All first-year applicants interested in receiving financial aid must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Forms are available at the law school, at all Rutgers financial aid offices, and at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov, the Federal Student Aid web site. Applications must be submitted by March 15 to ensure full consideration for all available funds. Applicants should request that this information be released to the School of Law-�1D;Newark by listing our Title IV code (#002629) on the form.

Letters announcing financial aid decisions are mailed to all students as soon as possible after admission. Many funds are limited, and awards are made on a first-come, first-served basis. Therefore, there is an advantage to submitting an early, accurate, and complete application. First-year students also are eligible for institutional scholarships. To be considered, applicants must check the appropriate box on the admissions application. No additional documentation is required.

Upper-class students must reapply for financial aid each year by submitting an FAFSA or FAFSA Renewal by March 15. Financial aid packages are reconfigured each year, and awards are based on the university`s budget and on the current financial facts provided by the student. Upper-class students also may apply for any available law school scholarship funds by completing and submitting the law school`s institutional scholarship application in early June of each year. Awards are not automatically renewable and are based on the availability of funds at the law school or the stated selection criteria of each individual fund.

Counseling is available at the law school or by appointment at the university`s financial aid office to all students regardless of whether or not they qualify for financial aid. When comparing aid offers from Rutgers with other institutions, students should remember that charges often differ significantly from school to school. Therefore, the important thing to consider is not the dollar amount of a financial aid offer, but the difference between the total value of the financial aid package awarded by the institution and the cost of attending that institution.