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Financial Services

There are many resources to assist you in financing your Saint Louis University legal education, including scholarships, loans and work opportunities.

SLU LAW emails new student aid offers beginning on March 1 annually. A FAFSA is not required to receive merit-based aid from SLU. A FAFSA will help SLU determine your federal aid eligibility, such as a federal student loan or work-study. Our school code is 002506. SLU does not require parental information on your FAFSA.

Financial Checklist for Law Students

  1. Apply for scholarships. These come in two forms: institutional and private. The Office of Admission awards institutional scholarships based on merit. If you did not receive a scholarship from the Office of Admission, the dean of the School of Law has developed the Dean's Honor Scholarship, to which you can apply after completing your first year of law school. Search for private scholarships using AccessLex’s Law School Scholarship Databank.
  2. Maximize employer tuition benefits. Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces may utilize their veterans' benefits at SLU. Full-time SLU employees also receive up to 18 hours of tuition remission per academic year. Other employers in the St. Louis area may also reimburse tuition expenses.
  3. Consider income sources. If you attend full-time, we encourage you to focus on school during your first year, but we know that income opportunities exist while you’re in law school. Federal work-study jobs may provide an hourly rate of pay and a bi-weekly paycheck. Other income sources unique to law students could include internships and faculty research fellowships. Although income may not cover all of your law school expenses, it can go a long way to paying for your books or groceries.
  4. Review your loan eligibility. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine your eligibility for federal student loans. Include our school code 002506 on your application. Find details about both types of loans(federal and private) here.  Starting July 1, 2026, new borrowers who enroll full-time in the Juris Doctor (J.D.) program can receive up to $50,000 annually in a Federal Direct Unsubsidized loan with aggregate and lifetime limits as well. Legacy provisions for loan limits and the Federal Graduate PLUS Loan exist only for J.D. students who started their program and borrowed a federal loan before July 1, 2026. Read more about federal aid changes. 
  5. Check your credit report. Visit annualcreditreport.com for a free copy of your report from each of the three credit bureaus. Review each report to determine if any credit issues exist and, if so, resolve them before you enter law school. Adverse credit affects your ability to borrow a student loan. Additionally, adverse credit could prevent you from obtaining your professional license in the long term.
  6. Reduce expenses wherever possible. Start by tracking your expenses and making a spending plan. Using free or low-cost software to track your finances can save you time in this endeavor. Also, utilize student discounts. For example, check out computer hardware and software discounts for SLU students.
  7. Ask questions. Visit Jessica Seavers, assistant director of Student Financial Services and Financial Education, in Scott Hall, Room 1008I, call 314-977-3369, email jessica.seavers@slu.edu, or schedule an appointment.

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