Applying for Aid

If you are an incoming first-year or transfer student, here are the steps to apply for financial aid.

Students must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to qualify for federal aid. The FAFSA should be filed as soon after October 1 as possible.

The FAFSA determines a student’s eligibility for Federal Direct Loans, Federal Work-Study and other aid. A FAFSA can be filed online at fafsa.gov. A U.S. Department of Education FSA ID is required. The Maurice A. Deane School of Law federal code is 002732.

Note: International students are not eligible to receive federal financial aid, but may be considered for merit scholarships.

The Financial Aid Process at Hofstra Law

Step 1: Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

This is the basic application for financial aid. You will need to release this information to every school you are considering attending and from whom you would like an offer of financial aid. Applying online is the most efficient and accurate process.

This form must be completed every year that you want to receive financial aid. For that reason, the Department of Education has designed a renewal application and made possible electronic signatures with an FSA ID.

The FAFSA and other federal student aid websites require an FSA ID to log in. The FSA ID system provides enhanced security and allows students to use the same login information across all federal student aid websites. Students can create an FSA ID for the first time here.

When you complete the FAFSA, you will only need to provide your (and your spouse’s, if you are married) information. The results of the FAFSA are used to determine your eligibility for federal student aid programs, and for those purposes, parental data is not required.

Be sure to enter the federal school code 002732 for Hofstra Law so that we receive the result of your application from the Department of Education.

The first date you can file the FAFSA for each academic year is October 1, and we would like you to file it no later than April 1. The FAFSA uses prior-prior year tax data, so you do not need to worry about waiting to file the current year’s taxes.

Step 2: Accept your Federal Direct and/or Grad PLUS loan offers.

Log in to your Hofstra portal to accept or decline your federal loan offers, following these instructions: How to View and Accept Your Financial Aid Award.

Step 3: Complete Federal Direct, Grad PLUS and/or private loan applications.

You will need a federal FSA ID to complete this process. For FSA ID information, visit fsaid.ed.gov. For assistance, please call 1-800-433-3243.

For Direct Loans

Students borrowing a Direct Loan at Hofstra for the first time are required to complete the following steps:

• Complete an Entrance Counseling Session at www.studentaid.gov. The entrance counseling is an interactive online activity and informs students how to manage their educational expenses.
• Complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) at www.studentaid.gov.

Important note: Please do not wait to complete the new MPN and entrance counseling session, as this will result in delays in disbursement of your loan(s).

For Grad PLUS Loans

Students borrowing a Direct Loan at Hofstra for the first time are required to complete the following steps:

• Complete a Grad PLUS Loan Application at www.studentaid.gov.
• Complete a Grad PLUS Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN) at www.studentaid.gov.

Important note: Be sure to keep an eye on your Hofstra email account and ensure that your contact information is updated! Your aid could be delayed if problems or questions arise and we are unable to reach you due to old or inaccurate contact information.

If you have further questions, please call (516) 463-5916 or email the Office of Financial Aid at lawfinaid@hofstra.edu.

If you are a continuing student, here are the steps to apply for financial aid.

Step 1: Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

If you have not already done so, file the FAFSA. You will need a FSA ID to complete the FAFSA and to log in to all federal student aid websites. Students can create an FSA ID for the first time here.

Be sure to submit the FAFSA by the recommended April 1 deadline.

Step 2: Accept your Federal Direct and/or Grad PLUS loan offers.

Log in to your Hofstra portal to accept or decline your federal loan offers, following these instructions: How to View and Accept Your Financial Aid Award.

Step 3: Complete Grad PLUS or private loan applications.

Grad PLUS Loan borrowers must reapply every academic year at https://studentaid.gov.

Important note: Be sure to keep an eye on your Hofstra email account and ensure your contact information is updated! Your aid could be delayed if problems or questions arise and we are unable to reach you due to old or inaccurate contact information.

If you have further questions, please call (516) 463-5916 or email the Office of Financial Aid at lawfinaid@hofstra.edu.

International JD students (along with all JD applicants) are automatically considered for an Honors (merit-based) Scholarship.

International LLM students are reviewed individually by the Director of the LLM program for which they are applying for any potential scholarship.

In regard to additional financial assistance, the best resource for grants to study abroad at the Maurice A. Deane School of Law is your own country.

For more information, we suggest that you contact your current or previous educational institution’s advisement office or a local educational advising center.

We also suggest that you visit eduPASS! The SmartStudent Guide to Studying in the USA. It is an excellent website for students interested in studying in the United States.

Your own government may have financial aid available and may require that you return home after your education is complete. Contact your country’s embassy or your department of education for more information, since there are many awards which require you to be nominated by your government.

The only alternative financing available is through a private lender/bank. Most require a co-signer who is a U.S. citizen. Approval of these loans is made independently by the lending institution after Hofstra certifies your enrollment and cost of attendance.

Winter Session on Campus at Hofstra Law

1. Register for the program.
2. Determine how to pay for the course: Students may have the option to utilize federal or private loans.
   
   Please note that students who are already borrowing a federal Grad PLUS Loan may request to increase the spring portion of the loan to cover winter charges.
3. Apply for a loan: Students wishing to use loan funds for a winter session program will need to complete a January Loan Request form (PDF) to request a loan for this program.

The Office of Financial Aid will process any loans that the student has requested and applied for.

Summer Session on Campus at Hofstra Law

1. Register for the course(s).
2. Determine how to pay for the course(s): If students are registered for less than 5 credits, they may only borrow private loans. However, when taking 5 or more credits, students are encouraged to consider borrowing federal loans first, before private loans.

