Student Bulletin – Financial Information

Financial Responsibility

Students assume responsibility for all costs incurred as a result of enrollment at Santa Clara University. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of their student account balance, financial deadlines, refund policies, and maintain valid contact information at all times to ensure receipt of all University correspondence in a timely manner. All major correspondence is sent to the student’s SCU gmail account which is the official email system used by the University. Students are responsible to check their Santa Clara gmail regularly for important information and updates.

Financial Terms and Conditions

Students are required to accept the financial terms and conditions outlined by the University in order to continue their enrollment at SCU. Students will be prompted to accept the terms and conditions, on an annual basis, upon their login to Workday. Students will not have access to their Student Center until they have read and agreed to the information contained on the page(s) prompted. By accepting SCU’s financial terms and conditions, students are agreeing to pay and to abide by all policies and procedures as published.

Tuition and Fees

The Board of Trustees, upon the recommendation of the President and the Provost, sets the annual academic year tuition rate and the summer session tuition rate for all programs. Students are charged tuition based on the rates approved by the Board of Trustees. Please refer to the Bursar website at: www.scu.edu/bursar/tuition for details. Tuition and fee rate differences found in other publications will not be honored.

Students in the Law School/Business School combined degree program are charged Law tuition rates for Law courses and MBA or MSIS tuition rates for Business courses.

SCU students studying at an international exchange institution pay tuition to SCU at standard rates. Students from international exchange institutions studying at SCU pay tuition to their home institution.

SCU students studying at a domestic visiting institution pay tuition to the institution they are attending. Students from a domestic visiting institution studying at SCU pay tuition to SCU at the standard applicable rate.

Students in the Law School consortium (SCU, USF, Golden Gate University, UC Davis, and UC Berkeley) take courses at their home institution and can take a class at a consortium institution. Students from consortium schools taking classes at SCU pay tuition to their home institution.

Health Insurance

Santa Clara University requires all degree seeking students enrolled at least half-time in their school or college to have health insurance (excluding certificate programs and online programs).   As FLEX students do not need the eligibility requirements to enroll in the SCU sponsored student health insurance plan due to the nature of their program; FLEX students do not need to submit a health insurance waiver. In addition, all F-1 and J-1 visa students must have health insurance regardless of type of degree or number of units.  This requirement helps to protect against unexpected high medical costs and provides access to quality health care.

Students may purchase the university sponsored Student Health Insurance Plan, but are not required to if they can provide proof by completing the online waiver form, of other insurance coverage comparable to the school sponsored plan. The school sponsored insurance plan begins on August 15, 2023 and terminates on August 14, 2024.  The 2023/2024 premium is $3523 (This rate is currently pending approval from the California Department of Insurance and may be subject to change). Students with comparable health insurance must complete the Online Waiver Form with their own insurance information prior to the August 18, 2023 FINAL waiver deadline date.  The waiver can be completed on your MySCU Portal by clicking the Gallagher tile.

All students will be subject to the waiver and insurance billing process as outlined below:

• By June 30, 2023– Health Insurance Waiver must be completed to avoid having your student account charged the annual premium on July 5, 2023.
• After June 30, 2023– Online Health Insurance Waiver form must be completed by the Law waiver deadline date of August 18, 2023  in order to have the health insurance charge reversed from your student account within 3-5 business days.
• By July 28, 2023– If the health insurance credit is not posted to your student account and financial arrangements to cover health insurance charge are not completed, then a late payment fee will be charged and a hold will be placed on your student account.
• By August 18, 2023– The Online Health Insurance Waiver must be completed in order to have the health insurance charge reversed within 3-5 business days. 
• After August 18, 2023– The health insurance charge will remain on your student account.  THIS CHARGE WILL NOT BE REVERSED. 

The following types of insurance plans/programs are not acceptable and will not be considered:

• Insurance plans called Travel Insurance do not provide acceptable coverage and may not be used for insurance coverage while at Santa Clara University.
• Short Term Medical Plans that are available to purchase on a weekly or monthly basis.
• Socialized medicine policies, including Canadian policies are not acceptable as insurance coverage while at Santa Clara University.
• International insurance plans that are underwritten in a country outside of the United States.
• California Medi-Cal health plans that do not have assigned benefit coverage in Santa Clara County, California, US. Your Medi-Cal must have assigned benefits in Santa Clara County, California, US.
• Out-of-state Medicaid insurance plans do not cover students in California and thus is not eligible coverage to complete the waiver form.
• Health Insurance plan must be in place for the entire time you are an enrolled student at the university.

