Law Students

University of Idaho – Financial Aid for Law Students

The decision to enter law school is among the most significant decisions you will ever make. There are countless factors to consider, including your investment of time, work, and money.

At the University of Idaho College of Law, it’s all about individualized education and excellence in teaching. These qualities create value in legal education that is hard to match and impossible to surpass. In fact, a recent issue of the Crittenden publication, Pre-Law, awarded our College of Law an “excellent value” rating, making it the most highly rated public or private law school in the Pacific Northwest, and one of the most highly rated in the country.

Steps to Apply:

Applying for financial aid is a simple process.

• Apply for admission to the College of Law — complete with transcripts and test scores.
• Complete the FAFSA — the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Priority funding is given to those who meet the February 15th date.
• Accept your financial aid on VandalWeb (our online student-accessible portal system) if you are offered admission. 

 
Funding for law students includes scholarships, federal loans (such as Stafford and Grad PLUS), and private loans. Your financial aid adviser can also help navigate listings of external scholarship resources, as well as aid for applicants from diverse and / or low socioeconomic backgrounds. Visit the College of Law Academic Support Office external scholarship page for an extensive listing of outside funds available.

Scholarships:  Like a grant, a scholarship is a financial award that you do not have to pay back. Law scholarships are primarily based on merit. We also consider demonstrated leadership, work experience, and other types of accomplishments.

Out-of-state students can save more than $40,000 in the out-of-state tuition if they qualify for Idaho residency (and, therefore, in-state fees) after one year. See the College of Law Web site for more information.

Loans:  We are a direct lending institution, which means that we lend you money directly from the federal government. Loans are funds that you will have to repay after you leave college. This also means you automatically qualify for the benefits of the recently passed College Cost Reduction Act, which include income-based repayment and total loan forgiveness after 10 years of public service.

Employment:  Due to the rigorous nature of legal education and the demands placed on a law student’s time, it is not recommended that students work during law school so that they may fully devote themselves to the study of law. The College of Law and the American Bar Association do not allow full time law students to work more than 20 hours per week. First-year students are not allowed to work any amount except under extreme circumstances, given the importance of the first-year curriculum.

An Investment for Life

According to the U.S. Department of Education, the estimated lifetime income of a person who has earned a law degree is 53% higher than a person who has obtained a bachelor’s degree. That’s $2.3 million more over a lifetime!