Financing Your Earle Mack School of Law Education
We understand applicants face many challenges in financing a legal education. This page details the merit awards, private loan options, and additional funding sources we have assembled to help our students over financial hurdles and into the classroom.
Student Resource Center Financial Aid Representative
Your financial concerns are very important to us. To provide dedicated personal assistance with your financial aid questions, our Financial Aid counselor Mary DeRivera is ready to assist you. She can be reached at (215) 895-1044 or you can e-mail her directly at mary.m.derivera@drexel.edu.
Tuition, Expenses, and Fees
Law students are strongly advised not to work during their first year of studies. Therefore, it is essential to plan a realistic budget. The current tuition rate and fees for study are: Tuition: $1,245 per credit; Fees: $780
Disclaimer
Tuition and fee rates, which are established annually by the University's Board of Trustees, are subject to change without notice. For the most updated information, contact Student Financial Services at (215) 895-1445.
Admission and Scholarships
We pledge to offer our students an outstanding legal education. Our diverse faculty has exceptional qualifications; our curriculum is rich in breadth and depth; and our library and physical facilities are among the most modern and technologically advanced in the nation.
We seek students whose academic and personal qualifications are of the highest order and who will become leaders in the legal profession and the community. To ensure we reach that goal, we carefully review the academic record, Law School Admission Test (LSAT) scores, and college and community activities of every applicant, as well as the recommendations of those who know each individual's accomplishments and potential. We give substantial consideration to ensure that our student body reflects the diversity of our community in order to serve it best.
Scholarship awards will be made with your admission decision, so you will have ample time to plan how you will finance your education.
Below is a description of the various kinds of financial aid available to students. This information provides you a basic description of funding resources, for full assistance we encourage you to work with our Financial Aid office to plan for your law school experience.
Earle Mack School of Law Merit Scholarships
We are committed to enrolling the highest caliber of students to our law school. To recruit competitive law students, we have dedicated significant financial resources to the law school’s merit based scholarship program. These merit based scholarships range in amount from $2,500 to $30,000 per year for three years. Scholarship awards are based on the strength of a student’s academic success and aptitude. Starting with the Class of 2014, students receiving merit scholarships are required to maintain full-time status and a 2.95 minimum cumulative GPA from the completion of their first year studies. There is no need to apply for the scholarships; recipients are notified at the time the offer is made.
Earle Mack Law Ambassador Scholarships
Each year we select six first year students to serve as Law School Ambassadors. Ambassadors contribute to the law community by hosting student visits and attending Information Sessions and Accepted Students Day events. In return for their service, Ambassadors receive limited scholarship awards.
Financial Aid Information
If you are applying for financial aid, submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) (U.S. citizens and permanent residents only). Remember, even if you have applied for aid in the past, you need to ensure that you file the FAFSA for each year that you plan to enroll in school. The FAFSA must list Drexel’s school code (003256). For further information, please review the steps of the financial aid process by clicking here.
Check for any outstanding financial aid requirements (U.S. citizens and permanent residents only). Students who have confirmed their attendance can check their status on DrexelOne. New student loans will not be disbursed from the lender to Drexel until the promissory note has been signed. To make sure you have fulfilled all requirements, click here.
Notify the Financial Aid Office of any changes in your enrollment status. A change in enrollment status could affect your financial aid award. Contact us via email at: finaid@drexel.edu if you have changed your enrollment status.
To receive Stafford student loans, you must complete the FAFSA by May 1. Subsidized Stafford Student Loans are awarded on the basis of financial need. No interest is charged until you begin repayment, or during authorized periods of deferment. The federal government subsidizes the interest during these periods. A law student may borrow up to $8,500 per year. The current interest rate is fixed at 6.8 percent.
Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans are federal student loans available to students who do not qualify for the subsidized loan. An unsubsidized loan is not awarded on the basis of need. You will be charged interest from the time the loan is disbursed until it is paid in full. If you pay the interest as it accrues, you will pay less in the long run. The Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Student Loan can be issued for the full amount of eligibility, or in combination with a (subsidized) Federal Stafford Student Loan. Law students may borrow up to $12,000. Law students who do not qualify for a subsidized loan can borrow up to $8,500 in additional unsubsidized amounts.
Students eligible for Graduate Plus Loans are typically able to borrow all their reasonable financial needs to attend law school. Graduate Plus Loans can be used to cover what is called the cost of attendance, a figure that can include tuition, rent, books and day to day living expenses. To determine how much you are eligible for under the Graduate Plus program, we encourage you to speak with our Financial Aid counselor. Graduate Plus loans are available to all graduate and professional students who have exhausted their Stafford Loan eligibility for the academic year or who have reached their aggregate limit and meet the necessary requirements for the program.
To be eligible for the Graduate PLUS Loan, students must meet the following criteria:
- Exhaust Stafford Loan eligibility
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
- Not be in default on an educational loan
- Must be credit worthy
- Must be accepted at a participating school
- Must be enrolled on at least a part time basis
- Must be making satisfactory academic progress
Work Study: Students may be awarded federal work study opportunities as part of their financial aid package. Numerous work study positions are available within the law school, a convenient way to help fund your education.
Private Education Loans are credit-based consumer loans that can be used to pay any education-related expenses, including tuition and fees, books, and transportation. When the lender has determined if the student meets the approval criteria, the lender will contact Drexel for the school certification. After the certification has been provided, the lender will issue a disclosure statement detailing the loan agreement. If you request to borrow an amount that exceeds eligibility, Drexel will reduce the requested amount to comply with federal guidelines.
Additional Funding Options:
Drexel Alumni Scholarships: Drexel offers special incentives for our alumni. Complete your Juris Doctor degree at Drexel and we will support your choice with the Drexel Alumni Scholarship. The program provides you with a $1,000 grant each year of full-time study.
Veterans: Drexel University supports our veterans and active duty service members. If you are a veteran who served on continuous active duty for 181 days or more after January 31, 1955, you may be eligible for educational benefits under the Montgomery G.I. Bill. For information on government programs that are not third-party billed, please contact Jeff Linksens by e-mail (jrl75@drexel.edu) or by phone at (215) 895-6413. For government programs with third party billing (active duty personnel, National Guard members, etc.), please contact Samantha Scheidler by phone at (215) 895-1445.
Yellow Ribbon Program: Drexel University is proud to participate in the Yellow Ribbon program, a partnership with the federal government which offers free education to eligible military veterans. For complete information on the program, visit http://www.drexel.edu/src/veterans/yellowribbon/default.html or contact the law school financial aid counselor.
Outside Sources: You may be eligible for a specialized scholarship or grant from an outside agency. Some sources to explore include employers, unions, professional organizations, and community and special-interest groups.
Scholarship Search Engines
The following free scholarship search engines provide information on thousands of scholarships as well as information on financial aid and money management.
Related Resources:
- Earle Mack School of Law Admissions
215-895-1LAW
lawadmissions@drexel.edu
- Student Resource Center/ Financial Aid Office
- AskDrexel: http://ask.drexel.edu
Financing Options (EdFinancial Services):
1-877-DREXEL-5
This call center has been arranged with EdFinancial Services for Drexel students and their families.
- Drexel University Student Financial Services
215-895-1445
http://ask.drexel.edu
- U.S. Department of Education
1-800-4-FED-AID