Please note that federal loans will not disburse earlier than 10 days prior to the first day of classes.

In order to borrow federal loans for the summer session, students will need to complete a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) prior to applying for federal loans. 

1. Apply for a loan: Students will need to complete a Summer Loan Request Form (PDF) to request a loan for this program.
   
   Students requesting Grad PLUS Loans must also go to www.studentaid.gov to complete a new Grad PLUS Loan application. This step is required in addition to the submission of the Summer Loan Request Form.

If you are a visiting student, here are the steps to apply for financial aid.

1. Receive permission from your current law school’s dean to visit the Maurice A. Deane School.
2. Apply to and be accepted by Hofstra Law.
3. Register for classes.
4. Complete your home institution’s Consortium Agreement (PDF) and forward to Hofstra Law’s Office of Financial Aid. Hofstra Law will verify enrollment, complete the form (provide cost of living and the total number of credits for which you are registered) and return the Consortium Agreement to your home institution.
5. Apply for financial aid/loans through your home institution.
6. Your home institution will forward tuition payment from loan proceeds to Hofstra University, Office of Student Financial Services, 126 Hofstra University, 205 Memorial Hall, Hempstead, NY 11549. Your home institution should forward any remaining funds directly to you.

Note: It is your responsibility to arrange for any transcripts to be sent back to your home institution.

Summer Session at Another ABA-Approved Law School

1. You will need to complete a Visiting Student Authorization form (PDF) in order to receive approval from the dean for the transfer of the program credits back to Maurice A. Deane School of Law.
2. Register for the program.
3. Determine how to pay for the program: Depending on the number of credits, you may borrow either federal (5 or more credits are required to borrow federal loans) or private loans for this program. We encourage you to consider borrowing federal loans first.
   
   Federal loans will not disburse earlier than 10 days before the first day of classes. Therefore, refunds may not be available before you depart for your study abroad.
   
   In order to borrow federal loans for this program, you will need to have completed a FAFSA on file before applying for federal loans.
4. Consortium Agreement: If you are enrolled in summer class(es) through another law school and are borrowing a loan for the cost of the course(s), you must send a Consortium Agreement (PDF) to the host institution. If you will be using personal funds for this program, you do not need to complete a Consortium Agreement.
   
   Your host institution will verify enrollment, complete the form (provide the cost of living and the total number of credits for which you are registered) and return the Consortium Agreement to Hofstra Law’s Office of Financial Aid, who will complete the financial aid section of the form (indicating what kinds of aid you will receive) and return it to your host institution.
5. Apply for a loan: You will need to complete a Summer Loan Request form (PDF) to request a loan for this program. Hofstra Law’s Office of Financial Aid will process any loans that you have applied for and requested.
6. Provide the Office of Student Accounts with a bill: Arrange for your host institution to send Student Accounts a bill. If a bill is not received, payment is not guaranteed. When the loan funds arrive, the Hofstra Office of Student Accounts will send a check to your host institution and the remaining funds, if any, may be issued to you in the form of a refund. Please note: this refund may or may not be available before the start of your classes. Please reach out to the Office of Financial Aid for assistance with this process if necessary: lawfinaid@hofstra.edu or (516) 463-5916.
7. Arrange for an official transcript: In order for you to receive full credit for the coursework you complete, please arrange for your host institution to send Hofstra Law’s Office of Academic Records an official transcript reflecting the final grade received for any coursework completed through the host institution: Office of Academic Records, 121 Hofstra University, Room 114, Hempstead, NY 11549. Phone: (516) 463-5917; Fax: (516) 463-4802.

Visiting at Another ABA-Approved Law School for One or Two Semesters

1. Receive approval from the dean to visit another law school for one academic year.
2. Apply and receive acceptance to visit that law school.
3. Register for classes.
4. Decide on borrowing options: We encourage you to consider borrowing federal loans first, before private loans. Remember that federal loans will be disbursed evenly between the fall and spring semesters.
5. Consortium Agreement: If you are visiting another law school, you must send a Consortium Agreement (PDF) to your host institution. If you will be using personal funds, you do not need to complete a Consortium Agreement.
   
   Your host institution will verify enrollment, complete the form (provide the cost of living and the total number of credits for which you are registered) and return the Consortium Agreement to Hofstra Law’s Office of Financial Aid, who will complete the financial aid section of the form (indicating what kinds of aid you will receive) and return it to your host institution.
6. Apply for a loan and notify Hofstra Law’s Office of Financial Aid: lawfinaid@hofstra.edu or (516) 463-5916.
7. Provide the Office of Student Accounts with a bill:Arrange for your host institution to send Student Accounts a bill. If a bill is not received, payment is not guaranteed. When the loan funds arrive, the Hofstra Office of Student Accounts will send a check to your host institution and the remaining funds, if any, may be issued to you in the form of a refund. Please note: this refund may or may not be available before the start of your classes. Please reach out to the Office of Financial Aid for assistance with this process if necessary: lawfinaid@hofstra.edu or (516) 463-5916.
8. Arrange for an official transcript: In order for you to receive full credit for the coursework you complete, please arrange for your host institution to send Hofstra Law’s Office of Academic Records an official transcript reflecting the final grade received for any coursework completed through the host institution: Office of Academic Records, 121 Hofstra University, Room 114, Hempstead, NY 11549. Phone: (516) 463-5917; Fax: (516) 463-4802.