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Financial Information
Financial Responsibility
Students assume responsibility for all costs incurred as a result of enrollment at Santa Clara University. It is the student’s responsibility to keep updated on their account balance and financial aid information, and maintain current valid address information at all times to ensure receipt of all University correspondence in a timely manner.
Financial Guidance Assistance
If financial guidance is needed, students and/or their parents should contact the appropriate offices. Counselors are available in the Law Financial Aid Office to discuss financial aid needs. The Bursar’s Office or Credit Counseling staff can explain available payment options.
Release of Information to Third Parties
The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 protects the confidentiality of the students’ records. The University staff is committed to abiding by the guidelines of this Federal regulation. The University is authorized under provisions of FERPA to release “Directory Information,” upon request, unless a student explicitly asks the University not to do so. For more information on FERPA and the definition of “Directory Information,” please visit the University Web site at www.scu.edu/ferpa. No other student information, such as billing, account information regarding tuition and fees, financial aid, enrollment, grades, or other student record information may be released to a third party without written authorization from the student. Third-party restrictions include, but are not limited to, parents, spouses, sponsors, and employers. Students may, at their discretion, grant the University permission to release their student records information to a third party by completing a Student Information Release form.
Enrollment Policy
Students must be officially registered following the procedures outlined in this Bulletin. Students may not sit in classes without formally enrolling. Registration is not complete until all tuition, fees, room, and board charges have been paid by the published deadline for each term/semester. Obtaining an instructor’s signature on an add/drop form does not constitute enrollment. Initial registration or class additions will not be accepted beyond the late registration period for each term. Please check the academic calendar for late registration dates on the law school Web site www.scu.edu/law.
Tuition and Fees
|
Application Fee (nonrefundable) |
$75 |
Deposits
|
Initial tuition deposit |
$200 |
|
Final tuition deposit |
$500 |
Deposits are credited automatically to the student’s account and apply to the first semester’s tuition. Deposits are not refundable.
Tuition and fees
|
First-year, full-time division students (per semester) |
$17,625 |
|
First-year, part-time division students (per semester) |
$12,338 |
|
Upper-division students (per semester unit) |
$1,175 |
|
LL.M. students (per semester unit) |
$1,375 |
|
Registration cancellation fee |
$250 |
|
Santa Clara Plan Health Insurance |
$1,678 |
|
Parking permit (per year) |
$250 |
|
Late payment fee (per each payment deadline) |
$75 |
|
Returned check charge (per check) |
$25 |
|
ACCESS Card replacement (student ID) |
$15 |
|
ACCESS Card replacement of damaged card (student ID) |
$5 |
|
ACCESS Card re-instatement fee |
$3 |
- Students enrolled in the J.D./MBA combined degree program will be charged law school tuition at $1,175 per semester unit and MBA tuition at $739 per quarter unit, $25 registration fee, and a $30 MBA student activity fee.
Mandatory Health Insurance
The law school requires as a condition of registration that each law student purchase health insurance offered through the University or sign the release of claims against the University that appears on the Cowell Health Center form. All students must complete and return the Cowell Health Center form upon matriculation. For details, access www.scu.edu/cshc/insurance.cfm.
Enrollment in an insurance plan, either a student’s own or one offered through the university, is mandated for international students on an F-1 or J-1 visa. International students are required to show proof of health insurance coverage to waive purchase of the Santa Clara University-sponsored health insurance plan. To waive out of the University-sponsored insurance students must complete the waiver form located at www.scu.edu/cshc/insurance.cfm.
Parking Permits
Parking permits are required for all users of University parking facilities. Permits can be purchased at Campus Safety Services in the parking garage. Parking per term may be arranged through Campus Safety Services. The Law Records Office can provide students with a Graduate Parking hang tag. Used in conjunction with the University parking permit, this tag allows students to park in faculty/staff parking lots after 4:00 p.m.
Housing Plans
Information on student housing is available at www.scu.edu/housing.
Billing and Payment Procedures
Students assume responsibility for all costs incurred as a result of enrollment at Santa Clara University and agree to abide by applicable University policies and procedures. Students receive monthly bills electronically via a third-party vendor that are accessible through University E-Campus. A billing notification will be sent to the student’s University e-mail address and to the e-mail address of any payer authorized by the student. Students may also forward their student account statements electronically to any third party they authorize for remittance. Information on a student’s account cannot be provided to any third party payer unless a completed Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act form authorizing its release by the student is on file with the Bursar's Office.
