1. A U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen with a valid social security number
2. Accepted into a degree program
3. Enrolled at least half-time
4. Maintaining satisfactory academic progress
5. Not in default on any prior federal education loan, nor owe money on a federal grant
6. Registered with Selective Service, if male
7. Not convicted under federal or state law of sale or possession of drugs

If you are planning to apply for financial aid at Suffolk University Law School for 2012-2013, follow the appropriate link below for the information required to complete your financial aid file.

New/Prospective JD or Joint Degree Student Application Process and Priority Filing Dates

New/Prospective LL.M. Student Application Process and Priority Filing Dates

Current Student Application Process and Priority Filing Dates

Summer 2012 Application Process and Priority Filing Dates

Contact us! The Office of Financial Aid is available to help you with any questions you may have on applying for financial assistance and/or financing your legal education.

The financial aid application process is separate from the admissions application. Do not wait for your admissions acceptance before applying for financial aid. 

The prospective student priority filing date for financial aid is March 1, 2012. Applicants seeking need-based funding from Suffolk are encouraged to apply for financial aid by this priority filing date, although applications are accepted throughout the year. Financial aid funds are awarded on a rolling basis, and grants will be awarded first to students who meet the March 1 filing date. 

Applications received after March 1 will be reviewed for a Federal Direct Loan and will be considered for Suffolk grants and scholarships as funding permits.

New students are notified of their financial aid awards on a rolling basis, beginning in March. To receive a financial aid award letter, applicants must be accepted for admission and have a complete financial aid file. 

To apply for all types of financial assistance, submit the following documents by March 1, 2012:

1.  2012-2013 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

Apply on the web at www.fafsa.ed.gov. There is no charge to complete this application. Be sure to list Suffolk University Law School's federal school code of 002218, and Suffolk will receive your FAFSA data directly from the Department of Education. For fast and efficient submission of this application, download and complete this 2012/2013 FAFSA on the Web Pre-Application Worksheet before you complete the FAFSA online.

The FAFSA is the application for all federal student aid and is required by all schools in order to award you federal aid. The form collects income and asset information from the student (and spouse, if married).

Prospective students who are only applying for federal loans do not need to submit any additional forms (unless selected for verification by Suffolk or the federal government) in order to receive a Federal Direct Loan award from Suffolk Law. Students may apply for federal loans at any time throughout the fall and spring semesters, provided the student is enrolled at least half-time. 

2.  2012-2013 Need Access Application

The Need Access Application is required only for students who are applying for grants and need-based scholarships from Suffolk University Law School.  Students who are applying only for federal loans do not need to complete this form.

Apply on the web at www.needaccess.org. There is a $28 application fee. Be sure to indicate Suffolk University Law School in the school section and Suffolk will receive your data directly from Access Group. 

The Need Access Application collects detailed income and asset information from both the student and parents.  Suffolk Law requires parent data from applicants requesting grant funds to help us distribute our need-based funds equitably. Although parents may be unable to contribute to their children's graduate education, viewing potential family contribution as a whole is necessary in establishing financial need. If extenuating circumstances prevent a student from submitting the required parent information, the student may submit a written, detailed request for a waiver. This request should be submitted directly to the Suffolk Law Office of Financial Aid by mail or email at lawfaid@suffolk.edu (use "waiver of parent data" for email subject). 

Students with special circumstances that may affect the family's ability to contribute to educational expenses should address their concerns in the "special circumstances" section of the Need Access application, which is reviewed by the Suffolk University Law School office of Financial Aid.

3.  2011 Federal Income Tax Information for both the student (and spouse, if married) and parents*

A new FAFSA option for 2012-2013 enables the student to authorize the IRS to transfer tax information from the IRS database directly to the student's FAFSA. This process will become available on February 15, 2012. All students who are able should use this method to supply schools with 2011 tax information. If a student is not able to authorize the IRS to transfer their tax data directly to the FAFSA, federal regulations now require student aid applicants to submit a hard copy tax return transcript to the school, if requested by the University. Visit the IRS online to request a copy of your 2011 tax return transcript. Please note that a tax return transcript that is requested by phone or by mail will take significantly longer for the IRS to process than an online request. If 2011 federal income tax data are not available by the March 1 priority filing date, please submit tax information as soon as it is completed. The Office of Financial Aid can usually extend a tentative financial aid award using estimated tax figures. The award will then be finalized once the actual 2011 tax information is received.

