Following is an overview of the financial aid available to UDC Law students. For details, consult our annual Financing Your Legal Education Handbook.
Scholarships
UDC Law offers generous merit- and need-based scholarship programs. For details, see Scholarships & Grants.
Scholarships for Entering Students
Incoming Merit Scholarships
Named Scholarships
Need-Based Scholarships
Scholarships for Continuing Students
Institutional Merit Scholarships
Named Scholarships
Need-based Scholarships
Students are also encouraged to investigate Outside Scholarship Resources.
Loans
Direct Unsubsidized (Stafford) Loans: federal, not credit-based, unsubsidized loans available to graduate students. Loans originated July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023, have a fixed interest rate of 6.54% (plus a 1.059% loan origination fee). Students may receive a maximum of $20,500 per academic year.
Graduate PLUS Loans: federal, credit-based, unsubsidized loans available to eligible students with financial need that is unmet by other financial aid. Loans originated July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023, have a fixed interest rate of 7.54% (plus a 4.228% loan origination fee). The maximum a student may borrow in Graduate PLUS loan funds is the Cost of Attendance minus total financial aid received. Graduate PLUS is a federal loan that can be consolidated with other federal loans at repayment.
Private Loans: A number of lenders offer educational loans to credit-worthy borrowers without regard to financial need. Before applying for a private loan, check the terms of the Graduate PLUS loan, which generally carries a lower, fixed interest rate and CAN be consolidated with your other federal loans after graduation. Private loans cannot be included in a federal loan consolidation.
Work-Study
The work study program provides part-time employment for students based on financial need. Individual work study awards are determined upon request. In addition, awards are determined according to the student’s unmet need after all other aid has been subtracted from his/her net financial need, and by availability of funds.
On-Campus Institutional Work-Study (IWS): IWS students work on-campus in the law library, administrative and clinic offices, and for law school faculty. They are paid hourly and may work up to 20 hours per week. First-year students may apply for on-campus work-study positions only.
Off Campus Federal Work-Study (FWS): Upper level students may apply for career-related and community service positions at eligible off-campus organizations. Off-campus FWS jobs are paid hourly and students may work up to 20 hours per week.
Teaching and Research Assistants
Assistantships provide part-time employment for upper level students selected by faculty. Teaching Assistants conduct workshops to review course materials with students; assist students in developing skills by providing and reviewing models, strategies, hypotheticals, and practice exams; provide oral and written feedback on students’ written work; and provide one-on-one tutoring as necessary. Research Assistants may be assigned a specific topic to research and assist faculty in drafting articles and papers. Assistants are paid on an hourly basis and may work up to 20 hours per week.
Veteran Education Benefits
The UDC Law Office of Financial Aid is committed to, and has experience with, assisting veterans and their families to evaluate and utilize the educational benefits and programs available to them.