Students are billed according to their actual enrollment at the time the billing cycle is processed. Billing statements are processed at the beginning of every month and due on the 21st of every month for any balance owed. Any additional enrollment and/or dropped courses will reflect on the next monthly billing statement. All tuition and fees are due when billed. The University does not allow deferment of payment for any reason and does not support third-party contracts from a student’s employer.
Students are obligated to pay the applicable tuition and fees associated with their enrollment status by the published payment deadline. Registered students who do not withdraw formally from the University or drop their courses by the published deadlines are responsible for all tuition and other fees as well as any past due charges assessed to their account. Non-attendance does not relieve the student of his or her obligation to pay tuition and fees.
Students may designate a third party (e.g., parent, spouse, employer) to be an authorized payer for their student account. That individual is authorized by the student to have access to their student account and to make payment on the account. Once authorization is arranged, the authorized payer will be notified via the e-mail address provided by the student verifying their access to view and pay a student’s bill online. Authorized payers do not have access to any other student information via this site. It is still the student’s responsibility to make sure payment is received by the deadline, not the authorized payer. Instructions on how to set up an authorized payer are located on the Bursar Office Web site www.scu.edu/bursar and on the E-Campus homepage.
Viewing billing statements
From the E-Campus homepage students should click on Bursar Office, then View Bill & Make Payment. This goes to the QuikPAY/infiNet site. From the “Message Board” page, click on View Accounts. This will show the most recent statement. To view prior statements, students should go to the “Account Actions” box and select “Statement History.”
Students who register or change enrollment after the initial billing date will not receive a revised billing statement until the next billing cycle. If sending payment by mail, be sure to include the remittance portion of the bill to alleviate posting errors and payment processing delays. Click on the PDF file icon to reveal a full downloadable copy of the statement and the remittance address.
SCU account detail
Students may review all charges/credits posted to their account via E-Campus by using the SCU Account Detail link located under the Finances section of their Student Center page. This will show the entire account history, by transaction date, including any charges/credits not yet billed.
Payment deadlines
The following dates are the initial payment deadlines for each term/semester:
- Fall 2007 – July 21
- Spring 2008 – December 21
- Summer 2008 – May 21
Payment Methods
SCU offers a variety of payment methods to students and their parents to assist with their financial obligations.
Payment by electronic transfer
A student or authorized payer may make payments by electronic transfer on the student’s account through a third-party Web site accessible via the University E-Campus system. The payer is able to make electronic transfer payments online without incurring a service fee. Please note – payment using electronic transfer can only be made using a valid checking or savings account. Funds from accounts such as money market, trust fund, mutual funds, line of credit, etc. can not be accepted online at this time.
Payment by credit card
The University does not accept direct payment by credit card on student accounts. However, the University has arranged for a third-party vendor to accept MasterCard, Discover, and American Express credit card payments via the Web for those wishing to make payments in this manner. Payers are assessed a service fee on payments made using credit cards.
Payment by mail
Payments for student account charges are accepted by mail utilizing the University’s cash management service lockbox. The payer should download a copy of the student’s billing statement, enclose it with a personal or cashier’s check payable to Santa Clara University, and mail both to Santa Clara University Bursar’s Office, P.O. Box 60000, File 72662, San Francisco, CA 94160-2662.
Payment in person
Payments for student account charges may be made in person by cash or check at the Bursar’s Office in Walsh Administration Building. The Bursar’s Office is not able to accept any electronic form of payment, including debit or credit cards. However, there are computer kiosks located in Walsh Administration Building for the convenience of students and their payers who wish to make electronic payments.
Extended payment options
For students and their families wishing to spread payments over a period of time, the University offers various extended payment plans through TuitionPay. There is a modest fixed fee to enroll in these plans, but no interest is charged during the payment term. Information about these plans is available on the Bursar’s Office Web site.
Students who choose a monthly payment option will need to complete the online enrollment form and submit the first payment in order to validate the plan. TuitionPay will notify the Bursar’s Office of new plan participants weekly (daily during peak periods) and accounts will be notated accordingly to prevent penalty fees from being assessed to a student’s account.
