Financial Aid

Southwestern Law School offers a variety of financial assistance programs, including scholarships, loans, and work-study.

At Southwestern, our goal is to provide personal financial assistance and design a financial aid plan that meets your needs—allowing you to focus on your law school education.

In addition to information found on the links to the left, Entering and Continuing Students will also find pertinent Financial Aid information, policies, and documents on the Portal.

Applicants can help ensure their financial aid applications are given maximum consideration by carefully reading the financial aid guide on this site, following instructions on all financial aid forms, and submitting all materials to the Financial Aid Office or the appropriate agency in a timely manner. The Financial Aid Office staff are available to assist current and prospective students

The Higher Education Opportunity Act conditions the eligibility of educational institutions to participate in Title IV programs on the development of and compliance with a code of conduct prohibiting conflicts of interest for its financial aid personnel [HEOA § 487(a)(25)]. 

A Southwestern student is eligible to receive federal financial aid if the student:

• is enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a regular student;
• is a U.S. citizen or national; is a permanent resident of the U.S.; provides evidence from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services that he or she is in the U.S. for other than a temporary purpose with the intention of becoming a permanent resident or citizen (a copy of the green card may be required); or is a permanent resident of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands or Northern Mariana Islands;
• has financial need (for need-based aid only);
• is maintaining satisfactory progress according to the standards and practices of Southwestern as outlined in the Student Policies;
• does not owe a refund on a Pell Grant, Perkins Loan or SEOG;
• is not in default on any student loan

The Financial Aid Office will determine aid eligibility once the office has received the student's FAFSA and all required supporting documents (see details below).

To apply for Federal Financial Aid, you will need to know the Southwestern school code of G01295 and complete the following 3 steps on the Department of Education's website at www.studentaid.gov.

1. FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
2. Graduate Student Loan Entrance Counseling
3. Master Promissory Notes: Unsubsidized and/or Graduate PLUS

The deadline to complete the financial aid application process is:

• March 15 for Continuing Students, and
• April 1 for Entering Students.

NOTE: The March 2 deadline listed on the FAFSA for California is for Undergraduate State Aid and does not apply to students attending Southwestern Law School.

Students must apply for financial aid each academic year they are in school. Certain documents must only be completed once, while others need to be filled out each year. Please see the information below or contact the Financial Aid Office for details. 

Southwestern Law School is an approved institution for veterans' benefits and for active duty, vets, spouses and dependents who have eligible educational benefits by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Southwestern Law School is proud to participate in the Veteran Affairs' Yellow Ribbon program and agrees to contribute $10,000 per year to eligible veterans pursuing their J.D. degree. Southwestern will offer this scholarship to a maximum of 10 veterans per academic year on a first-come, first-served basis.

Go to the Department of Veteran Affairs for details about the Yellow Ribbon program and eligibility requirements.

The FAFSA should be completed online each year and is available on October 1st of each year. This form must be completed by students applying for Federal Direct Loans and Federal Work Study (FWS). Southwestern's school code (G01295) must be indicated on the FAFSA application.

All J.D. Continuing Students must complete the Financial Aid Application online each year.

The Higher Education Opportunity Act conditions the eligibility of educational institutions to participate in Title IV programs on the development of and compliance with a code of conduct prohibiting conflicts of interest for its financial aid personnel [HEOA § 487(a)(25)]. Southwestern's officers, employees and agents are required to comply with this code of conduct. The following specific provisions bring Southwestern into compliance with the federal law [HEOA § 487(e)].

1. Neither Southwestern as an institution nor any individual officer, employee or agent shall enter into any revenue-sharing arrangements with any lender.
2. No officer or employee of Southwestern who is employed in the financial aid office or who otherwise has responsibilities with respect to education loans, or agent who has responsibilities with respect to education loans, or any of their family members, shall solicit or accept any gift from a lender, guarantor, or servicer of education loans. For purposes of this prohibition, the term "gift" means any gratuity, favor, discount, entertainment, hospitality, loan, or other item having a monetary value of more than a de minimus amount.
3. An officer or employee of Southwestern who is employed in the financial aid office or who otherwise has responsibilities with respect to education loans, or an agent who has responsibilities with respect to education loans, shall not accept from any lender or affiliate of any lender any fee, payment, or other financial benefit (including the opportunity to purchase stock) as compensation for any type of consulting arrangement or other contract to provide services to a lender or on behalf of a lender relating to education loans.
4. Southwestern shall not:
   1. for any first-time borrower, assign, through award packaging or other methods, the borrower's loan to a particular lender; or
   2. refuse to certify, or delay certification of, any loan based on the borrower's selection of a particular lender or guaranty agency.
5. Southwestern shall not request or accept from any lender any offer of funds to be used for private education loans, including funds for an opportunity pool loan, to students in exchange for the institution providing concessions or promises regarding providing the lender with:
   1. specified number of loans made, insured, or guaranteed under Title IV;
   2. a specified loan volume of such loans; or
   3. a preferred lender arrangement for such loans.
6. Southwestern shall not request or accept from any lender any assistance with call center staffing or financial aid office staffing.
7. Any employee who is employed in the financial aid office, or who otherwise has responsibilities with respect to education loans or other student financial aid, and who serves on an advisory board, commission, or group established by a lender, guarantor, or group of lenders or guarantors, shall be prohibited from receiving anything of value from the lender, guarantor, or group of lenders or guarantors, except that the employee may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in serving on such advisory board, commission, or group.

This form is required annually for all borrowers applying for a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan and must be completed on the www.studentaid.gov website.

This form is required annually for all borrowers applying for a Grad PLUS Loan and must be completed on the www.studentaid.gov website. 

For more information on the complete awarding policy, see Southwestern's Financial Aid Policy.

Funds are considered in the following priority:

1. Scholarships
2. Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans
3. Federal Work Study
4. Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan
5. Private Loans

All students who have completed the financial aid application process by the published deadline will be notified via email of their offer letter.

Prior to release of any federal funds, students are required to complete an entrance interview.

The federal government requires all federal student loan borrowers to attend an exit interview shortly before they graduate, withdraw from school, or take a leave of absence. Exit interviews may also be completed online.

The federal government requires all colleges and universities to offer Entrance and Exit Counseling for federal student loan recipients. Students only have to complete each of these once (for each federal loan type) while in attendance at Southwestern.

Types of Entrance and Exit Counseling Available:

• Direct Loan Entrance Counseling for Grad Students
• Direct Loan Exit Counseling

Students must complete entrance and exit counseling for each of the various loan types they will receive.

Additional questions regarding Entrance or Exit Counseling may be directed to the Financial Aid Office.

Institutional scholarships and loans are credited to the student's account as soon as possible, but may take up to two weeks after the term commences.

Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans and Federal Direct Grad PLUS Loans are disbursed at least twice a year by check or electronic funds transfer directly from the lender. Refunds are disbursed on the Friday before classes commence each semester.

Any tuition or fees due to Southwestern are deducted from these disbursements. The difference, if any, will be available within ten business days or as prescribed by regulation. See above for refund details. You may sign up for Automated Refund Direct Deposit through Self-Service (go to Financial Information > Bank Information).

Every student has the right to appeal to the Financial Aid Committee if the student believes injustice or unfair treatment has occurred (except in those matters set by federal regulations or Southwestern policy) and cooperative action has not been provided by the Financial Aid Office. The Director of Financial Aid can provide guidance regarding the appeals procedure.

All materials pertaining to financial aid are confidential. Student permission (in writing) is required to release any information concerning all aspects of the financial aid process, except as provided by state or federal regulations, to a third party, including spouses or parents. This complies with the FERPA amendments.