Tuition & Aid

Funding your Law School Education

A majority (85 percent) of Law School students receive financial aid to help fund their legal education. An online process provides convenient access to the financial aid application and disbursement. For more information, go to the One Stop Student Services Web site at http://onestop.umn.edu. Financial aid advisor Jim Parker is available for assistance. Contact him at 612-626-0750 or j-park1@umn.edu.

Cost of Attendance in 2008-09

Resident Tuition: $21,900
Non-resident Tuition: $32,303

The Office of Student Finance sets cost-of-attendance (COA) estimates used to determine your aid eligibility. For the 2008-2009 school year, the COA for first-year Law School students are:

Single Resident:

Tuition $21,900
Fees $2,734
UMN Health Insurance (1) $1,706
Laptop Purchase $1,300
Books & Supplies $1,666
Indirect Costs (2) $12,106
TOTAL $41,412

Single Nonresident:

Tuition $32,303
Fees $2,734
UMN Health Insurance (1) $1,706
Laptop Purchase $1,300
Books & Supplies $1,666
Indirect Costs (2) $12,106
TOTAL $51,815

Notes:

(1) Students have the option of using their own health insurance.

(2) Indirect Costs are calculated for a student living off-campus as follows:

• Room/board $9,356 (based upon local housing prices)
• Transportation $750
• Personal/miscellaneous $2,000

(3) Reciprocity students (those living in South Dakota, Wisconsin, or Manitoba) must apply to receive the resident tuition rate. For additional information, go to the One Stop Student Services Web site and click on Tuition and Billing.

(4) Living expenses for family members are not covered by financial aid, except for documented child care costs at a level set by the Office of Student Finance.

Scholarships

Scholarships are based on admission applications and are awarded at the time of admission. Admitted students are reviewed for a scholarship at the time of admittance; no separate application is required. Questions? Contact the Law School Admissions Office at 612-625-3487 or jdadmissions@umn.edu.

• Law School scholarships, ranging from $2,500 to full-tuition waivers, are awarded to approximately 66 percent of an incoming class.
• Admitted students are no longer eligible for federal or state undergraduate grants. However, you may qualify for gift aid by researching and applying for outside grants and scholarships.

Additional resources:

• Annual Register of Grant Support 2007: A Directory of Funding Sources, 40th edition (September 2006)
• Visit the One Stop Student Services Web site and click on Financial Aid

Loans

Federal aid is available to eligible students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents through Ford Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans. To be considered for federal direct and other campus-based loans, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) after January 1 of the year of law school entrance (e.g., submit a 2008–2009 application after January 1, 2009, for fall semester 2009) and each year thereafter.

• For accuracy and the quickest results, apply online at http://fafsa.ed.gov after you have completed your federal tax return. Be sure to provide the University's federal school code, 003969.
• Online applications require a federal PIN (personal identification number available at pin.ed.gov) for your use as an electronic signature and to gain access to your online account for future applications.
• Without a PIN, you must print the signature page, sign it, and mail it to the Federal Student Aid Programs address given on the Web site.
• Keep copies of federal tax returns and FAFSA papers.
• You will be considered for federal direct loans of up to $20,500 and other campus-based loans (limited funds, need-based distribution).
• Loan awards, based on FAFSA results, are calculated to help meet educational cost needs that are not met by other aid, such as scholarships or earnings.

Once tuition and financial aid levels are finalized in late July, an e-mail will be sent to your University e-mail account, directing you to an online Financial Aid Award Notice (eFAAN). The eFAAN provides you with instructions on how to accept, decline, or request reduced loan amounts online.

Private Lenders

If you are not eligible for campus-based and/or federal loans, or need to supplement your funds, you may apply for private loans.

• After you receive your online eFAAN, please complete an online private loan application. The information will then be electronically transferred to OSF.
• For more on private loans, go to the One Stop Student Services Web site and click on Financial Aid

A Note About Credit History:

Before you start your law program, we strongly recommend that you request and review your credit history for accuracy. If corrections need to be made, you should resolve them before you apply for a loan. A copy of your credit report may be requested online at www.annualcreditreport.com. You also can request separate reports from the three major credit-reporting corporations — Transunion, Experian and Equifax — by contacting their individual corporate Web sites.