Failure to adhere to the payment plan agreement will result in penalty fees assessed directly from TuitionPay, immediate cancellation of the agreement, and a hold placed on the student account suspending various services from the University.
TuitionPay participants will continue to receive monthly billing statements from the University, however students should pay their monthly installment directly to TuitionPay in accordance with their payment agreement. Additional charges billed by the University, not included in the payment plan should be paid directly to the University. More detailed information regarding payment options may be found at www.scu.edu/bursar/payment/payment_methods.cfm.
Delinquent payments
If all charges on a student’s account have not been cleared by payment, financial aid, or loan disbursement, a late payment fee will be assessed to the student’s account and a hold will be placed on the student’s record. A hold on a student’s record prevents the release of transcripts or diplomas, prevents access to any registration services, and may limit access to other University services. Students who have unpaid accounts at the University or who defer payment without approval are subject to dismissal from the University. All unpaid balances will accrue 10 percent interest per annum on the balance remaining from the date of default in accordance with California state law.
Delinquent student accounts may be reported to one or more of the major credit bureaus and may be forwarded to an outside collection agency or an attorney for assistance in recovering the debt owed to the University. The student is responsible for all costs incurred to collect outstanding debt, including but not limited to accrued interest, late fees, court costs, collection fees, and attorney fees. All outstanding bills and costs of collection incurred by the University must be paid in full prior to a student re-enrolling at the University.
Tuition Refund Policy
Withdrawal from school
The following schedule is for students who request to be withdrawn completely or are granted a leave of absence from the School of Law after the start of the semester. The start of the semester is considered to be the first date on which instruction begins in the School of Law. The following schedule does not apply to students who reduce their course load.
|
During the first week of the semester |
100% |
|
During the second week of the semester |
60% |
|
During the third week of the semester |
40% |
|
During the fourth week of the semester |
20% |
Students who withdraw from the University or drop courses after the fourth week of classes will receive no tuition refund for the semester.
Students who withdraw from the University due to an illness, injury, or psychological/emotional condition are eligible for a tuition refund in accordance with the schedule above. Tuition insurance may be purchased to cover tuition charges for medically related withdrawals. See the section titled “Tuition Insurance Protection” for more information.
For summer session, students receive 100 percent refund during the first week of classes, 50 percent refund during the second week of classes, and no refund thereafter. No other credits will be granted. If a student’s request for withdrawal is approved and this creates a credit on the student’s account, the student may request a refund at the Bursar’s Office.
Students who withdraw or drop below half-time status may no longer be eligible to receive financial aid or student loans. In these cases, the student account will be adjusted accordingly and the aid returned to the appropriate program. Students who receive a refund for these funds must reimburse Santa Clara University immediately.
For more information on financial aid forfeiture, please visit the Financial Aid Web site or make an appointment with a law financial aid counselor.
No refunds will be made because of curtailment of services brought about as a result of strikes, acts of God, civil insurrections, riots or threats thereof, or causes beyond the control of the University. All fees, charges, and refund schedules in this bulletin are subject to change without prior notice.
Withdrawal from courses
Students who formally withdraw from a class may be entitled to receive a refund of tuition according to the schedule below. If withdrawal notification is received in writing, the date on which notification is received by the Law Records Office will be the effective date on which any refund of tuition will be determined, not the last date of attendance by the student.
First-year, full-time students may transfer to the part-time division with the permission of the senior assistant dean for student services. During the first four weeks of the semester, this division transfer will result in a tuition credit. After the fourth week of the semester first-year, full-time students who transfer to the part-time division will not receive any refund or tuition credit.
Financial aid recipients who were awarded aid based on full-time registration, and then transferred to the part-time division, must inform the Law Financial Aid Office of their new status. Changing the division may change award eligibility.
Upper division and J.D./MBA students who formally withdraw from a course are eligible for a tuition credit for the course based on the following schedule. If a credit exists at the end of the add/drop period, the student may request a refund at the Bursar’s Office.
|
During the first week of the semester |
100% |
|
During the second week of the semester |
60% |
|
During the third week of the semester |
40% |
|
During the fourth week of the semester |
20% |
For the summer session, students receive 100 percent refund during the first week of classes, 50 percent refund during the second week of classes, and nothing thereafter.