In addition, your health insurance plan must include the following benefits/services:

• Health insurance plans must provide benefits for Medical Evacuation and Repatriation of Remains. A minimum of $50,000 is required for Medical Evacuation and a minimum of $25,000 is required for Repatriation of Remains. (F-1 Student requirement)
• Health insurance policy must provide unlimited lifetime maximum coverage. Benefits cannot have a specific maximum amount.
• Pre-existing conditions must be covered (with no waiting period).
• Health insurance plans must provide coverage for inpatient and outpatient hospitalization in Santa Clara County, California, US.
• Health insurance plans must provide access to local doctors, specialists, hospitals and other health care providers in emergency and non-emergency situations in Santa Clara County, California, US.
• Health insurance plans must provide coverage for lab work, diagnostic x-rays, emergency room treatment, ambulance services and prescription coverage in Santa Clara County, California, US.
• Health insurance plans must provide coverage for inpatient and outpatient mental health.

F-1 VISA STUDENTS

All F-1 visa international students, regardless of number of units, must be enrolled in the SCU-sponsored health insurance plan unless the student meets the waiver exception below. 

• Currently an enrolled dependent on a spouse/parent/partner or employee US based and Affordable Care Act compliant plan.

Please see Cowell website at www.scu.edu/cowell/insurance for detailed information.

J-1 VISA STUDENTS

All J-1 visa international students, regardless of number of units, will be automatically enrolled into the SCU-sponsored health insurance plan. There is no exception to this rule.

All Law students, regardless of their insurance, are welcome to use the Cowell Health Center at any time. The Cowell Center does not bill insurance companies.  All charges will be posted to your student account. Students may request a receipt for charged services to submit to their insurance company for any reimbursement according to their plan benefits.

Immunization Requirements

All incoming students (undergraduates, graduates, transfers, and re-admits) are required to comply with the Santa Clara University immunization requirements. New students are required to provide their full immunization record online through the Cowell Center My Student Health Portal from the MySCU Portal.

An official immunization record from your doctor is required.  The deadline to submit your immunization record is August 1, 2023.

See requirements below:

• All students:
  • Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR)
  • Varicella (Chickenpox)
  • Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis (Tdap)
  • Hepatitis B vaccine (Hep B)
  • Meningococcal conjugate (Meningitis) Menactra or Menveo
  • COVID-19
• Students living on-campus:
  • Meningococcal B – Bexsero or Trumenba.
• Students from outside the US (click here for a list of high burden TB countries): Tuberculosis Screening (Blood Test): Tspot or Quantiferon Gold.

Detailed information on vaccination requirements can be found here.

Self-Reported Medical History Form

New students are required to complete their Medical History Form online through the Cowell Center, My Student Health Portal from the MySCU Portal.  The deadline to submit your Medical History Form is August 1, 2023.

How to Submit Immunization Record and Self-Reported Medical History Form

An official immunization record from your doctor is required and can be uploaded through the COWELL CENTER, My Student Health Portal, at MySCU Portal. 

The required Medical History form is located within the COWELL CENTER, My Student Health Portal.

To upload and complete both documents, please follow the steps below. 

To access the MY SCU Portal you will need your SCU username and password.

1. Once inside the MY SCU Portal, please click on the COWELL CENTER, My Student Health Portal.
2. Once inside COWELL CENTER, My Student Health Portal, please confirm your date of birth.
3. Once inside your portal, please follow the directions for required documentation.

Parking Permits

Parking permits are required for all users of University parking facilities. Permits can be purchased at Transportation Services.

Housing Plans

Housing plans are available at www.scu.edu/housing/.

