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Returning J.D. Students


Recipients of a Fordham Need-based Grant or Need-based Scholarship or a federal loan (Federal Direct Unsubsidized and Direct Graduate PLUS) must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by June 1st. This is the first step in obtaining federal aid for the next academic year. Students who anticipate a change in their enrollment from that of the prior academic year must notify the Law School Financial Aid Office by June 1st.

Additionally, students must follow the instructions listed for the renewal of their specific aid and complete all the Federal and Fordham University Law School processing requirements by June 1st or within two weeks of date of notice sent by email. Submitting the requirements by the due date ensures timely disbursement of institutional aid and federal loan(s) for the academic year. 

Merit Aid Recipients: If you received a Merit Scholarship upon your admission to the Law School, it will be renewed automatically for each subsequent year you are in attendance provided you maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress. 

Need-Based Grant, Need-based Scholarship and/or Fordham Revolving Loan Recipients:
Rising 2LD, 2LE, or 3LE students who received Fordham’s institutional aid in the prior academic year will have their institutional aid renewed after they have completed the FAFSA for the upcoming academic year.
 
Students entering their final year of study (3LD, 4LE) are required to complete a Summer Earnings Information Form and submit it to the Law School Financial Aid Office in order to renew their need-based aid. If you earned income in excess of $15,000 over the summer, your need-based aid may be reduced. The formula used in this calculation is (gross income minus $15,000) x 0.6 x 0.5.
 
Federal Student Loan Borrowers: Students wishing to renew their federal loansthrough the Department of Education should follow the steps listed below. Students who have never borrowed a federal student loan at Fordham should follow the requirements listed in the Applying for Aid section of this website for Incoming J.D. students. 

Please note that there are a number of federal and Fordham University requirements to secure a federal student loan through the Department of Education. Be sure that you have completed all steps necessary to secure your federal student loans.

Federal Direct Unsubsidized (Stafford) Loan: 

  • Complete the FAFSA for the academic year in which you are applying (www.fafsa.ed.gov)
  • Verify on my.fordham.edu that Fordham University is in receipt of the Federal Entrance Counseling you completed in the prior academic year.   
  • Verify on my.fordham.edu that Fordham University is in receipt of your previously completed Direct Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN).
  • Complete the University's Federal Direct (Stafford) Loan Request Form for the 2013-2014 academic year.  

Federal Direct Graduate PLUS (Grad PLUS) Loan:  After completing the FAFSA and the Entrance Counseling for your Federal Education Loans (see above) and complete the following steps:

  • Complete the Federal Student Aid Office’s Grad PLUS application and secure a credit decision with the U.S. Department of Education at studentloans.gov.
  • Verify on my.fordham.edu. that Fordham University is in receipt of your previously completed Direct Grad PLUS Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN).
  • Complete the University's Federal Direct Grad PLUS Loan Request Form for the 2013-2014 academic year.  

The Financial Aid Office reserves the right to request verification of information listed on the FAFSA or any document submitted to Fordham when applying for Financial Aid.