Tuition insurance protection
Students and their families may protect themselves against financial loss due to an unexpected withdrawal from the University for medical reasons by purchasing tuition insurance coverage. The University has identified an insurance company, Dewar, Inc., to provide an optional tuition insurance protection plan. This plan is designed to protect from loss of funds paid for tuition and room and board should it be necessary to withdraw completely from the University during the term for medical reasons. Information on the tuition insurance plan is available on the Bursar’s Office Web site and the Dewar’s Web site www.collegerefund.com.
Refund payment policy
Refunds will be granted only for student accounts reflecting a credit balance. A refund will not be granted based on anticipated aid. All financial aid must be disbursed into a student’s account before a refund is processed. It is the student’s responsibility to make sure that all necessary documentation is completed and submitted to the Financial Aid Office so that aid can be disbursed properly and in a timely fashion. Payment received by personal check will have a 21-day hold before a refund can be issued to the payee.
Rights and responsibilities
Students who find it necessary to withdraw or take a leave of absence from the Santa Clara University School of Law after they have registered, must submit their intention, in writing, to the senior assistant dean of student services. Not completing this formal withdrawal process and/or non-attendance does not relieve a student of the obligation to pay tuition and other fees (including the $75 late payment fee) and may result in failing grades. Students out of the area should contact the Law Records Office at 408-554-4766 to discuss the procedures for completing a formal withdrawal.
Return of Federal Title IV funds
In addition to the institutional refund policy, all students who withdraw completely from the University and who have federal financial aid, including federal student loans, are subject to the return of Title IV funds policy. Under this policy, it is assumed that a student earns his or her aid based on the period of time he or she remains enrolled. Unearned Title IV funds, other than federal work-study, must be returned to the federal aid programs. Unearned aid is the amount of disbursed Title IV aid that exceeds the amount of Title IV aid earned.
During the first 60 percent of the enrollment period, a student “earns” Title IV funds in direct proportion to the length of time he or she remains enrolled. That is, the percentage of time during the period that the student remained enrolled is the percentage of disbursable aid for that period that the student earned. Institutional costs play no role in determining the amount of Title IV funds to which a withdrawn student is entitled.
A student who withdraws after the 60 percent point of the enrollment term earns all Title IV aid disbursed for the period.
Examples of common return of Title IV funds situations are available from the Law Financial Aid Office located on the second floor of Heafey.
All funds must be returned to federal programs before being returned to state or institutional aid programs and/or the student. This return of funds allocation will be made in the following specific order and will be applied to all students who have received federal Title IV assistance:
1. Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loan
2. Subsidized Federal Stafford Loan
3. Federal Perkins Loan
4. Federal Grad PLUS Loan
5. Other federal, state, private, or institutional assistance programs
6. Student
Financial Aid
To remain eligible for financial aid, students must be enrolled at least half-time and must be making satisfactory academic progress. Students who drop below half-time status must notify the Law Financial Aid Office immediately. Eligibility for scholarships and loans will be affected by enrollment status. Students who drop below half-time status for more than six months, or take a leave of absence for more than six months may need to begin making payments on their student loans.
All law students are required to maintain a minimum 2.33 grade point average for all completed courses in order to avoid disqualification. If an award has been made to a disqualified student, the award offer will be withdrawn. A disqualified first-year student who is allowed to enter the second year on probation will be considered to be in good standing for financial aid purposes, but the award offer previously withdrawn will not be automatically reinstated. Reinstatement will be based on the availability of funds at the time the student notifies SCU that they may re-enroll.
Applying For Scholarships
Incoming students
All applicants wishing to be considered for scholarships should check the appropriate scholarship boxes on the Application for Admission. Admitted students will be sent additional application materials for the Public Interest and Social Justice Scholarship.
Continuing students
Continuing students must apply to renew their Emery Merit Scholarships, Law Faculty Scholarships, or Public Interest and Social Justice Scholarships every spring. Scholarships will be renewed per the conditions stated in the original scholarship award notification letter. Continuing students that have not previously received scholarships may also apply for scholarship consideration. Scholarship decisions for continuing students will be made after all grades are submitted for spring semester courses.