Billing and Payment Procedures

Student Accounts and Billing

Students assume responsibility for all costs incurred as a result of enrollment at Santa Clara University and agree to abide by applicable University policies and procedures. Students may designate a third-party (e.g., parent, family member, spouse) to be an Authorized Payer for the purpose of reviewing student account and billing information, and remitting payment on the student’s behalf. However, it is ultimately the student’s responsibility to make sure all financial obligations are completed by the published deadlines. 

Students receive monthly billing statements electronically that are accessible through Workday. A billing notification email is sent to the student’s SCU gmail account and to the email address of any Authorized Payer. Students may also forward their billing statement(s) electronically to any third-party they authorize for remitting payment. Please note that information on a student’s account cannot be provided to any third-party payer unless a completed Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) form authorizing its release by the student is on file with the University.

Students are obligated to pay their applicable tuition and fees by the published term payment deadline, regardless of receiving a billing statement. Students enrolling after the initial payment deadline may be required to pre-pay for their enrollment.  Registered students who do not formally withdraw from the University are responsible for all tuition and fees assessed to their account, as well as any penalty charges incurred for nonpayment. Nonattendance does not relieve the student of his or her obligation to pay tuition and fees.

Additional information, including detailed instructions on Santa Clara’s billing and payment procedures, is located on the Bursar’s Office website at: www.scu.edu/bursar.

Billing dates and deadlines

Fall 2023 – Billing available July 5; payment due July 28    

Spring 2024 – Billing available December 1; payment due December 21

Summer 2024 – Billing available May 1; payment due May 21*

*(Summer Abroad program tuition is due April 15)

Payment Methods

Santa Clara University offers a variety of payment methods to assist students with their financial obligations. Please visit our Bursar’s office website for additional payment information: https://www.scu.edu/bursar/paymentoptions/

Payment by Electronic Check

A student or Authorized Payer can make online payments by processing a fund transfer directly from their personal checking or savings account through a third-party website accessible via the University Workday system or SCU Pay site. Please note that a bank may reject a fund transfer if it exceeds a specific amount. Check with your bank about daily limits to prevent returned payment transactions. Payers are able to make electronic payments without incurring a transaction fee.

Term Payment Plan

Students currently enrolled at SCU may be eligible to enroll in an online monthly payment plan to assist with budgeting needs. There is a $40 non-refundable enrollment fee per term and students must have a US bank account to enroll in a term plan. The first payment along with the enrollment fee are due upon enrollment and all subsequent payments will be processed automatically each month thereafter. Plans are subject to rebalancing based upon changes in enrollment and/or financial aid. Participants must enroll each term; there is no automatic re-enrollment. Please note there are no payment plans for the summer session.

Payment by Mail

Payment for student account charges are accepted by mail utilizing the University’s cash management service lock box. Please ensure your student’s name and SCU ID number is located on the check or remittance advice for accurate and timely posting. You can send a copy of the billing statement with your paper check or cashier’s check made payable to Santa Clara University and mail it to: SCU Payment Processing, P.O. Box 550, Santa Clara, CA 95052-0550.

Payment in Person

Payment for student account charges may be made in person by cash or check only at the OneStop Office, located in the Admissions and Enrollment Services Building. The OneStop Office is not able to accept any electronic forms of payment. However, there are computer kiosks located within the office for the convenience of students and their payers who wish to make electronic payment. Regular business hours are Monday-Friday, 9:00 am-5:00 pm.

International Payment by Wire Transfer

International students may submit payment quickly and securely through Workday Authorized Payers and other third-party payers can make payments by accessing the following link: https://payment.flywire.com/pay/payment. Students are able to benefit from excellent exchange rates and payment can often be made in the student’s home currency. 

Delinquent Payments

If all charges on a student’s account are not cleared by payment, financial aid, enrollment in the online monthly payment plan, or loan disbursement by the payment deadline, a late payment fee will be assessed to the student’s account and a hold will be placed on the student’s record. A hold on a student’s record prevents the release of diplomas and certifications, prevents access to any registration services, and may limit access to other University services. Students who have unpaid accounts at the University or who defer payment without approval are subject to dismissal from the University. All unpaid balances will accrue ten percent interest per annum on the balance remaining from the date of default in accordance with California State law. 

