New Students
The financial aid application process is a separate process from the admissions application. Do NOT wait for your admission acceptance before applying for financial aid.
Institutional merit-based scholarship funding is awarded to eligible students at the time of admission by the Office of Admission. Questions on merit-based awards should be directed to the Office of Admission.
Applicants seeking federal loan funding aid are encouraged to apply for financial aid after October 1st and no later than the priority filing date of March 1st. Applications received after the March 1st priority deadline will be reviewed for federal loan funds in the order in which they are received.
New students are notified of their financial aid awards on a rolling basis. To receive a financial aid award letter, applicants must be accepted for admission and have a complete financial aid application file.
To apply for financial assistance, submit the following documentation:
New LLM Students
Prospective LL.M. students interested in borrowing federal loans should submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Please refer to "New Students" Financial Aid application process for further details.
Students may apply for federal loans at any time throughout the fall and spring semesters, provided the student is enrolled at least half-time. To receive federal loans, students must be accepted for admission, meet all eligibility requirements and have a complete financial aid file.
Returning Students
Returning students must complete the aid application process each year. To reapply for assistance, all required forms must be received by April 1st. Applications received after April 1st deadline will be reviewed for federal loan funds in the order in which they are received.
To re-apply for fall/spring financial aid at Suffolk Law, complete the following:
Students who require additional funding and plan to borrow a federal PLUS or private, credit-based loan should be sure to submit annual applications sufficiently in advance of semester billing dates to allowing for application and processing time and to ensure that certified loans will appear as pending credit on future semester billing statements. Electronic billing and account statements are generally produced one month prior to the due date.
A complete application is necessary for full consideration and each applicant is automatically reviewed for all possible forms of aid administered by the Law School based on the application materials on file, unless otherwise requested by the student.
Returning students are generally notified of their financial aid eligibility during the summer months after spring grades become available.
Students can expect to receive similar financial aid awards each year if their financial situation remains relatively constant. However, renewal of federal funds is contingent upon the current law, the level of federal allocations, and upon evidence of satisfactory academic progress in accordance with the regulations of Suffolk University Law School.
A Special Note for Returning LLM and Dual Degree Students
As all law students enrolled in the dual degree and LLM programs are charged tuition on a per credit basis, returning students should note that their aid budget and subsequent financial aid award will be based on an assumed equal number of credits enrolled for both the fall and spring semesters, i.e. spring semester enrollment total credits will be assume to be the same as for the preceding fall.
If actual enrollment differs it is the student’s responsibility to notify Financial Services office in writing of any change in order that the aid budget and award may be adjusted, if necessary.
*Students applying for Summer Financial Aid Federal Loan funding are required to have all forms in the Office of Financial Aid by April 1st. Students applying for Summer Federal Work Study are required to have all forms into Student Financial Services by March 1st.
Summer
Federal and private loans as well as federal work study are available to assist with the costs of summer study at Suffolk University Law School
Students requesting Federal Work Study for summer are required to have their FAFSA form submitted to the Office of Financial Aid by March 1.
Students requesting a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan* for summer are required to have their FAFSA form submitted to the Office of Financial Aid by March 25.
Requests for summer loan funding will be processed beginning after March 1st, however a deposit may be required in order for the student to register for summer classes. Students who plan to borrow a federal PLUS* or private, credit-based loan should be sure to submit applications sufficiently in advance of semester billing dates to allowing for application and processing time and to ensure that certified loans will appear as pending credit on future semester billing statements. Electronic billing and account statements are generally produced one month prior to the due date.
Please note: Borrower-based academic year loans (BBAY) are awarded to eligible students who enroll in the summer. As two terms represent an annual loan period, a BBAY loan includes the summer and fall terms as one loan period, with the spring term starting a new loan period. Loans borrowed in the spring BBAY loan period are included in the following summer term when loan eligibility is being determined.
*To receive federal loan proceeds for the summer, students must be enrolled at least half-time:
- JD Students: 3 Law School summer credits
- Dual Degree Students: 6 college credits
In addition, please note:
Students completing a CILS internship for credit are also required to submit a detailed listing of the location, dates, and estimated costs for the internship.
Students studying at another institution or through an abroad program sponsored by another institution are also required to complete a Consortium Agreement in order to receive loan funding for the summer program.
Steps to Take After You Receive Your Aid Award
New Students
- Make $500 deposit to the Student Accounts Services
- Report aid from outside sources in writing to the Student Financial Services
- Apply for Federal PLUS or private, alternative loans, if needed
Calculate your PLUS loan amount [PDF]
- Waive health insurance, if applicable
- Submit final, official academic transcript through the Law School Admission Counsel (LSAC) process
- Receive Suffolk Self Service and email access. It is your responsibility to check these frequently for official Suffolk Law communications, including your tuition bill which is sent only via email
- Complete the Title IV Authorization through the Self Service Portal
- For Federal loan borrowers only:
Complete your master promissory note (MPN) and entrance counseling for each of your federal loans, if applicable
Returning Students