Scholarship awards range from $1,000 to full tuition depending on the type of scholarship. Scholarships are awarded on a yearly basis. The total amount of the scholarship will be divided into two disbursements, one for each semester. The amount of scholarship awarded is based on predicted enrollment in units. Scholarship funds may only be applied to tuition charges at Santa Clara University School of Law. Scholarships are not available for graduate units (i.e., LL.M. programs) taken in the School of Law.
Scholarship awards cannot be applied to tuition for courses in other divisions of Santa Clara University (e.g., MBA or CP&E courses), or for tuition or fees for coursework taken outside of Santa Clara University (e.g., tuition for study abroad programs or visiting student programs at other universities).
Scholarship awards should never exceed the total amount of tuition due for the semester. Scholarships are not awarded to pay for living expenses, and thus, are kept tax-free. Adjustments in student schedules and/or enrollment in less-than-predicted units can result in an overage in scholarship award. If a scholarship award exceeds tuition due, a student is not entitled to a refund of those excess scholarship funds.
If a student receives a refund check based on excess scholarship funds, the student will be expected to return those funds. Students not returning such funds will be billed for the excess amount of scholarship received. Scholarship amounts will be adjusted based on actual tuition charges for the semester.
Students receiving full-tuition scholarships will be responsible for tuition charges for units taken beyond the required 86 units needed to graduate.
Applying For Federal Aid (Federal Student Loans or Federal Work-Study)
Students wishing to receive federal financial aid must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is available online at www.fafsa.ed.gov, or in hard copy at SCU or your nearest college or university. Be sure to fill out the correct FAFSA for the appropriate academic term.
The FAFSA should be filed as soon as possible after January 1, but no later than March 2. The ideal timeline for completion is February. On Step Six of the FAFSA, students must list Santa Clara’s Federal School Code: 001326. Students must fill out a new FAFSA each academic year.
The Law Financial Aid Office recommends that applicants complete the online “FAFSA on the Web” (www.fafsa.ed.gov). Be wary of other sites that charge a fee to assist in the completion of the FAFSA. The online application will be automatically checked for missing information and inconsistent answers. The Department of Education will determine the applicant’s eligibility for federal financial aid.
The Department of Education will send the student a report, called a Student Aid Report, or SAR, through the mail or the Internet. The SAR lists the information the student reported on their FAFSA and will state the student’s Estimated Family Contribution (EFC). It is important to review the SAR upon receipt to ensure that all information is correct. Make any necessary changes or provide additional information to the Department of Education.
The applicant’s EFC, along with the rest of the FAFSA information, is made available to all the schools the applicant lists in Step Six of the FAFSA. SCU uses the EFC to prepare a financial aid package to help meet the applicant’s financial need. Financial need is the difference between the applicant's EFC and SCU’s Cost of Attendance (COA), which includes estimated tuition and living expenses. Students with special circumstances that should be taken into account should contact the law school financial aid counselor. Some examples of special circumstances are unusual medical or dental expenses, or a large change in income from last year to this year.
Supplemental documents (e.g., tax returns or verification documents) may be required for application completion. If these documents are not on file and reviewed by the Law Financial Aid Office staff, federal loans cannot be originated and loan credits cannot be disbursed. The Law Financial Aid Office will send a Missing Information Letter to inform students that additional information is required to complete their file. Students must respond to this letter promptly. Failure to respond may result in a delay in the processing of financial aid, late fees, and/or cancellation of financial aid awards. Regulations governing the disbursement of federal financial aid may make it impossible to reinstate these awards.
Federal Student Loans
Stafford Loans under the Federal Family Education Loan Program
SCU partners with Bank of America and EdFund to make Stafford Loans to law students under the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program. Under this program, Santa Clara University serves as the initial lender, EdFund is the guarantee agency, and Bank of America administers and purchases these loans. Currently, Bank of America contracts with the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority (MOHELA) to service its loans. When loans enter the repayment period, students work with MOHELA.
Stafford Loans are the most common source of student loan funds for professional students. The maximum amount students may borrow under the Stafford Loan program is $20,500 per academic year. The actual amount students may borrow each academic year is also limited by the school’s Cost of Attendance (COA), the amount of other financial aid the student will receive (e.g., scholarship), and aggregate borrowing limits (see below). There are two types of Stafford Loans: subsidized and unsubsidized. Responses on the FAFSA and the student’s EFC establish eligibility for both. In addition, the Stafford Loan has its own separate application and Master Promissory Note.