Delinquent student accounts may be reported to one or more of the major credit bureaus and may be forwarded to an outside collection agency or an attorney for assistance in recovering the debt owed to the University. The student is responsible for all costs incurred to collect outstanding debt, including but not limited to accrued interest, late fees, court costs, collection fees, and reasonable attorney fees. All outstanding bills and costs of collection incurred by the University must be paid in full prior to a student re-enrolling at the University.

Billing Disputes

If a student wishes to dispute any charges on his or her billing statement, a written explanation should be forwarded to: Santa Clara University, Bursar’s Office, 500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA 95053-0615. The Bursar’s Office must receive written correspondence within 60 days from the billing statement date on which the disputed charge appeared. Communication can be made by telephone, but doing so will not preserve the student’s rights.

Communication should include the student’s name, SCU identification number, the amount in question, and a brief explanation. Payment for the amount in question is not required while the investigation is in progress. However, all other charges must be paid by the due date. If the disputed amount is deemed to be invalid, then an adjustment will be made to the student’s account. If the disputed amount is found to be valid, payment must be submitted to the Bursar’s Office immediately upon notification.

Tuition Insurance Protection

Students and families may protect themselves against financial loss from an unexpected complete withdrawal from the University by purchasing tuition insurance coverage. The University has partnered with A.W.G. Dewar Inc., to provide an optional tuition insurance plan. This plan is designed to protect from loss of funds paid for tuition should it be necessary to completely withdraw from the University during the term for diagnosed medical or mental health reasons.  Information on the tuition insurance plan can be found at www.collegerefund.com and available on the Bursar’s Office website at www.scu.edu/bursar/tuitionprotection.

Tuition Refund Process and Policy

Process – Students may be eligible for a refund if there is a credit reflecting on their student account. The refund process will begin after the add/drop period of every term. Below is the criteria for refunding purposes:

• Account must reflect a credit balance
• Student cannot be enrolled in a monthly payment plan
• Encumbered time has lapsed (14 calendar days for paper check, 7 calendar days for online payment)
• Payment by wire transfer will be returned via the same method
• Payment from third parties will be refunded to the originating source
• No refunds for overpayments made on an account, unless student drops or withdraws

Policy – Students who formally withdraw from the University or drop courses are eligible for a tuition refund in accordance with the policies outlined below.  No refunds are made for any fees.

The effective date used for the determination of any refund of tuition is the date on which notification of withdrawal is received by the student’s respective Records Office, not the last date of attendance by the student. Neither dropping all courses via Workday nor informing an individual faculty member, an academic department, or the Dean’s Office constitutes an official withdrawal from the University. The official date of withdrawal from the University cannot be backdated prior to the date on which the student submits the applicable withdrawal form or notification to Law Student Services. The Records Office for the Law School is Law Student Services (lawstudentservices@scu.edu or 408-554-4766).

Fall and Spring Semesters

Students who withdraw from the University, drop courses, or are approved for a leave of absence, during the fall or spring semester, will receive a tuition refund in accordance with the following:

The start of the semester is considered to be the first date on which instruction begins in the School of Law.

– Students who withdraw from the University or drop courses by the end of the first week of classes will receive a 100% tuition refund, less any applicable fees, for the semester.

– Students who withdraw from the University or drop courses by the end of the second week of classes will receive a 60% tuition refund, less any applicable fees, for the semester.

– Students who withdraw from the University or drop courses by the end of the third week of classes will receive a 40% tuition refund, less any applicable fees, for the semester.

– Students who withdraw from the University or drop courses by the end of the fourth week of classes will receive a 20% tuition refund, less any applicable fees, for the semester.

– Students who withdraw from the University or drop courses after the fourth week of classes will not receive a tuition refund for the semester.

Please note: Students may drop courses on Workday until 11:59 p.m. on the Sunday immediately following the beginning of the semester and still receive 100% refund. However, this is only valid if a student has no registration holds and does not require assistance from a staff member. All other transactions must be completed by 5 p.m. on the first Friday of the semester.

Summer

Students who formally withdraw or drop courses during the summer term are eligible for a refund of tuition charges in accordance with the policies outlined below. No refunds are made for any fees.

– Students who withdraw from the University or drop courses by the end of the first week of classes will receive a 100% tuition refund, less any applicable fees, for the term.

