The Law School's Financial Aid Office administers a comprehensive program of federal and state aid. Students are encouraged to apply for financial aid if you believe you will need assistance in order to attend WSU Law School. Additional information can be found on the financial aid website.

FAFSA

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a requirement for all of the Federal loans, work-study, and scholarships offered at WSU Law School. The FAFSA must be filed annually at www.fafsa.ed.gov. We encourage you to file early in order to maximize the amount of aid we may be able to offer you.

Federal Student Loans

Many students rely on federal government loans to finance their educations. These loans have low interest rates and most do not require credit checks. Student loans also provide a variety of deferment options and extended repayment terms.

Federal Perkins Loan
The Federal Perkins Loan is awarded to students with exceptional financial need as determined by the FAFSA. This is a campus-based loan program, with the school acting as the lender using a limited pool of funds provided by the federal government. The Perkins Loan is a subsidized loan, with the interest paid by the federal government during the in-school and 9-month grace periods. There are no origination or guarantee fees, and the interest rate is fixed at 5%.

Federal Stafford Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans
Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP)
All Federal Stafford Loans are either subsidized (the government pays the interest while you attend school) or unsubsidized (you pay all the interest, although you can have the payments delayed until after graduation). To receive a subsidized Stafford Loan, you must be able to demonstrate financial need as determined by filing the FAFSA.

An unsubsidized Stafford loan is not need based. It does not qualify for a federal interest subsidy. Interest starts accruing on this loan at the time of disbursement. With the unsubsidized Stafford loan, you can delay the payments until after graduation by capitalizing the interest. This adds the interest payments to the loan balance, increasing the size and cost of the loan. Even though the unsubsidized Stafford Loan is available to all students regardless of financial need, you must still submit the FASFA to be eligible.

The annual combined subsidized and unsubsidized Federal Stafford loan maximum is $20,500, no more than $8,500, which may be in subsidized loans. Federal Stafford Loans have a fixed interest rate of 6.8%.

Federal Graduate PLUS Loans

The Federal Graduate PLUS Loan is an unsubsidized low interest rate loan that is non-need based. Interest starts accruing on this loan at the time of disbursement although payment can be delayed until after graduation. Even though the Federal Graduate PLUS Loan is available to all students regardless of financial need, you must still file the FASFA to be eligible. The lender will perform a credit check before approving the loan.

 

Federal PLUS Loans allow you to borrow up to the cost of attendance less other financial aid. Federal PLUS loans have a fixed interest rate of 8.5%.

 
Alternative Loan Program

If your borrowing needs are not met by the federal programs, lenders offer a variety of supplemental borrowing programs known as Private or Alternative Loans.

Alternative Loans are non-need based loans typically utilized by students who are unable to meet their cost of attendance through Stafford loans. These loans must be included in a student's award package and certified by a Financial Aid staff member. The lender performs a credit check before approving the loan and disbursing funds. Most alternative loans allow you to borrow up to the cost of attendance less other financial aid. Information on how to apply is available on our web page at www.law.financialaid.wayne.edu or in the Law School Office of Student Financial Aid.

Federal and Michigan College Work-Study (CWS)

College Work-Study is a financial aid program that is awarded to students who have financial need. The program provides jobs for students, allowing them to earn money to help pay educational expenses. Under the Work-Study program, a percentage of a student's earnings are paid through federal or state funds, and the remainder is paid by the student's employer. A student may be employed with the Law School's Free Legal Aid Clinic, with the Law Library, as a research assistant to a law professor, with a University department, or with an employer that has a work-study contract with the University. If you are interested in work-study employment contact the Law School Financial Aid Office.

There is no federal financial aid regulation prohibition against awarding work-study to first-year law students. However, the Law School complies with ABA standards, which prohibit full-time first-year students from working. For that reason, the Law School Financial Aid Office does not offer work-study to first-year students for the fall or winter semesters.

 

Eligibility and Policies

Application
To apply for financial aid, a student must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at FAFSA on the Web. The WSU Law School federal code needed for the information to be sent electronically to the financial aid office is E00435.

Award Offers
The WSU Law School Office of Student Financial Aid uses the WSU email system to notify students of any outstanding requirements and award offers. All students should activate their WSU email as soon as they receive their access ID from the Admissions Office. Our emails will direct each student to WSU Pipeline to review their status.

