Baylor Law School

New & Prospective Students

Costs, Financial Aid & Scholarships

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

GENERAL INFORMATION

What is considered in calculating how much I can afford to contribute to my education?
Congress has created a formula that takes a number of factors into consideration. Among them are a family's total taxable income including your income, assets, the number of persons supported by the family income, and the number of dependents in college.

I was working full-time last year but quit my job to return to school. How will that affect my eligibility?
You will need to contact our office and request a Special Circumstance Form. Please complete the form and return it to the Office of Financial Aid. Once we have received the results of the FAFSA and any additional information requested, the Financial Aid Committee will review the Special Circumstance Form and, make any adjustments deemed necessary to the results of the FAFSA. Please understand that these considerations are made at your request and are processed on a case-by-case basis.

What is the cut off for income to allow a student to be eligible for some need-based aid? Is that level the same for all universities?
Since so many factors are taken into consideration when determining eligibility for assistance, there is not a specific cutoff figure for need-based aid. The information provided on the FAFSA is used to calculate the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) that remains the same from school to school. Need-based aid is determined by subtracting the EFC from the cost of attendance at each institution.

In determining eligibility for need-based assistance, what income figure is important (gross, net, adjusted)?
The adjusted gross income is the amount used in calculating the EFC.

When are payments due for the quarter and how are they typically paid (check, credit card, etc.)? Payments are due during financial settlement (late August for the fall quarter, early November for the winter quarter, and early February for the spring quarter). If the financial aid package has been finalized, any grants or scholarships will appear as a deduction from your charges. Student loans are not applied to your account until the week prior to the beginning of classes. However, if the Stafford Loans have been guaranteed through the Loans by Web process, the loans will show as anticipated aid on the invoice. In addition, the balance may also be paid at the time the invoice is received for each quarter. Cash, checks and some credit cards with a convenience fee of 2.5% are the accepted methods of payment.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Do you have scholarships for law students?
Baylor Law School awards academic merit scholarships to entering students based primarily on undergraduate GPA and LSAT scores. These scholarships are three-year tuition scholarships, as long as you maintain a 2.60 GPA or above. In other words, your scholarship is automatically renewable for up to six additional quarters as long as you continuously maintain a cumulative academic GPA of 2.60. If tuition rates rise, your scholarship dollars will increase accordingly. The Law School also awards academic merit scholarships to second and third year students who did not enter law school on a scholarship, but who achieve outstanding academic success in law school.

Academic merit tuition scholarships are awards that cover a percentage of tuition based on the average full-time student load required for graduation in nine quarters, (14 hours). The scholarship amounts range from one-third tuition scholarship awards to full-tuition scholarship awards. Fees, books, room, and board are not covered by the awards.

If I receive a scholarship or grant will my need-based aid be affected?
The federal government requires that scholarships and grants be applied to your eligibility as calculated by the FAFSA. Any additional funding you receive from any source may require an adjustment to your eligibility for federal or state aid. If adjustments are made, you will receive a revised award letter explaining the adjustments.

LOANS

If I get a loan from one place, will that disqualify me for other loans or grants?
Since loans are a part of the total financial aid package, they are offered after grant eligibility has been determined. However, it is possible to receive loan funds from more than one loan source.

Are loans available that can be repaid after graduation?
All of the loans listed in this brochure have deferment options. The Stafford Loan and College Access Loan are deferred up to six months after you graduate or cease to be enrolled at least half-time (5 quarter hours). You should contact each of the lending Institutions' concerning the deferment period on the private educational loans.

FEDERAL WORK-STUDY

How are law students paid under the work-study program since we are on a quarter system? In addition, how much are we paid and in what manner (check, cash, etc.)?
Law students participating in the work-study program are paid minimum wage. You receive a paycheck every two weeks for the hours actually worked during the pay period - up to a maximum of 20 hours per week.