– Students who withdraw from the University or drop courses by the end of the second week of classes will receive a 50% tuition refund, less any applicable fees, for the term.

– Students who withdraw from the University or drop courses after the second week of classes will not receive a tuition refund for the term.

Weekend/Off Cycle/Short-Term Courses

Students must provide the Law Student Services Office with a written request to drop these courses. To receive tuition refunds, these course drops must be handled administratively. Students should NOT drop these classes themselves through Workday after the first week of the semester. Consult the schedule of classes for refund options for individual off cycle courses.

Financial Hardship

Students who withdraw from the University or drop courses due to an illness, injury, or psychological/emotional condition are eligible for a tuition refund in accordance with the schedules above. Tuition insurance may be purchased to cover tuition charges for medically related withdrawals that occur after the first week of the semester.

Santa Clara University degree students who withdraw from the University or who are administratively withdrawn from the University after the fourth week of the semester due to a qualifying financial hardship may be eligible for an allocation from the student hardship fund for 20 percent of the tuition charges for that term. Qualifying financial hardships include: (1) death, disabling injury, medical emergency, (2) loss of job by an independent student, (3) medical or other emergency involving a dependent of an independent student, and (4) student deployment for active military duty. The Vice Provost for Student Life or designee, in consultation with the Financial Aid Office, will determine qualifying financial hardships and any allocation from the student hardship fund.  Students must submit a request for an allocation from the student hardship fund by the end of the applicable term.

Santa Clara University reserves the right to change tuition, room and board, fees, or other costs, to modify its services, or change its programs at any time. In addition, no refunds of tuition, room and board, fees or other costs will be made because of curtailed services resulting from strikes, acts of God, civil insurrection, riots or threats thereof, changed economic conditions, national emergency, or other causes beyond the control of Santa Clara University.

Financial Aid

Santa Clara University School of Law offers financial assistance to law students administered through the Law Admissions and Financial Aid Office and the University’s Financial Aid Office. Students’ financial aid packages may include a combination of scholarships, student loans, and Federal Work-Study, depending on student eligibility.

Santa Clara University School of Law Scholarships

For information on Santa Clara University School of Law scholarship programs, refer to the Law Admissions and Financial Aid website. Students should refer to their original scholarship notifications for terms and conditions for renewal.

Students awarded scholarships from any other school at the University (e.g., the Leavey School of Business) should refer to their original scholarship notifications for terms and conditions for renewal and should address questions to those schools.

Outside/External Scholarships

There are additional, external scholarships sponsored by corporations, civic organizations, religious organizations, foundations, and other groups.

Students awarded an external scholarship should provide the donor or agency with the University’s contact information. All correspondence and scholarship checks should be sent to the Law Admissions and Financial Aid Office. Outside scholarship funds may impact your federal aid eligibility, causing a reduction in federal loan eligibility in some cases.

Federal Student Aid Eligibility

To be eligible for federal student aid, students must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• demonstrate financial need (for some programs);
• be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen;
• have a valid Social Security number (with the exception of students from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau);
• be registered with Selective Service, if the student is male (males must register between the ages of 18 and 25);
• be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a regular student in an eligible degree or certificate program;
• be enrolled at least half-time to be eligible for Direct Loan Program funds;
• maintain satisfactory academic progress;
• sign the certification statement on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form stating that
  • the student is not in default on a federal student loan,
  • the student does not owe money on a federal student grant,
  • and the student will use federal student aid only for educational purposes

Additional eligibility requirements can apply in certain situations including for non-U.S. citizens, students with criminal convictions, and students with intellectual disabilities.

Students must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) annually. Santa Clara University’s school code is 001326.

Half-time Status (J.D. and LL.M. Students)

Fall and Spring Semesters: 6 units per semester*

Summer: 3 units

*NOTE: Other School of Law academic policies require enrollment above these minimums, per semester. Please consult the Degree Programs section of the Bulletin for more information.

Eligibility for scholarships and student loans may be affected by changes in enrollment. Financial aid recipients who switch from a full-time to part-time course load, or vice versa, must inform the Law Admissions and Financial Aid Office.

