202.994.3437, nancy@law.gwu.edu
If your last name begins with: J-R, your counselor is:
Darshani Don, 202.994.6087, darshani@law.gwu.edu
If your last name begins with: S-Z, your counselor is:
Beth Amurao, 202.994.3417, beth@law.gwu.edu
Pay careful attention to all e-mail messages that you receive from GW Law, and be sure to let your financial aid counselor know of any changes in your e-mail address
Estimated Cost, First-Year J.D. program for 2011-2012
*Attendance costs for the 2012-2013 academic year will be available in February.
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2011-2012 Nine-Month Academic Year Costs
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Full-Time J.D.
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Part-Time J.D.
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Books and Supplies
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$1,550
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$1,182
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Health Insurance
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$1,800
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$1,800
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Loan Origination and Guarantee Fees
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$1,400
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$1,400
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Personal Expenses
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$3,200
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$3,200
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Room and Board
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$18,500
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$18,500
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Transportation Allowance
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$2,200
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$2,200
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Tuition and fees
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$45,750
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$33,778
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Total
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$74,400
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$62,060
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1) Full-time J.D. students (taking 12 credits or more per semester) pay a flat tuition rate. Part-time J.D. students pay tuition at a rate of $1,608.50 per credit. For planning purposes, you should expect an annual increase in tuition of at least $1,500.
Required Course Load
J.D. students must be enrolled for at least 6 credit hours (part-time) in each semester for which they are requesting aid. Enrollment changes may result in financial aid changes.
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J.D.
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Full-Time
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Part-Time
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Fall/Spring semesters
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12 or more credits
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6-11 credits
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Summer semester
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5 or more credits
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3-4 credits
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GW Law Need-Based Grants
All applicants who demonstrate significant financial need will be considered for need-based grants. You must reapply for need-based grants each year. Grant award amounts may change each year based upon your financial need and availability of funds; renewal is not guaranteed. The annual amount of your need-based grant is determined based upon the information you (and your parents, if applicable) provide on the FAFSA.
As a threshold requirement, J.D. students must borrow the maximum Federal Direct Stafford Loan ($20,500) each year in order to be considered for a GW Law need-based grant. The only exception to this requirement is in the case of students who are ineligible to borrow Federal Direct Student Loans.
Important Notes:
If you wish to be considered for a need-based grant, and you were born on or after January 1, 1984, your parents must complete the parental information section of the FAFSA.
If you are the recipient of a GW Law merit scholarship totalling $16,000 or more, you are not eligible for a GW Law need-based grant and will be awarded student loans only. You do not need to complete the parental information section of the FAFSA.
If you wish to be considered for a need-based grant, you need to submit:
1) The 2012-2013 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after January 1, 2012, with as much accurate information as you can provide. The Law School's FAFSA code is E00196.
Please note: Because you are going to be a graduate student, the FAFSA instructions indicate that only your data (and your spouse's data if married) is required on the form in order for you to apply for federal aid. However, GW Law uses the FAFSA to determine eligibility for need-based grants, so GW's instructions override those of FAFSA.
2) The GW Law Financial Aid Request Form.
3) Each year as part of its monitoring and auditing of federal student loan programs, the U.S. Department of Education selects FAFSAs at random for a process known as verification. If your FAFSA is selected, you may be asked to provide GW Law Financial Aid with a copy of your (and spouse's data, if married) federal tax returns for tax year 2011, as well as a federal verification form. If you were born on or after January 1, 1984, your parents may be asked to provide copies of their federal tax returns for the tax year 2011. The Law School Financial Aid Office will let you know by e-mail if your tax returns or any other documents are required.
Federal Direct Student Loans
To have your eligibility determined for Federal Direct Loans, you must submit:
1) The FAFSA with your (and your spouse's, if married) information. If you are seeking only Federal Direct Student Loans and do not wish to be considered for a need-based grant, your parents need not provide any information.
2) The GW Law Financial Aid Request Form.
Types of Federal Direct Student Loans:
Federal Direct Stafford Loan
All students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents may borrow up to $20,500 each year in the Federal Direct Stafford Loan, regardless of credit-worthiness. Currently, the interest rate on the Federal Direct Stafford Loan is fixed at 6.8%, with the up-front fees charged of 1%. Unless an extended payment plan is chosen, the Federal Direct Stafford Loan must be repaid within 10 years. The aggregate maximum a student can borrow through Federal Direct Stafford Loans is $138,500.