Subsidized Stafford Loans are need-based. Students must qualify for federal student aid and demonstrate financial need as described above. The federal government pays the interest on the loan while the student is in school, during the grace period before repayment begins, and during periods of approved deferment. Monthly payments begin six months after the student graduates, drops below half time, or withdraws from school. The annual limit for subsidized loans is $8,500 per year. The actual loan amount will be determined by demonstrated financial need and aggregate borrowing to date (see below). Thus, a student may not qualify for a subsidized loan, or may only qualify for an amount that is less than the $8,500 annual limit.
The balance of $20,500 annual Stafford Loan limit may be borrowed as an unsubsidized Stafford Loan, subject to the limitations cited above and below. Unsubsidized Stafford Loans may be taken out by all qualified students, regardless of their income or assets. Students must meet the same requirements as those for subsidized Stafford Loans, except they do not have to demonstrate financial need. Interest accrues from the time the loan is disbursed, and interest payments begin immediately but can be deferred while the student is in school. Any unpaid interest that accrues while the student is in school is added to the principal balance whenever the student enters a period of repayment.
The aggregate borrowing limit for law students under the Stafford Loan program is $138,500. No more than $65,500 of this total may be in subsidized Stafford Loans. These totals include Stafford Loans that the student may have received for undergraduate study. For more information, contact a financial aid counselor at SCU.
The interest rate on Stafford Loans for new borrowers is fixed at 6.8%. Any origination and insurance fees will be deducted proportionately at the time of disbursement. Unless a student qualifies and opts for an alternative repayment plan, Stafford Loans must be repaid within 10 years. Lenders offer standard, graduated, and income-sensitive repayment plans.
A first-time borrower at SCU must complete an entrance counseling session that covers the terms of the student loans. This session is mandatory, even for students who have fulfilled the counseling requirement at a previous institution. Electronic counseling sessions can be completed at Edfund’s Web site: www.edfund.org (click on “Quick Links” and then “Entrance and Exit Counseling”). Many of the topics covered in this bulletin will be covered in greater detail in the electronic counseling sessions. Students should understand all the terms and conditions of their loan and their rights and responsibilities as a borrower.
Student loan recipients must complete all of the above requirements before student loan funds may be credited to their tuition and fee account. Once SCU has received a signed promissory note and it has been approved by the Loan Origination Center, the student’s tuition and fee account will be credited with the loan funds. The loan funds will be sent to SCU in two or more disbursements (usually one-half of the total loan per semester). These funds will be used to pay for tuition, room and board, fees, and other charges. Any remaining amount will be paid to the student by check as a refund, or with the student’s permission carried forward as a credit on the tuition and fee account. Students should contact the Bursar’s Office to apply for a refund check. Refund requests received by noon on Wednesday will be issued on Friday of the same week. Questions about refunds should be directed to the Bursar’s Office at 408-554-4412.
Before leaving SCU, students must complete an exit counseling session. At that time students will be reminded of loan obligations and provided with information about selecting a repayment plan and budgeting for loan repayment. Students will also be told about options for postponing repayment, including deferment and forbearance. Exit counseling can be completed at Edfund’s Web site (see above).
Perkins Loans
Santa Clara University participates in the Perkins Loan program and has a very limited amount of funding for law students. Federal Perkins Loans have a fixed 5 percent interest rate and are available to only a few students that have exceptional financial need. The annual loan limit is $6,000, but most students are awarded less than this amount. The aggregate loan limit is $40,000.
Perkins Loan credits will not be posted to a student’s account until the student has electronically signed and submitted necessary documents with Santa Clara University’s servicer, Campus Partners. Perkins Loan borrowers are required to sign a promissory note each year.
Grad PLUS Loans
Law students have two options available, if they need to borrow funds in addition to their Federal Stafford Loans; the Graduate PLUS loan, or private loans. The Grad PLUS loan is a federal student loan that has previously only been available to parents of undergraduate students. Now, graduate students — not their parents — can borrow PLUS loans, up to the cost of attendance less other financial aid.