Students who drop below half-time must notify the Law Admissions and Financial Aid Office immediately. Students who drop below half-time for more than six months, or take a leave of absence for more than six months may need to begin making payments on their student loans. Students who have received an unsubsidized or PLUS loan(s) under the Direct Loan Program must complete exit counseling each time they drop below half-time enrollment or leave school. Students must complete exit counseling at studentaid.gov.

Students may contact their loan servicers to request deferment or forbearance if they cannot afford to make payments during this period.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

To be eligible for federal student aid, students must make satisfactory academic progress. A determination of satisfactory academic progress for continued federal student aid eligibility is distinct from a determination of academic good standing (which only requires a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 or above at the end of each academic year) as described in the Academic Policies section of the Student Bulletin.

To demonstrate they are making satisfactory academic progress for continued federal student aid eligibility students must meet both a quantitative (time-based) and qualitative (grade-based) standard. Students will be evaluated by the pace at which they are progressing through the program to ensure they will graduate within the maximum time frame allowed, by their credit hour completion rate, and by their cumulative grade point average (GPA). Students enrolled in joint degree programs including the J.D./MBA, J.D./MSIS and J.D./LL.M Program must make satisfactory academic progress as defined for those programs.

Satisfactory academic progress is required to retain eligibility for all federal student aid programs including the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program (Direct Unsubsidized Loans and Direct PLUS Loans), and Federal Work-Study.

Students who fail to make satisfactory academic progress, including those students who are readmitted following academic disqualification, are not eligible for federal student aid. Students may appeal that result based on injury or illness, the death of a relative, or other special circumstances. The appeal must explain why the student failed to make satisfactory progress and what has changed in their situation that will allow them to make satisfactory progress at the next evaluation.

There are additional requirements to reestablish federal student aid eligibility. Appeals will be reviewed by the Law Admissions and Financial Aid Office and may be denied or approved. For the complete federal student aid satisfactory academic progress policy and appeal process, please visit the Law Admissions and Financial Aid website.

Verification

Verification is the process established by the U.S. Department of Education to check the accuracy of aid applications. Students selected for verification will need to provide the specific documentation required for independent students.

Participation in the verification process is not optional. Students who do not submit the requested documentation will not be eligible to receive federal student aid.

NOTE: Failure to meet the verification deadline may result in aid not being reinstated. Any delays in sending documentation may result in students not having aid by the beginning of the academic term. In this case, it is the student’s obligation to pay the account balance on their student account.

Determining Federal Student Aid Amounts

Student eligibility depends on Expected Family Contribution, year in school, enrollment status, and the cost of attendance. The Law Admissions and Financial Aid Office will determine how much federal student aid students are eligible to receive.

• The Law Admissions and Financial Aid Office determines students’ cost of attendance (COA)
• Expected Family Contribution (EFC)is also considered
• EFC is subtracted from COA to determine students’ financial need and eligibility for any need-based aid
• To determine students’ non-need-based aid eligibility (i.e., amount of student loan eligibility), the Law Admissions and Financial Aid Office will take students’ total cost of attendance and subtract any other awarded financial aid (e.g., scholarships).

Cost of Attendance (COA)

Cost of Attendance is the estimated amount it will cost to attend Santa Clara University School of Law. The School of Law publishes its cost of attendance on the Law Admissions and Financial Aid website.

For students attending at least half-time, COA is the estimate of

• tuition and fees;
• the cost of housing and food;
• the cost of books, supplies, transportation, loan fees, and miscellaneous expenses (including a reasonable amount for the documented cost of a personal computer);
• an allowance for childcare or other dependent care;
• costs related to a disability; and/or
• reasonable costs for eligible study-abroad programs.

Expected Family Contribution (EFC)

The Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is not the amount students will have to pay towards their educational costs, nor is it the amount of federal aid students receive. It is an index number used to determine how much financial aid students will receive. Information reported on the FAFSA is used to calculate EFC. EFC is calculated according to a formula established by law. Students’ (and their spouse’s) taxed and untaxed income, assets, and benefits (such as unemployment or Social Security) all could be considered in the formula. For students with dependents, family size and the number of family members who will attend college or career school during the year will also be considered.

