Financial Aid
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If you missed GL Advisor Todd Balsley's 10/19/2009 presentation on "How to Effectively Manage Your Student Debt: Best Practices for Law Students," view the webcast (MP4 Quicktime video) and accompanying Powerpoint presentation. The presentation covers points that include:
Important Notice to Plaintiffs in the Kashmiri vs. The Regents Class Action Lawsuit:
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We offer the best suite of financial aid programs of any top law school in the country. The Berkeley Law Financial Aid Office helps eligible students obtain a wide variety of grants, fellowships, and scholarships on the basis of need and merit, as well as an array of federal and private student loans. With more than 90 percent of our students receiving some form of financial aid, Berkeley returns a higher percentage of its fees to students than any of its competitors. Explore the links to the right to see the many aid opportunities available to students.
How Much Will My Legal Education Cost?
The cost of attendance (budget) for a student is an estimate of that student’s educational expense for the period of enrollment. The law specifies that a student’s COA includes tuition and fees normally assessed a student carrying the same academic workload and an allowance for living expenses, such as room and board, books and supplies, and transportation costs. The law also provides limited allowances for loan fees, dependent-care costs, and expenses for disabled students.The following table shows the average expenses for a nine-month academic year, based on 2009-2010 fee levels, but students should take into account their own spending and the possibility of unforeseen expenses.
2009-2010 J.D. Program Expenses
| California Residents | Non-Residents | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition and Fees |
$35,907.50 |
$48,152.50 |
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Registration Fee |
$900.00 |
$900.00 |
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Educational Fee |
$6,822.00 |
$6,822.00 |
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Berkeley Campus Fee |
$428.50 |
$428.50 |
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Class Pass Fee |
$136.00 |
$136.00 |
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Health Insurance Fee |
$1,932.00 |
$1,932.00 |
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Professional Degree Fee |
$25,283.00 |
$25,283.00 |
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Supplementary Fee |
$376.00 |
$376.00 |
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Law Instructional Materials Fee |
$30.00 |
$30.00 |
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Non-Resident Tuition Fee |
$0.00 |
$12,245.00 |
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| Nine-Month Academic Year Living Expenses |
$20,226.00 |
$20,226.00 |
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Rent & Utilities** |
$10,431.00 |
$10,431.00 |
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Food** |
$5,054.00 |
$5,054.00 |
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Personal (maintenance, clothing, recreation, etc.) |
$1,920.00 |
$1,920.00 |
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Transportation |
$2,821.00 |
$2,821.00 |
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| Books & Supplies |
$1,495.00 |
$1,495.00 |
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| Graduate Loan Fees |
$244.00 |
$244.00 |
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| Total Student Budget |
$57,872.50 |
$70,117.50 |
**Based on off-campus housing expenses.
What Aid Is Available?
The law school seeks to provide need-based financial aid sufficient to permit any admitted students to attend Berkeley Law. Indeed, approximately 90 percent of Berkeley Law students receive some form of financial aid. Need-based grants and scholarships are awarded as described in the section below. Additionally, Berkeley Law offers supplemental scholarships to continuing students and makes available an array of federal and private student loans.
How Do I Apply For Financial Aid?
Applicants for admission, transfer applicants, and continuing students must submit the applications that pertain to their status. Berkeley Law’s Financial Aid Office works collaboratively with the campus Financial Aid Office to provide grants, scholarships, and student loans to law students. Although these offices provide many identical services, Berkeley Law’s Financial Aid Office administers the majority of need-based grants and scholarships for law students. To apply for any need-based financial aid, including grants, scholarships, federal or private student loans, and work-study (during second and third-year), please read carefully the applicable section below:
Applicants For Admission (First Year):
- You must submit a FAFSA at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ each year by the March 2 deadline for any financial aid eligibility.
- You must also submit the Need Access Application at needaccess.org by the March 2 deadline for need-based grant and scholarship eligibility. You must provide parent information on the Need Access Application if you will not be 30 by December 31 of the fall semester or meet the requirements for financial independence (see Need-Based Grants).
Continuing Berkeley Law Students and Applicants for Transfer Admission:
- You must submit a FAFSA at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ each year by the March 2 deadline for any financial aid eligibility.
- You must also submit the Need Access Application at needaccess.org by the March 2 deadline for need-based grant and scholarship eligibility. You must provide parent information on the Need Access Application if you will not be 30 by December 31 of the fall semester or meet the requirements for financial independence (see Need-Based Grants).
- You must also submit both the Statement of Expected Summer Earnings and the Statement of Confirmed Summer Earnings for need-based grant and scholarship eligibility (see Need-Based Grants).
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us by sending an email to financial-aid@law.berkeley.edu or calling 510-642-1563.
How Is My Eligibility Determined?
The university uses a standard student budget when packaging federal and campus-based financial aid awards. Other expenses may be taken into consideration, such as child care, uninsured medical costs, and relocation expenses (for entering students). These adjustments to the standard student budget are reviewed and approved on a case-by-case basis. The Graduate/Professional Unit Budget Appeal Form for 2009-2010 can be downloaded from our Loans webpage beginning August 2009. Completed Budget Appeal Forms for law students should be submitted to the Berkeley Law Financial Aid Office at 2850 Telegraph Avenue, Suite 500, Berkeley CA 94705-7220.
The law school produces grant and scholarship offers independently and notifies recipients directly. Grant and scholarship awards made by the law school are assimilated into the federal student aid offer and result in a package combining the federal student loans, campus-based aid, and grants and scholarships. Graduate PLUS Loan or private student loan eligibility is generally the difference between the standard student budget and the financial aid package.
How Do I Establish California Residency?
Non-residents may become residents of California after one year at Berkeley Law if they take appropriate steps and meet certain eligibility requirements. For information on residency, visit the UC Berkeley Office of the Registrar's website at http://registrar.berkeley.edu/Residency/legalinfo.html, call 510-642-5990 or write to:
Residence Deputy
University of California, Berkeley
Office of the Registrar
120 Sproul Hall
Berkeley, CA 94720-5404
What Aid Is Available for International Students?
University policy requires international students to demonstrate the ability to pay their expenses through their first year. Continuing international students may apply for limited student aid funds through the university and should contact the Foreign Student Advising Office at the International House for additional information. International students may submit a Need Access Application in order to be considered for a need-based grant from Berkeley Law.
What Are the Policies for Withdrawing Students?
UC Berkeley has developed a financial aid policy for students who withdraw from school without completing a program. To learn more about this policy, visit the UC Berkeley Office of the Registrar's webpage and the UC Berkeley Financial Aid Office's webpage.
Cost & Financial Aid
Approximately 90 percent of the students at Berkeley Law receive some form of financial aid. The law school seeks to provide need-based financial aid sufficient to permit any admitted student to attend.
The financial aid awarded by UC Berkeley's Financial Aid Office is need-based and includes mostly federal student loans and some institutional grants. Only U.S. citizens and permanent residents may apply for federal student aid funds through UC Berkeley.
The financial aid provided by Berkeley Law supplements federal student loans and any institutional grants with work-study (during the second and third year) and a variety of scholarships and grants based on financial need and/or need and academic merit. Additionally, students with sufficient credit ratings may borrow alternative educational loans from private lending institutions if they need additional financial resources.
