Full-time and part-time Juris Doctor candidates are eligible to apply for GW tuition grants, awarded on the basis of financial need and subject to availability of funds. Need is calculated by the basic formula: 

 The Law School will meet a percentage of unmet need with need-based funds. The remaining cost (including the EFC) may be met with the Federal Stafford, Federal GradPlus, or other commercial educational loans.

• Financial need is reassessed annually, so you must reapply each year
• Need-based GW tuition grants vary in amounts annually, ranging from $2,000 to half tuition
• GW tuition 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 applicable), and your parents (if you are under 30 years of age), and is used in determining need-based awards from GW
• Students receiving need-based grants are required to borrow the full $20,500 Federal Stafford loan

How Do I Apply for Need-Based GW Tuition Grants?

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 for continuing J.D. students-usually around April 15.

1. You, your spouse (if applicable), and your parents should complete the online PROFILE form.

• Use GW Law School’s Profile code: 5587
• Receipt of your PROFILE data signals to GW Law Financial Aid your intent to apply for GW need-based aid. Once filed, it may take 2-4 weeks for GW to receive your data from the College Scholarship Service
• You will be charged a fee for filing this form

2. File your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)  soon after January 1 as possible.

• Only you and your spouse, if applicable, need complete FAFSA
• The Law School code is E00196
• Don’t wait until you are admitted to file the FAFSA
• If you have previously filed a FAFSA, you may submit a renewal FAFSA online, which uses your Personal Identification Number (PIN) as your electronic signature. If you need a new PIN or have forgotten yours, go to www.pin.ed.gov

3. Submit to the Law Financial Aid Office your federal tax returns, as outlined below. Use the tax return filed in the April prior to the academic year for which you are applying for aid. File as soon after the federal tax filing deadline of April 15 as possible.

• A signed copy of all pages, schedules, and W-2 forms of your (and your spouse’s, if applicable) federal tax return
• If you are under the age of 30, a signed copy of all pages, schedules, and W-2 forms of your parents’ federal tax return.

4. Loan application requirement

If you receive a GW Need-Based Tuition Grant, you will be expected to borrow the full amount of Federal Stafford loans. See section on Federal Stafford Loans for full details.

Applicants for J.D. Admissions:

Once you pay your first tuition deposit and select GW Law as the school you will definitely attend, you will apply for your Federal Stafford and any other loans as part of your financial aid package completion. Other documents will be required. Law Financial Aid begins processing loans for incoming J.D. candidates in mid-June.

Continuing J.D. students:

Second-, third-, and fourth-year J.D. students file their loan forms by the April 15 deadline for GW need-based aid.

What Happens to my Data?

The College Scholarship Service will analyze your Profile data, estimate results of your FAFSA data, and provide GW a report suggesting the appropriate estimated family contribution from you, and, if applicable, your spouse and your parents. The Law School Financial Aid Office will open a financial file for you upon receipt of your Profile data.

When Do I File?

We urge you to file the Profile form and FAFSA as soon after January 1 as possible.

• To avoid delays, do not wait for admission notification
• If you, your spouse, or your parents will file federal income taxes late, it is better to complete the Profile and FAFSA forms based upon prior tax year data, or on a good estimate of your new tax data, than to wait to file
• Spouse’s data (if you are married) and parent data (if you are under age 30) are required on the Profile

When Are Grants Credited to My GW Student Account?

GW Tuition Grants are credited to your GW student account at the beginning each semester of the aid period (the same is true for loans). After registration, if your GW student account shows you with a credit balance, you may request the University issue you a refund. Refunds can take up to 10 to 14 days from time of request, so it is imperative you plan to have sufficient funds on hand to cover your living expenses for the first couple of weeks of each semester.