*If a student is applying for need-based grants or scholarships, she/he must also submit a signed copy of her/his parents' 2011 federal income tax return. Do not send 2010 tax information.

Prospective LL.M. students interested in borrowing federal loans should submit the following document:

1. 2012/2013 Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The Suffolk University Law School federal code is 002218. Apply on the web at www.fafsa.ed.gov. For fast and efficient submission of this application, download and complete this 2012/2013 FAFSA on the Web Pre-Application Worksheet before you visit the web site.

Students selected for verification will be required to provide additional documentation, including 2011 federal income tax data and a verification worksheet. If this is necessary, the student will receive notification from the Suffolk University Law School Office of Financial Aid.

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 and have a complete financial aid file.

In order to reapply for assistance, all required forms must be received by April 1, 2012*. Applications received after that date will be reviewed for a Federal Stafford Loan and will be considered for Suffolk grants and loans as funding permits.

Returning students are generally notified of their financial aid eligibility during the summer as spring grades become available. A complete application is necessary for consideration and each applicant is automatically reviewed for all possible forms of aid administered by the Law School, unless otherwise requested by the student. Timely applicants receive primary consideration for scholarship/grant and employment awards.

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 the Law School.

*Students applying for summer Federal Loan funding and/or summer Federal Work 

  Study are required to have all forms in the Office of Financial Aid by Friday, March 2, 2012.

  See Summer Financial Aid Application Process.

To reapply for fall/spring financial aid at Suffolk Law, complete the following:

1. 2012/2013 Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The Suffolk University Law School federal code is 002218. Apply on the web at www.fafsa.ed.gov. For fast and efficient submission of this application, download and complete this 2012/2013 FAFSA on the Web Pre-Application Worksheet before you visit the web site.
   

Students selected for verification will be required to provide additional documentation, including 2011 federal income tax data and a verification worksheet. If this is necessary, the student will receive notification from the Suffolk University Law School Office of Financial Aid.

Students requesting Federal Work Study for summer are required to have the following forms submitted to the Office of Financial Aid prior to 4:45pm on March 2, 2012. Federal Work Study funds are limited and will be awarded to eligible students on a first-come, first-served basis:

1. 2012/2013 Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The Suffolk University Law School federal code is 002218. Apply on the web at www.fafsa.ed.gov. For fast and efficient submission of this application, download and complete this 2012/2013 FAFSA on the Web Pre-Application Worksheet before you visit the web site.
   
   

Students requesting a Federal Loan for summer are required to have the following forms submitted to the Office of Financial Aid by March 2, 2012. Requests for loan funding will be processed after that date; however, a deposit may be required in order for the student to register for classes. To receive federal loan proceeds for the summer, students must be enrolled at least half-time (3 law school credits for JD students, 6 business school credits for Joint Degree students enrolled exclusively in the Sawyer School of Management for the summer).

1. 2012/2013 Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The Suffolk University Law School federal code is 002218. Apply on the web at www.fafsa.ed.gov. For fast and efficient submission of this application, download and complete this 2012/2013 FAFSA on the Web Pre-Application Worksheet before you visit the web site.
   
   
2. 2012 Summer Financial Aid Application (pdf), also available in the Office of Financial Aid                
   

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. Students are encouraged to have all forms submitted to the Office of Financial Aid by March 2, 2012 or loan proceeds are not guaranteed to arrive prior to the student's departure.

Students who are studying at a foreign institution that is ineligible to receive federal financial   

aid must complete a contractual agreement (instead of the consortium agreement). Please

consult the Office of Financial Aid if you are unsure of which form is appropriate for you.

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