The Investment in Your Mizzou Law Degree Begins Long Before You Arrive at Hulston Hall.
From a financial perspective, there are application fees, travel expenses, and relocation costs to consider. Your investment includes taking the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and applying for admission. It may also include other expenses such as taking a prep course for your LSAT, paying for transcripts, and moving expenses. Unfortunately, you cannot receive federal financial aid to cover expenses incurred prior to attendance. As a result, you need to think about how you will pay for them.
Want to skip right to specific Financial Aid information? You can do that here.
The Cost of Attendance (COA)
Tuition is likely the largest expense you will incur while in law school, but there are many other expenses you will need to consider in your budget plan. The technical term Mizzou uses for estimating cost is the “cost of attendance.” This concept is useful as a starting point for creating your spending plan. Keep in mind the cost of attending Mizzou Law can be different for each student depending on things like housing choices and individual needs.
Types of Financial Aid
Scholarships:
Scholarships are the most desirable form of financial aid, as these funds do not have to be repaid. At Mizzou Law, scholarships are awarded based on your admissions application, LSAT test scores, GPA, personal statement and more. You can read more about scholarships offered through Mizzou Law on the Scholarship Programs Page. You also have the opportunity to apply for outside scholarships. Check out the External Scholarship Page for more information.
To be eligible for first-round scholarships, entering students must have a completed admissions application by January 15. There is no separate scholarship application.
Federal Student Loans:
Loans allow Mizzou law students to finance their expenses when personal resources and scholarships are not enough. Student loans are provided through a variety of sources (private and federal) and have varying terms and conditions. Before taking out a loan, you should research which option is in your best financial interest.
Federal student loans are the most common type of student loan. These loans are provided by the U.S. Department of Education. For graduate students (including law students), there are two types of federal loans available; Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan and the Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan. Generally speaking, federal loans may offer lower interest rates, have no prepayment penalties and come with flexible repayment options than private-sector loans. You can read more about Federal Direct Student Loans at law.missouri.edu/financialaid.
You must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for Federal Student Loans. www.fafsa.ed.gov
Private Student Loans:
Private loans are issued by a lender such as a bank or credit union. Private loans can have higher interest rates and require more stringent credit checks than federal loans. Some lenders may also require payments while you are in school.
Work-Study and Student Employment:
Mizzou Law employs students through part-time jobs. Many are funded through the Federal Work Study Program. All positions are located in the law school and student employees receive regular biweekly paychecks. To apply, visit the law school’s student employment page.
You must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for Federal Work-Study.
The Mizzou Law Financial Aid Timeline: Apply, Review, and Accept
APPLY (January/February)
- Create a FSA ID at FSAid.ed.gov. Your FSA ID allows you access to certain U.S. Department of Education websites.
- There are three major types of aid: scholarships, work-study and loans.
- Complete FAFSA at fafsa.ed.gov by February 1 for priority processing.
REVIEW (March/April)
- Review your financial aid.
- What will my costs be? How much will I need to borrow? Do I have other financial resources? What are my financial aid responsibilities?
- Know before you owe. Ask questions. Review your loan options and your ability to repay. Review your costs. Review your total estimated debt and monthly repayment obligation, then see how it measures up against your expected salary after graduation.
ACCEPT (April/May)
- Accept student loans in myZou.
- Complete Direct Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN) and Loan Entrance Counseling at studentloans.gov.
- Law students may apply for the Graduate PLUS Loan. Apply online at studentloans.gov. The Graduate PLUS Loan is credit-based and you must have satisfactory credit to qualify.
How do I contact the Financial Aid Office if I have questions?
Contact Jeff Turnbull at 573-882-1383 or by email at TurnbullJ@missouri.edu.
Jeff Turnbull
Financial Aid Office
110 Hulston Hall
Columbia, MO 65211
573-882-1383
TurnbullJ@missouri.edu
Visit the Law School financial aid website.