How to Apply

We want to make it easier to navigate the financial aid application process with clear instructions and helpful hints. Follow these steps.

Please see Pre-Admit Check List and/or Post-Admit Check List for reminder lists concerning the steps of the financial aid process during application. For helpful hints, see Prospective Student Financial Aid Instructions and Paying for Law School - Watch this financial aid workshop video for some great information on how to pay for and prepare for law school (offered by Jeffrey Hanson, LSAC Educational Consultant).

1. Apply Every Year

For the federal, state, and university aid programs detailed here (except scholarships), students must apply for financial aid each year. Eligible student recipients normally are awarded a combination of government-insured loans, work-study, and, as needed, alternative educational loans.

2. Complete the FAFSA

If you have not previously completed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you may request a PIN at www.pin.ed.gov. Having your PIN in advance will make filing the FAFSA in January much quicker and easier.

Please see Prospective Student Financial Aid Instructions for helpful hints on completing the FAFSA.

To apply for financial aid (except scholarship only), complete the FAFSA (available online). You may not complete the FAFSA until after January 1 of each year (see below for deadlines). General financial aid information will be mailed out after receipt of your application for admission. Paper FAFSAs are also available at Student Financial Services, most libraries, or institutions of higher education. Our Title IV school code is 003790.

Deadlines:

• Entering students should apply as soon as possible for full consideration of all programs. Your file will be evaluated once you are admitted to the law school if your file is complete. You will receive an award letter within approximately three weeks of your admit date (but no earlier than mid-March). Limited funding programs are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Continuing students must submit the FAFSA by February 15 for a timely award and consideration for all limited-funded programs (e.g., State Work-Study).

3. Entrance Counseling

All students receiving financial aid (except scholarship only) are required to complete entrance counseling prior to receiving aid at Seattle University School of Law. You may do so online at www.studentloans.gov (click on Entrance Counseling). If you are applying for the federal Grad PLUS loan (credit based), you must also complete Grad PLUS entrance counseling. Click on the Combination - Stafford and PLUS loans option.

4. Verification

If you are selected for verification (notification is on your Student Aid Report or by institutional request), you are required to submit a signed and dated copy of your (and your spouse's, if applicable) most recent IRS 1040 form, all 1040 attachments, W-2 forms, and a Verification Worksheet. For more information, please review the Verification Cover Letter.

Entering students may receive a tentative Award Letter prior to being verified, but the award may change due to the verification process. If a change occurs, a Revised Award Letter will follow. Funding cannot be released until verification is complete.

Continuing students are required to submit verification materials prior to file evaluation and the awarding of financial aid.

5. Promissory Notes

Stafford Loan: If you are an entering student or a first time borrower, you must sign a Direct Stafford Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN) if there is not one on record at the Direct Loan Center. Please complete one online at  www.studentloans.gov.  The MPN is effective for ten years.

Grad PLUS Loan: If you are an entering student or a first time borrower, you must sign a Direct Grad PLUS Promissory Note (MPN) if there is not one on record at the Direct Loan Center. You may complete  online at www.studentloans.gov.   The MPN is effective for ten years. You must also complete a Grad PLUS Request Form (also found at www.studentloans.gov).  If you wish to add the 4% origination fee to the loan amount borrowed in oder to net the amount requested, you must notify our office, otherwise there will be a 4% deduction per disbursement.

Alternative Loans: If your credit is approved, you must complete a loan application and promissory note for each private loan annually or for any supplemental private loans. Eligibility amount and lender information will be included with your Financial Aid Award Letter or see Alternative Loans for information on alternative loans designed for graduate/law students.  These are private lenders used in the past by our Seattle University School of Law students.  You may borrow from any private lender you wish listed or not listed here, but please review the terms and conditions of the loan carefully.  Because private loans are not eligible for federal loan consolidation, the Income Based Repayment plan or the Public Interest Federal Loan Forgiveness program, we encourage you to consider borrowing the Grad PLUS instead, if additional funding beyond the Stafford loan is necessary.

6. Funding Eligibility

In order to receive financial aid you must maintain academic satisfactory progress according to federal regulations. You must enroll for and complete a minimum number of credits and maintain a minimum GPA each academic year. Students must successfully complete a minimum of 16 credits per academic year (a minimum of 8 credits each for fall and spring terms) and complete their law studies within 7 years, including leaves of absence. In addition, students must be in good standing as defined in Chapter II of the Student Handbook.  Should you not meet these standards, you will be placed on financial aid probation and may lose financial aid eligibility. See Maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress for more information.

You must be enrolled at least half-time each term to receive a student loan.

Financial aid is provided up to the 90 credits required to graduate.

Notes

You should always be prepared to pay for books and other expenses from your own resources for approximately two weeks each term.

Please see Pre-Admit Check List and/or Post-Admit Check List for reminder lists concerning the steps of the financial aid process during application. For answers to any questions you have about financial aid, please contact Student Financial Services at lawfa@seattleu.edu.