How will I know if I received a scholarship?
Students who are awarded a merit scholarship will receive notification of the scholarship in their admit letter.
I didn't receive a scholarship. Is there still an opportunity to receive one?
Students are considered for merit awards during the Admissions process and are not reevaluated for scholarships at a later point in time. The Scholarship Committee has made limited exceptions when there has been a significant increase to a student's GPA or LSAT score and in these cases they have given or increased an award. Some students may receive endowed scholarships in their 2L, 3L and 4L years, but these are limited.
I received a merit scholarship but I am wondering if I can ask for additional funds?
Quinnipiac University School of Law does not entertain requests for scholarship increases or adjustments. The terms and amount of your scholarship are final, and we do not match or negotiate based on offers from other institutions. The Scholarship Committee's approach to awarding merit aid is grounded in a comprehensive, holistic review of each applicant within the context of the current applicant pool and the total merit funds available for the academic year. Their primary goal is to fairly and thoughtfully recognize the accomplishments of as many deserving candidates as possible within those constraints. Therefore, any requests to alter the scholarship offer will not be considered.
What other options are available for me to finance my education?
Students can work with our Financial Aid Office to apply for federal financial aid or private loans, apply for outside scholarships, or use Veterans or Employment benefits to pay for their education.
Are there any outside (non-University) scholarships available?
Yes, many organizations have funds available for law students! You can search for outside scholarships through sites like those listed on the
AccessLex Law School Scholarship Databank. You can also check
LSAC.org and local organizations such as local Bar Associations as they may list some scholarship opportunities.
Can you tell me more about federal loans?
The direct loan programs through the federal government – the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans (sometimes referred to as “Stafford Loans”) and the Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans – are designed precisely for students in your shoes, graduate and professional students who are trying to fund their career educations.
These types of loans are often the best borrowing options for students, with fixed interest rates that are generally lower than private loans. The federal loans also tend to have longer payback periods and the potential for flexible repayment plans, along with other benefits. Additionally, students who are considering public interest work should be aware of the
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. Only federal loans are eligible for this program.
If you are accepted to the law school, you will receive a welcoming communication from our Financial Aid Office with a link to the FAFSA, the federal government’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Filling out the FAFSA is key to establishing your eligibility for the federal loan programs, as well as federal work-study.
Once processing and review are complete, our Financial Aid Office will send you a financial aid offer letter mapping out a package that includes any scholarship you received (if applicable) and your federal unsubsidized loan along with guidance on next steps. We do not package graduate plus loans as part of your offer letter, but can work with you to determine an appropriate amount to borrow if needed.
Pro Tip: Don’t Delay on the FAFSA: You need to file the FAFSA each year of law school in order to access federal funds. The FAFSA generally opens on October 1st. Furthermore, you don’t have to wait until you have filed your taxes since the FAFSA uses your tax information from two years prior. (For example, for the 2025-2026 FAFSA, 2023 tax information is used). Quinnipiac Law urges students to file their FAFSA
no later than March 15th for timely processing of their financial aid awards. Quinnipiac Law’s school code is 001402.
Find out more about federal loans.I’m interested in the summer work-study. How does that fit in?
Quinnipiac Law offers funds for students who qualify for participation in the Federal Work-Study Program. Students work during the summer in off-campus, law-related jobs at nonprofit organizations or public agencies. As with the federal loans, filling out the FAFSA is the key component to making sure you are under consideration for this need-based program. The office of Financial Aid will hold an information session in January each year with additional information about this program.
Find out about summer work-study.What is COA (Cost of Attendance)? Is this something I need to figure out?
The law school determines the Cost of Attendance (COA) working with federal guidelines to make the calculation and taking many factors into consideration, including tuition, rent, transportation, food, books, and student fees. The budgets are tailored depending on whether you are a full- or part-time student, living off-campus or at home (in your parents’ home).
Although it is the school’s responsibility to determine the official COA, it is definitely an important number for you to know and understand. The COA represents the maximum amount of financial aid, including scholarships and loans, that you may receive for that academic period. It will help guide you in managing your living expenses while in law school and clarify what you may need to borrow to help fund your education. Keep in mind, you do not have to borrow the full cost of attendance! In fact, we encourage you to calculate a budget and only borrow what you need. We are happy to work with you to determine what that amount is.
Find out about Cost of Attendance (COA) budgets at Quinnipiac Law.Do you offer military benefits? Who is the best person to talk to about that?
Yes! We are partnered with both the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs to provide a comprehensive set of benefits that fit with your military experience, including the Yellow Ribbon Program. You can certainly start by reaching out to our Financial Aid team – they are knowledgeable about the basics and have worked with many students who are military members, veterans, or military family members. For even more tailored information, the University’s Director of Military and Veterans Affairs Jason Burke is on hand to help guide students to make the most of their benefits.
Find out about military benefits.I have more questions! Is there anyone I can reach out to for more information?
Absolutely! Our Financial Aid team of Director Kathy Mills and Financial Aid Assistant Denise Benson can help you on your path to understanding law school financial aid – and making the most of the opportunities available to you. They are experienced and accessible and have assisted countless law students – and future law students – in finding the right financial foundation to succeed in their law school careers. To get the conversation started, contact them at
lawfinaid@qu.edu.
