J.D. Program Financial Aid and Scholarships

Financial Aid

Federal financial aid is available through the University of Washington Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA) to qualified students in the following forms. Please contact OSFA with any questions about federal financial aid.

We strongly encourage students to submit a FAFSA by Feb. 28, the University's priority deadline and list our federal school code 003798 to receive the best financial aid package available. We also encourage students to submit a FAFSA regardless of whether they intend to borrow any federal aid so that the University may assess them for need-based funding. Students are able to submit a FAFSA after this date; however, they will not be given priority consideration for aid.

Please note that students working towards a master's or doctorate degree (e.g., J.D., Ph.D., etc.) are considered independent for purposes of federal student aid.

Federal Work-Study

Eligible students who submitted a FAFSA may request the Office of Student Financial Aid to evaluate them for work-study eligible positions. Work-study eligibility depends on both need and availability. Please contact workstdy@uw.edu with any questions about eligibility and the process for evaluation.

Fellowships

Foreign Language Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships support undergraduate, graduate and professional students in acquiring modern foreign languages and area or international studies competencies. Students from all UW departments and schools are encouraged to apply. For more information, visit the Jackson School of International Studies site for details and the application process.

Washington State Need-Based Grants

The University has a limited amount of funding for Washington residents and is always subject to availability. These need-based grants are made annually and require the student to be a Washington state resident and submit their FAFSA by the Feb. 28 priority deadline and list our federal school code 003798 each year. The student's Expected Family Contribution (EFC) must also meet the University's need eligibility criteria. The Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA) notifies students of this grant eligibility through their financial aid award.

Loans

Federal Loans

Eligible students may submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to apply for federal student aid. There are two basic loan options for graduate and professional students:

  1. Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan
  2. Federal Direct Graduate Plus Loan

The Direct Unsubsidized Loan is capped annually at $20,500 and the remaining cost of attendance may be covered by the Grad Plus Loan. To receive federal student aid, students must be enrolled each quarter for at least half-time enrollment (6 credits if you are in the J.D. program).

Private Loans

For students who are ineligible to apply for federal student aid or wish to explore other loan alternatives, private loans may be an option. In general, private loans are loans through commercial lenders that depend on credit worthiness. Please know that borrowing private loans for your education bears a significant risk including the inability to take advantage of any federal loan repayment options, including the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. We encourage students to read the terms and conditions for private loans.

To cover costs associated to preparing for the bar exam, graduating students may consider bar loans, which are primarily offered through commercial lenders, e.g., Sallie Mae, Discover etc.

Scholarships

UW Law Scholarships

We invite admitted students to request scholarship consideration through our Scholarship Consideration Form, conveniently located on the admitted student portal. By completing this single form, students are considered for awards from over 70 generous donor-funded scholarships. Admitted students have 30 days from the date of their admission to submit the form. Our scholarship committee takes a holistic approach in evaluating students for scholarships, considering factors such as merit, financial need, and other personal achievements. Most students will hear back within 30 days of form submission. Students who do not submit a Scholarship Consideration Form will not be considered for law school scholarships. We encourage you to submit your form upon admission and unlock the support that’s waiting for you!

Additional scholarship opportunities are available to second- and third-year students. These awards recognize excellence in leadership, academic performance, and specialized areas such as family law, corporate law, intellectual property, public service, and diversity.

William H. Gates Public Service Law Scholarship Program

Separate from the process described above, the Gates Public Service Law (PSL) Scholarship offers five scholarships to students who have demonstrated a strong commitment to public service and intend to use their J.D. degree in a public service career. Acceptance of a Gates PSL scholarship represents a commitment on the part of each recipient to work in public service for five years following graduation.

Each Gates PSL scholarship award will cover tuition and fees, books, living expenses and additional financial support.

Application for the Gates PSL scholarship is separate from the scholarship application procedures described above. Students who intend to apply for the Gates PSL Scholarship must submit their J.D. application and their Gates PSL Scholarship application by Jan. 15. Visit the Gates PSL Program website for more information.

Gregoire Fellows Program

The Gregoire Fellows Program began in 2015 with the goal of bringing greater diversity to the legal profession, particularly in the state of Washington, and to the law student population at the University of Washington School of Law. Fellows spend the summer following their first year gaining invaluable legal experience. Fellows work ten (10) weeks split between a major corporate law firm and either a Seattle-based corporation or government agency.

In addition to summer employment, Gregoire Fellows receive:

  • UW School of Law scholarship
  • $20,000 first-year summer stipend
  • Mentorship from former Washington State Governor Christine Gregoire and members of the Seattle legal community
  • $5,000 bar exam study stipend

Information about the fellowship application will be distributed to newly admitted students.