Need-based Aid

Calculating Financial Need

Cost of Attendance (COA) – Expected Family Contribution (EFC) = Financial Need

Need-based aid is financial aid that students can receive if they have financial need and meet other eligibility criteria. The only need-based federal student aid program available to students at the School of Law is Federal Work-Study.

Federal Work-Study

Federal Work Study provides part-time jobs for law students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay education expenses. The program encourages community service work and work related to the student’s course of study. It is available to full-time or part-time students. Santa Clara University has limited Federal Work-Study funds. Federal Work-Study is not offered to incoming law students. Continuing students interested in Federal Work-Study can email onestop@scu.edu to request information about the work-study process & eligibility.

Non-need-based Aid

Calculating Non-need-based Aid

Cost of Attendance (COA) − Financial Aid Awarded So Far* = Eligibility for Non-need-based Aid

*includes aid from all sources, including School of Law scholarships, external scholarships, etc.

Non-need-based aid is financial aid that is not based on EFC. What matters is COA and how much other assistance has been awarded so far. For example, if a student has a COA of $50,000 and has been awarded scholarships totaling $30,000, the student can get up to $20,000 in non-need-based aid.

The following are non-need-based federal student aid programs available to School of Law students:

• Direct Unsubsidized Loan
• Direct PLUS Loan

Direct Unsubsidized Loan

Direct Unsubsidized Loans are loans made to eligible graduate or professional students. Eligibility is not based on financial need. The U.S. Department of Education is the lender. Students must accept or decline an offered Direct Unsubsidized Loan on Workday.

• no requirement to demonstrate financial need (students must still file a FAFSA)
• must be enrolled at least half-time
• amount determined by cost of attendance and other financial aid
• must complete Entrance Counseling and a Master Promissory Note (MPN)
• students are responsible for paying the interest on a Direct Unsubsidized Loan during all periods
• students who choose not to pay the interest while in school and during grace periods and deferment or forbearance periods, will accrue (accumulate) interest which will be capitalized (added to the principal amount of the loan)
• Interest rate: 7.05%, for loans first disbursed on or after 7/1/23 and before 7/1/24 (current rates can be found at studentaid.gov)
• Origination fee: 1.057% for loans first disbursed on or after October 1, 2020 and before October 1, 2024 (current fees can be found at studentaid.gov)
• Annual limit: $20,500
• Aggregate limit: $138,500 (includes all federal loans received for undergraduate study)

Students who are eligible for a Direct Unsubsidized Loan will be required to sign a loan contract called a Master Promissory Note (MPN), agreeing to the terms of the loan. Students who have not previously received a Direct Unsubsidized Loan will also be required to complete entrance counseling.

Direct PLUS Loan

Direct PLUS Loans are loans made to graduate or professional students to help pay for education expenses not covered by other financial aid. A Direct PLUS Loan is commonly referred to as a grad PLUS loan when made to a graduate or professional student. Eligibility is not based on financial need, but a credit check is required. Borrowers who have an adverse credit history must meet additional requirements to qualify. The U.S. Department of Education is the lender. Students may review their Direct PLUS Loan eligibility on Workday, but due to the required credit check, they must apply for the Direct PLUS Loan at studentaid.gov.

• no requirement to demonstrate financial need (students must still file a FAFSA)
• must be enrolled at least half-time
• amount determined by cost of attendance and other financial aid
• must complete Entrance Counseling and a Master Promissory Note (MPN)
• must not have an adverse credit history 
• students are responsible for paying the interest on a Direct PLUS Loan during all periods
• students who choose not to pay the interest while in school and during grace periods and deferment or forbearance periods, will accrue (accumulate) interest which will be capitalized (added to the principal amount of the loan)
• Interest rate: 8.05%, for loans first disbursed on or after 7/1/23 and before 7/1/24 (current rates can be found at studentaid.gov)
• Origination fee: 4.228% for loans first disbursed on or after October 1, 2020 and before October 1, 2024 (current fees can be found at studentaid.gov)
• Annual limit: cost of attendance (COA) minus any other financial assistance received
• Aggregate limit: currently none, but schools may limit excessive borrowing

Direct PLUS Loan Application Process

After completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and receiving a financial aid award notification from the Law Admissions and Financial Aid Office, students must apply for a Direct PLUS Loan at studentaid.gov (students cannot accept a Direct PLUS loan on Workday, they can only review their Direct PLUS eligibility to determine how much they may borrow when applying for the loan at studentaid.gov).

