Applying for Financial Aid
Law students are required to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to be evaluated for federal aid eligibility. Federal aid available to law students is limited to federal loans and work study. A FAFSA is not required to be considered for merit scholarships. Students can file the FAFSA online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov beginning January 1st. Remember to include Drexel's federal ID number (#003256) when filing the federal form. If additional documentation is needed, the student will be contacted directly by the Office of Financial Aid.
After filing the FAFSA, students will receive a copy of their Student Aid Report (SAR). Students should check the SAR for accuracy and make any necessary corrections. Corrections should be submitted as soon as possible.
Drexel will receive the information about three business days after a student has filed the FAFSA. The information in the FAFSA is used to determine a student's eligibility for federal financial aid funds. Continuing students will receive a financial aid package in the mail sometime in July. This package will include all federal funds that the student is eligible to receive as well as any scholarship awarded by the School of Law.
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 federal student loans will not be disbursed from the lender to Drexel until the promissory note has been signed and entrance counseling is completed. Both can be completed here. 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. Please contact the Earle Mack School of Law financial aid representative if you have changed your enrollment status.
To ensure that you receive a financial aid package prior to the start of the academic year, you must complete the FAFSA by May 1.
Funding Options:
Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans are awarded to law students on the basis of need. More detailed information about Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans can be found here.
Graduate PLUS Loans. A PLUS Loan enables a law student to borrow his or her 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 reasonable day-to-day living expenses for the student. More detailed information about Graduate Plus Loans can be found here.
Additional Funding Options:
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.
Drexel Alumni Scholarships: Drexel offers special incentives for our undergraduate 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: The Department of Veteran Affairs administers a variety of education benefit programs, including the GI Bill's Yellow Ribbon program, through which Drexel University offers free education to an unlimited number of military veterans across all of the University's full- and part-time undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and professional programs — both on campus and online. More detailed information about financing and certification resources for veterans can be found here.
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.