Frequently Asked Questions

What is Fordham Law School’s Federal school code for the FAFSA? 

Fordham Law School does not have a separate code from the University.  All FAFSA information must be transmitted to the University to ensure proper processing.  Prospective law students must use federal school code 002722 that corresponds to Fordham University, Bronx NY.

Do I have to report my parents’ information on the FAFSA?

As a student pursuing a graduate degree, you are not required to submit parental information on the FAFSA.  According to federal guidelines, graduate students are considered independent regardless of age or filing status. 

Will FAFSA information be taken into consideration when deciding upon my need for Fordham aid?

Fordham Law’s Financial Aid Office does not use the FAFSA to determine eligibility for Fordham grants and loans.  The FAFSA is used solely for the purpose of determining your eligibility for Federal Stafford Loans.  

If I indicated more than one school code on my FAFSA and have no space to include Fordham, how do I get my FAFSA information sent to Fordham?

Submit your application with the first ten schools listed. After your application is processed and you receive your Student Aid Report (SAR), go to the FAFSA on the Web home page and select "Make Corrections to a Processed Application" under the FAFSA Follow-up sections. Add up to nine additional schools on your application. 

FordhamFinancial Aid Application Questions:

How will Fordham Law School determine that I need Fordham aid?

Fordham Law School uses data collected from the Fordham Law Financial Aid Application to calculate your family contribution and determine eligibility for Fordham Law’s need-based aid. A need analysis formula is used in the calculation and it considers parental income and assets and other factors, such as family size, age of the parent, number of children attending college, and a percentage of home equity, to determine a parental contribution.  In addition to your parents’ contribution, students are expected to contribute toward their law school expenses from savings and any other personal resources, such as trust funds. Once we have determined a family contribution, that contribution is compared to the total cost of attendance at Fordham Law. If the family’s contribution is less than Fordham’s costs, then the student is eligible for need-based aid. If the family’s contribution exceeds Fordham’s costs, then the student is not eligible for need-based aid.

Note: Although parental information is required on Fordham's Financial Aid Application to determine need for institutional aid, we are not suggesting that parents should contribute directly towards your law degree.

I am independent and I do not receive support from my parents; do I have to provide parental information?

All of our students are independent for federal aid purposes (by virtue of the fact that they are in graduate school). Many are also financially independent of their parents. However, Fordham Law looks at the family financial strength of all of students who apply, regardless of age and marital status. Fordham Law also requires parental household and income information to consider students for financial aid. Please be certain to complete the entire Fordham Law Financial Aid Application if you want to be considered for Fordham aid. Should you have special circumstances, Q. 32 allows you to explain any information which would affect you or your parents' financial situation.

My biological or adoptive parents are divorced and have remarried; which parent has to complete the financial aid application?

Both biological or adoptive parents must submit their income and asset information for full consideration of a student’s eligibility for need based aid.  You can provide their information separately by submitting applications for each.   Download the application and give a copy to each parent for completion.  Please do not provide step-parents’ income and asset information in this application because their information is not used to calculate family contribution.


I don’t have access to my parent’s (mother/ father) information, what should I do?

If you are estranged from your parent(s) and have no way of acquiring his/her information, please complete the Fordham Law Financial Aid Application with as much parental information as you can.  In the "Special Circumstances" section (Question 32), you must provide a detailed explanation of why you are unable to provide your other parent’s information. You can attach an additional sheet with your application, if necessary.  The more information you give on the application the better we can understand your family’s financial situation and provide you with an accurate financial aid package.

If my siblings are in undergraduate/graduate school can I include them in my parents’ household? 

If your siblings receive half or greater support from your parents during the academic year you plan to attend Fordham Law, then you should include them in your parents’ household (Question 22 A – G).   Fordham Law takes into consideration expenses that parents incur while assisting more than one student through an undergraduate degree or graduate school.

My family’s current financial situation has changed, but the Fordham Law Financial Aid Application and Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) asks me to report only last year’s income. What should I do?

We recognize that circumstances, such as a loss of a job or a divorce, can arise that affect a family’s ability to contribute toward educational expenses. If your family has unique, documented circumstances that demonstrate inability to contribute toward educational expenses, you may include a detailed, written description of those circumstances in the Fordham Law Financial Aid Application  under “Special Circumstances” (Question 32).  We will contact you if additional documentation is required after the consideration of your circumstances. 

What are the deadlines for financial aid?

Although there are no specific deadlines for Fordham Law’s financial aid process, you are advised to submit your application as early as possible to ensure that you get full consideration for Fordham grants and loans.  For example, the loan process has a series of requirements that need to be completed before federal or private loans can be disbursed to Fordham.  Therefore, we advise students to complete all requirements at least three months prior to the start of the academic year to ensure that all financial aid funds are posted to the account three days prior to the start of classes. If you intend to apply for our institutional aid (grant and loan), do so early since funds are sometimes depleted by mid-spring. 

I know my family’s financial situation will not qualify me for need-based financial aid, but I still can’t afford to attend.  Are there any other resources available to me?

Fordham Law offers limited merit-based scholarships to academically qualified students. Eligibility for these scholarships is based strictly on your academic record and merit recipients are selected during the admissions process. In addition to these scholarships, student loans are available through federal and private programs. If you would like information on alternative financing options such as long-term loans or payment plan options, visit our website or contact us for further information.

As an international student, do I have to complete a FAFSA and what type of aid am I eligible for?

International students are not required to file the FAFSA because they are not eligible for federal loans due to their non-US citizenship status. But, foreign students who are accepted to the JD program can apply for Fordham Law financial aid, such as grants and loans.  They must complete the Fordham Law Financial Aid Application to determine their eligibility for this institutional aid. 

International students with parents in foreign countries are required to report parental household, income and asset information on the Fordham Law application.  They must convert all foreign currency amounts to US Dollars.  If parents living in foreign countries are not filing U.S. Income tax forms, they must report their total income from earnings and benefits under “Other Untaxed Income” (Question 30e).  International students with parents living out of the U.S. can also contact us for guidance on answering questions regarding parental financial information.

In addition to Fordham aid, students who are non-US citizens may apply for private educational loans to help meet their tuition and living expenses at Fordham Law.  If approved, students may borrow these loans up to the cost of attendance minus any financial aid (scholarships, grants, etc.) they receive during an academic year. Students must apply online or over the phone with a private lender of their choice, and most lenders require international students to have a U.S. citizen who can co-sign the loan.   Students without co-signers can research loans which allow foreign students to borrow on their own as long as they have at least three years of U.S. credit history.