Students who are eligible for a Direct PLUS loan will be required to sign a Direct PLUS Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN), agreeing to the terms of the loan. Students who have not previously received a PLUS loan will also be required to complete entrance counseling.

A credit check will be performed during the application process. Students who have adverse credit may still receive a Direct PLUS Loan through one of these two options:

1. Obtaining an endorser who does not have an adverse credit history. An endorser is someone who agrees to repay the Direct PLUS loan if the student does not repay it.
2. Documenting to the satisfaction of the U.S. Department of Education that there are extenuating circumstances relating to the adverse credit history.        

With either option 1 or option 2, students must complete credit counseling for PLUS loan borrowers. Direct PLUS Loans and Adverse Credit is an online resource that answers common questions about how an adverse credit history affects Direct PLUS Loan eligibility.

Understanding Federal Student Loan Terms and Repayment Options

When considering borrowing a federal student loan, students should also understand interest rates and fees, as well as their student loan repayment options. Under certain conditions, students may be eligible to have all, or part of their loan discharged or forgiven (canceled). Students should find out about loan cancellation, discharge, or forgiveness provisions. First-time borrowers may want to review Federal Student Loans: Basics for Students. Members of the military may be eligible for special interest benefits relating to federal student loans.

Exit Counseling

Students who have received unsubsidized or PLUS loan(s) under the Direct Loan Program must complete exit counseling each time they drop below half-time enrollment, graduate, or leave school. Students must complete exit counseling at studentaid.gov.

Private Educational Loans

Private Educational Loans allow law students who have exhausted or who are ineligible for federal aid an alternative means of borrowing to help pay for their educational expenses. Law students often borrow private loans to help cover expenses while studying for the bar exam. Private loan providers have their own application and repayment terms. Students should review all terms and disclosures before applying for one of these credit-based loan alternatives. Students should review the differences between federal and private student loans before borrowing a private loan.

Financial Aid Cancellation and Return of Funds

Students who withdraw from the University and who have federal student aid are subject to the federal regulations applicable to the return of Title IV funds. These regulations assume that a student earns his or her financial aid based on the period of time he or she remains enrolled during a term. A student is obligated to return all unearned federal student aid funds governed under Title IV other than those earned under the college work-study program.

Unearned federal student aid is the amount of disbursed Title IV funds that exceeds the amount of Title IV aid earned in accordance with the federal guidelines. During the first 60 percent of the term, a student earns Title IV funds in direct proportion to the length of time he or she remains enrolled. That is, the percentage of time during the term that the student remains enrolled is the percentage of disbursable aid for that period that the student has earned. A student who withdraws after the 60 percent point of the enrollment term earns all Title IV aid disbursed for the period.

All funds must be returned to federal programs before funds are returned to University financial aid programs or to the student. The return of funds allocation (excluding aid funds not applicable to law students) will be made in the following order for students who have received Federal Title IV assistance.

• Direct Unsubsidized Loan
• Direct PLUS Loan

Veterans and Veterans’ Dependents Assistance

Santa Clara University has been certified by the Department of Veterans Affairs as qualified to enroll students under applicable federal legislation and regulations, including Chapter 35 (child of a deceased or 100 percent disabled veteran, widow of any person who died in the service or died of a service-connected disability, or wife of a veteran with a 100 percent service-connected disability), Chapter 31 (rehabilitation), Chapter 30/1606 (active duty Montgomery G.I. Bill®), Chapter 33 (Post 9/11 GI Bill®), and Yellow Ribbon. Individuals interested in attending under any of the veteran assistance programs should contact the Veterans Administration and the University Office of the Registrar.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

For more information on SCU Veterans Support Services: https://www.scu.edu/diversity/veterans-support-services/

International/Foreign-Born/Naturalized Students

Questions regarding visa status and international student status should be directed to Santa Clara University’s Global Engagement Office.

Getting Answers to Financial Aid Questions

Students with questions about financial aid should contact the Law Admissions and Financial Aid Office at lawfinancialaid@scu.edu.