PLUS loans feature:
- Fixed interest rate of 8.5%
- No aggregate limit-borrow what you need to complete your education
- Less stringent credit criteria than private student loans
- Eligible for federal loan consolidation
The SCU Law Financial Aid Office will be offering a Grad PLUS Loan to all law students in their financial aid award package. The offer amount will be the maximum amount that a law student can borrow (cost of attendance minus any other financial aid). Law students will be able to borrow this amount or any amount lower in order to help pay for the cost of education. E-signature options for the Master Promissory Note vary by lender. Borrower benefits vary by lender.
For more information, visit www.scu.edu/law/admissions/financial_aid.html
or contact the Law Financial Aid Office at 408-551-1719.
Federal Work-Study
The Federal Work-Study Programs provide jobs for a limited number of law students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help them pay educational expenses. Federal Work-Study wages are at least the current federal minimum wage, but can be higher depending on the type of work and the skills required. The total work-study award depends on when students apply, their level of need, and availability of funding.
First-year day students generally will not be awarded work-study and are advised not to seek employment. If they do choose to work, their employment should not exceed 10 hours per week. Upper-division day students should not accept employment that exceeds 20 hours per week. Those who need to work more than 20 hours per week should enroll in the evening program. Evening students should not accept employment that exceeds 40 hours per week.
Work-study participants receive a paycheck for each pay period worked. Law students may be paid by the hour or may receive a salary. Earnings may exceed the work-study award only if the employer is willing to cover additional employment expenses once the award has been exhausted.
Private Loans
Students must apply directly with a lender of their choice. Students should apply for private loans in May or June, but no earlier than 90 days before the start of the semester. Eligibility is determined by an applicant’s credit history. Although the Law Financial Aid Office has hard-copy versions of most lenders’ applications, students should take advantage of online or telephone application options, which typically offer faster processing.
All private loan applications must be certified by the Law Financial Aid Office prior to final approval. SCU will provide certain information to the lender, including proposed dates of attendance, graduation date, cost of attendance, etc. For students who apply electronically, the Law Financial Aid Office will certify the loan electronically. Lenders will disburse students’ funds electronically to Santa Clara University, however, only if the student applied electronically. If a law student has a credit on their account after tuition and fees are paid, then the Bursar’s Office will process a refund check.
Students who apply using a paper application must forward completed applications to the Law Financial Aid Office. For hard-copy applications, the lender will mail a paper check directly to Santa Clara University.
For More Information
- Incoming, first-year students, and fall semester transfer students should contact the Law Admissions/Financial Aid Counselor at 408-554-4447.
- Visiting, continuing, and spring semester transfer students should contact the Law Financial Aid Office at 408-551-1719.
International/Foreign-Born/Naturalized Students
No specific grants or scholarships have been set aside exclusively for international students. International students compete with the general applicant pool for scholarships. Foreign students (non-immigrant visa holders) are not eligible for federal student aid (i.e., federal loans, federal work-study).
Documenting citizenship status
The Department of Education requires the Financial Aid Office to verify U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) documents for aid eligibility. Eligible non-citizens must submit USCIS documents within 30 days of receipt of the Student Aid Report. Documents requiring photographs must be of the student after age 14. If the photo was taken prior to age 14, the document must be updated. Students should contact USCIS immediately. Acceptable documents are listed below.
Original documents on the following list must be brought to the Law Financial Aid Office for copying.
|
Citizens born outside the United States |
|
- Certificate of Citizenship |
|
- Certificate of Naturalization |
|
- Certification of Birth Abroad Form FS-545, DS-1350, or FS-240, “Report of Birth Abroad” |
|
Noncitizen Nationals |
|
- U.S. Passport |
|
Permanent Residents |
|
- Foreign Passport |
Front and back photocopies of the following may be mailed to the Law Financial Aid Office as long as the student’s social security number is written on the copy.
|
Permanent Residents |
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- "Alien Registration Receipt" Form I-151, I-551, or I-551C I-94 |
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Other Eligible Noncitizens |
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- "Temporary Resident Card" |
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- "Arrival-Departure Record" |
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- Form I-688 |
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For more information about the rules that govern the immigration status of international students on the F-1 visa, please visit the International Student Services Web site: www.scu.edu/f1.
