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Contact the Indiana Law Financial Aid Office
Phone: (812) 855-7746
E-mail: iulawfa [at] indiana [dot] edu

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Financial Aid Basics

Doctor of Jurisprudence (JD)

Financial Overview

Budget/Cost of Attendance of Your Legal Education
Direct Education Costs

Below is a sample of a typical first-year law student’s budget for the 2013-2014 academic year.

Doctor of Jurisprudence (JD) Entering Law Budget for 2013-14
  Indiana Resident Non-Indiana Resident
Tuition (Flat rate) $29,236 $47,672
Mandatory Fees $1,290 $1,290
Books and Supplies $1,800 $1,800
Total Direct Costs $32,326 $50,762

While Indiana Law requires that new students have a laptop computer, that requirement does not mean that you must purchase a new machine as you prepare to begin class. If you do purchase a new computer for law school, that expense (up to $2,000) can be added to your budget by completing the Special Conditions Form and submitting it, along with documentation of the cost to the iulawfa [at] indiana [dot] edu (Director of Financial Aid).

Living Allowance

Your budget also includes a living allowance for the 9 months of the academic year, but you determine the amount that is needed.

Many students find that they can live comfortably on about $1,200 or less per month. That would mean that you would want to increase the direct costs by about $10,800 ($1,200 X 9 months) when determining your total costs for the first year of law school.

In considering your monthly expenses, you will want to review your prior educational experiences. In addition to your rent and food, analyze carefully what you spend on entertainment, clothes, dining out, and so on. Do not forget to include car payments, car and health insurance, anticipated car repairs, trips home, and any existing credit card debt.

In order to accommodate those students who have unusually high living expenses resulting from supporting a family or other unusual circumstances, we allow a maximum of up to $2,368 per month. That would mean that you could increase the direct costs by up to $21,312 ($2,368 X 9 months) when determining your total costs for the first year of law school.

Reminder: We will use a budget that includes the maximum living allowance of $21,312 (minus other resources) when determining your eligibility for Federal Financial Aid Programs, but your actual budget may be substantially less. It is imperative that you plan on being able to live on approximately $2,368 or less per month, while enrolled.

Financial Assistance

If you need help financing your law school education, there are three approaches to consider: scholarships, federal loans, and private loans.

Scholarships and Fellowships

Indiana Law offers assistance through scholarship and fellowship programs. We do not require a separate application for scholarships and/or fellowships. Because the majority of our scholarship money is merit-based, we use your application for admission, LSDAS report, personal statement, and letters of recommendation to determine the level of scholarship, if any. Scholarship decisions are usually communicated with the acceptance letter. Indiana Law scholarships are not conditioned upon maintaining a minimum grade point average or standing within the class.

For more detailed information about Indiana Law’s scholarships and fellowships, please contact the Office of Admissions at lawadmis [at] indiana [dot] edu or call (812) 855-4765.

You may also wish to search for scholarships at

Learn about Indiana Law’s Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP).

Federal Assistance

To qualify for federal student aid, you must meet all of the following criteria:

  • Be a citizen or eligible non-citizen of the United States with a valid Social Security Number.
  • Be enrolled at least half-time in an eligible program as a regular student seeking a degree.
  • Have repaid any financial aid for which you were not eligible.
  • Have made satisfactory arrangements to pay off any defaulted student loan.
Alternative Loans

If your ability to attend law school is contingent upon borrowing more than the $20,500 per year through the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan Program, it is critical that you have the good credit required to receive funds through the Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan or another private loan program.

Notification of Your Financial Aid

Generally, if you file your FAFSA by March 10th, you will be sent an electronic notification outlining your financial aid, including loans from the IU Office of Student Financial Assistance by early June. If you decide to borrow federal student loans, you will also receive subsequent instructions on how to complete and sign a Master Promissory Note.

How You Receive Your Money

All student financial assistance, including scholarships and fellowships, is credited to your student account through the IU Office of the Bursar. All charges incurred through the university are covered first, and then a refund for any remaining funds is released to you by the start of each semester or session. To expedite this process, you may wish to consider the Direct Deposit Bursar Refunds, a free service that deposits your financial aid refund directly into the bank account of your choice.

Lifetime Learning Tax Credit

This tax credit is equal to 20 percent of a family’s tuition expenses, up to $10,000 for virtually any post-secondary education and training including graduate and professional schools. The credit is up to $2,000 thereafter. For more information, please call (800) 829-3676 or visit the Internal Revenue Service Web site.