Determining Need
The Law School Office of Student Financial Aid determines each financial aid applicant's need by the standard Federal method of analysis. Each year the School sets standard budgets for the cost of attendance, which includes tuition, fees, room, board, transportation, and books. A student's need is determined by deducting the expected student contribution as determined by filing the FAFSA from the standard budget. Resources of the student's parents are not considered in needs analysis for WSU Law School students.

Satisfactory Academic Progress
In order to be eligible for financial aid a law student must meet the requirements of satisfactory academic progress, which is defined by the academic regulations of the Law School.

Loan Default
Eligibility for financial aid assumes that the student is not in default on any federal student loan. Students who are in having difficulty with loan repayment should discuss their situation with their lender or the financial aid office prior to enrolling.

Part-Time JD Students
JD students must be enrolled at least half-time (5 credits) to be eligible for most financial aid programs. WSU Law School has many electronic financial aid options available to meet the needs of the busy evening student. Visit our web site at www.law.financialaid.wayne.edu for more information.

LLM Students
LLM students must be enrolled at least half-time (4 credits) in order to be eligible for federal and state financial aid programs.

International Students
International students do not meet the citizenship criteria to be eligible for financial aid from the U.S. Department of Education, but may apply for alternative loans through a variety of lenders. Some of these lenders may require a co-signer who is a credit-worthy U.S. Citizen or permanent resident. More information about these loan programs can be obtained from www.edupass.org.

Summer Term Awards
JD students who are enrolled at least half-time (3 credits for summer) and LLM students (1 credit) are eligible for any remaining Federal Stafford loan amount up to the annual maximum. In addition, college work-study funds are available for students hired by the Free Legal Aid Clinic (FLAC). A brief summer aid information form will be available in the financial aid office in the spring.

Guest Students
The Law School does not process financial aid for students from other law schools who are enrolled as guests. The guest student must request that his or her home school process financial aid. WSU Law School will sign a consortium agreement providing our cost of attendance to your home school.

Consortium Agreements
WSU Law School students who wish to take advantage of a semester of study at another law school may request a consortium agreement from the financial aid office. The agreement must be signed by Dean Miller and then be returned to the financial aid office. The financial aid office will fax the agreement to the host school for cost of attendance figures in order to determine eligibility for financial aid.

Scholarships and Grants

The law school awards several merit and need based scholarships and grants to first-year students. The Dean of Students Office coordinates selection of recipients based on academic credentials and financial need. No separate application is required. The Dean of Students Office will notify scholarship and grant recipients in writing of awards. To qualify for scholarships and certain grants, the applicant must complete a FAFSA form available at www.fafsa.ed.gov

David Adamany Scholarship
This scholarship, funded by the Charles H. Gershenson trust, in honor of former Wayne State University President and Professor of Law David Adamany, is designed to attract students with high credentials and outstanding character.

Board of Governors Scholarships
These scholarships are designed to attract students with high academic credentials and financial need.

Raymond L. Krell Scholarships
This scholarship, established by the late Raymond L. Krell, class of 1958, is awarded to a student who has financial need and a commitment to pro bono or charitable activities.

Arthur F. Lederle Scholarships
These scholarships, established by the family and friends of the United States District Court Judge Arthur F. Lederle, are awarded to first-year students with financial need and potential for superior work.

Frederica K. Lombard Scholarship
This scholarship, funded by the Charles H. Gershenson trust in honor of Frederica K. Lombard, Wayne State University Law School Associate Dean and Professor, is designed to attract a student of the highest caliber with strong academic credentials.

Joan Mahoney Scholarship
This scholarship, funded by the Charles H. Gershenson trust in honor of Joan Mahoney, former Wayne State University Law School Dean, is designed to attract a student of the highest caliber with strong academic credentials.

Anthony Maiullo Scholarship
This scholarship, established by the late Betty M. Maiullo in memory of her father, the Anthony Maiullo, a noted trial practitioner in the Detroit area, is awarded to an outstanding student entering the first-year of studies.

James K. Robinson Scholarship
This scholarship, funded by the Charles H. Gershenson trust in honor of James K. Robinson, former Wayne State University La School Dean and former United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, is designed to attract a student of the highest caliber with strong academic credentials.