Federal Direct GradPLUS Loan
All students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and who do not have “adverse credit” in the 90 days prior to application for the loan may borrow the Federal Direct GradPLUS loan in an amount up to the total cost of attendance less all other financial aid. Currently, the interest rate on the Federal Direct GradPLUS Loan is fixed at 7.9%, with up-front fees charged of 4%. Unless an extended payment plan is chosen, the Federal Direct GradPLUS loan must be repaid within 10 years. There is no aggregate maximum amount for the Federal Direct GradPLUS.
Private Loans
Although the Law School does not package financial aid with private loans, students might prefer to borrow private loans through any lender of their choice. Your financial aid counselor will work with you and your lender to facilitate certification and disbursement of any private loans you wish to borrow. Private loans are not consolidatable with federal loans, and have stringent credit requirements. It is the student's responsibility to choose a private loan product; the Law School does not recommend one program over another.
Student Loans for International Students
Students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents are not eligible for Federal Direct Stafford or GradPLUS Loans. GW Law has limited endowed loan funds for which international students may qualify; they should also explore private loans, which generally require creditworthy U.S. citizen co-signers. International students should consult with their financial aid counselor for assistance.
Financial Aid Award Packages
Your application for financial aid will be complete upon submission of a completed FAFSA and, for those selected for verification, all additional required documentation, and the GW Law Financial Aid Application. It is our goal to provide applicants with financial aid award notice (that applicants may access on the GWeb self-service system) beginning March 1, 2012.
Please note that we will base your initial financial aid award on the information that we have at the time we make the award. As supplemental information is provided and changes occur (e.g., amended FAFSA data, federal tax returns, or other documents required in the verification process, etc.), we retain the right to modify your financial aid award.
Notification of Awards
We will notify you via Banner e-mail when your award is ready for your review on GWeb. Once you view awards on GWeb, you will be able to accept, decline, or accept a reduced award, if desired.
From GWeb, you will be able to link directly, if necessary, to the government website for loan applications. If you have already signed federal direct MPNs (Master Promissory Notes) for Federal Direct Stafford and Federal Direct GradPLUS loans within the past five years, you do not need to sign them again. As federal direct loan entrance counseling is school-specific, you will need to complete it for GW Law. You may review whether or not you have active MPNs on the Student Loans website under the headings "My Loan Documents" and Completed MPN's where date/time stamps of each will appear if already completed.
When and How do Funds Arrive?
Federal Direct loans are issued in two equal portions, divided between the fall and spring semesters of the academic year, arriving at the beginning of each semester.
Notification of Funds
You will be notified by e-mail of the arrival of loan funds each semester. If you do not receive notification when you expect it, check your account on GWeb, or contact your Financial Aid counselor to check your status.
Student Account e-Refund of Excess Funds
Financial aid award funds are disbursed to your GW Law student account at the beginning of each semester. If the awards you have accepted exceed the amount owned on the semester GW Student Account e-Bill system, you will receive a refund to assist with you external educational expenses, such as books, housing, meals, etc. To set up your direct deposit e-refund, register online through Student Account eBill.
Return and Refund Policies of Title IV Funds and Institutional Aid (including merit scholarships and 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 School 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.
Note to Joint Degree Candidates
You must be taking law school courses in order to be eligible for GW Law School institutional need-based financial aid. The Law School Financial Aid Office will continue to process your loans, based on the tuition of the other GW division in which you are enrolled. However, if you register for one course at the Law School in a given semester, but take all your remaining credits for that semester within another division of GW, you will be charged the Law School tuition rate. Joint degree students are responsible for payment of all additional fees that may by charged by other schools at GW.
Summer Courses
Costs associated with taking a half-time or more course load in summer may be met with private loans or Federal Direct GradPLUS Loans. The "Request for Summer Financial Aid" form will be made available for you to apply in April 2013. Please work with your financial aid counselor to apply for summer funds.
GW Law Financial Aid Office/Guiding You Through the Process
Your assigned financial aid counselor will provide more detailed information to you about the GWeb self-service system, the procedure for securing your student loans, etc., once you have completed your FAFSA and provided all required information. You should feel free to contact your assigned counselor at any time with questions you may have.