Financial Aid | Columbia Law School
Elements of Financial Aid
Law School Grants
Law School grants are credited to your student account automatically by the Financial Aid Office (one-half of the total annual grant each term). Full-time enrollment at Columbia Law School is required.
External Awards
External awards should be deposited to your student account. Most external award checks arrive at the Financial Aid Office. You are required to notify us of any payments that are made directly to you or to your student account. For more detailed information on how external awards may impact your current aid, please refer to the Awards from External Sources webpage.
Federal Perkins Loans
Federal Perkins Loans are credited to your student account, generally one half of the total annual award each term. Full-time enrollment is required. You are also required to sign a Perkins Master Promissory Note the first year you are awarded this funding. The Federal Perkins Loan Confirmation form is required for your first year of law school (1L) and to renew a Perkins loan in subsequent years (2L or 3L). Before Perkins funds can be disbursed, you must complete an Entrance Interview form with the University.
Federal Direct Stafford Loans
Federal Direct Stafford Loans must be used first to pay tuition before being used for living expenses. Accordingly, one-half of the total loan amount, minus any loan origination fees, will be disbursed directly to your student account each term. At least half-time enrollment is required. It is your responsibility to ensure that the Federal Direct Stafford Loan funds are credited to your student account. Before Federal Direct Stafford Loan funds can be disbursed, you must complete Federal Direct Loan Entrance Counseling online at the U.S. Department of Education website.
Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans
Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans must be credited to your student account, one-half of the total annual award each term. At least half-time enrollment is required. The loan funds are transmitted directly into the student’s University account at the beginning of each term. It is your responsibility to ensure that the Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan funds are credited to your student account. Before Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan funds can be disbursed, you must complete Federal Direct Loan Entrance Counseling online at the U.S. Department of Education website.
Private Educational Loans
Private Educational Loans are generally made co-payable to the student and the University, so you must endorse them at the University’s Cashiering window in 209 Kent Hall before they can be credited to your student account. As a rule, the Financial Aid Office requests even disbursements of private educational loan funds: one-half of the total annual loan amount borrowed, minus any origination fees, is disbursed at the beginning of each term. You may contact your lender or our office with regard to your lender’s specific private loan disbursement method. Full-time enrollment is required for most programs. Students wishing to budget their funds over the academic year may request more than two disbursements, or may request an uneven disbursement of funds if they anticipate unusual expenses in either term.