Financial Assistance

Paying for School
To determine eligibility for federal student aid programs, law students must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each academic year. For the 2008-2009 academic year, students will be required to file the 2008-2009 FAFSA using their 2007 federal income tax return information. Students can file the FAFSA online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov no earlier than January 1, 2008, and should have the results sent to Saint Louis University School of Law using the federal school code of 002506.

Governing Policies and Practices
Current federal law requires each eligible institution participating in Title IV federal financial aid programs to provide student financial assistance and other institutional information. Law students must adhere to the policies and practices established by Saint Louis University. Each student is responsible for knowing the University policies, in addition to the policies established by the School of Law. These policies and practices can be found in the Student Handbook and the Policies and Procedures section of the Web site.

Federal Stafford Loan
Saint Louis University participates in the Federal Family Education
Loan Program (FFELP). Under FFELP, loan funds come from individual lenders (banks, credit unions or other lenders who participate in FFELP). FFELP Stafford Loans available are either subsidized or unsubsidized, based on financial need, up to $20,500. All admitted students who file a FAFSA will be reviewed for Stafford Loan eligibility.

Federal Graduate PLUS Loan
A student must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the intended academic year as part of the eligibility process for the Graduate PLUS loan. Students must also apply for their annual loan maximum eligibility under the Federal Stafford Loan program before applying for a Graduate PLUS loan. The lender will perform a credit check at the time of application to determine eligibility for the Graduate PLUS loan. The student may use a co-signer.

Alternative Loans
For students whose needs exceed the Federal Stafford Loan Program, alternative/private educational loans are available. These loans are credit-based and often carry a variable interest rate. Loan amounts can cover the difference between the total cost of attendance minus any other financial aid received, including federal loans and scholarships. Contact the Financial Aid Coordinator before applying for any alternative/private loan.

International Students
International students must make financial arrangements before studies at Saint Louis University can begin. Federal aid is not available to international students on an F1 or F2 student visa, J1 or J2 exchange visitor visa or a G series visa. Some alternative/private loans are available to international students; however, most lenders require that a citizen of the United States or a permanent resident co-sign on the loan.

Scholarships
Saint Louis University School of Law awards merit-based scholarships to a select group of highly qualified, admitted students. Each application completed prior to February 12, 2008 automatically receives full consideration for scholarship opportunities. For those who qualify, scholarship notification is included in the acceptance letter. All merit scholarships are awarded based on past academic performance and LSAT scores. Merit scholarships are renewable depending on good academic standing.

1843 Scholars
The School of Law at Saint Louis University was founded in 1843 when there were fewer than 20 law schools in the nation. To commemorate the significance of that time in history, the 1843 Scholars program was established to distinguish a group of exemplary students for outstanding academic achievements. Ten students are awarded a full-tuition scholarship for three years, which includes annual tuition increases. Applicants are nominated by the School of Law to compete for the scholarship. Nominees must compose a response to the 1843 essay question, which is included with the notification of nomination. Applicants should complete their application prior to February 12, 2008 for consideration for the 1843 scholarship.