ENTERING STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS

Merit Scholarships

The Office of Admissions awards Dean’s and Faculty merit scholarships to eligible students at the time of admission. Scholarship amounts are stated in the admission offer letter. To maintain eligibility for a Dean’s or Faculty merit scholarship as a continuing (upper-year) student, a student must earn a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or higher in required courses (see scholarship retention criteria below) at the end of each scholarship evaluation period.

Public Interest and Environmental Law Scholars Program

The Office of Admissions also awards Public Interest Scholars Program (PISP) Scholarships and Environmental Law Scholars Program (ELSP) Scholarships to eligible students at the time of admission. PISP and ELSP Scholarship amounts are stated in the admission offer letter. To maintain eligibility for a PISP or ELSP Scholarship as a continuing (upper-year) student, a student must earn a cumulative GPA of 3.00* or higher in required courses (see scholarship retention criteria below) at the end of each scholarship evaluation period.

*Students that started law school prior to Fall 2016 must earn a cumulative GPA of 2.50 or higher in required courses to maintain eligibility.

California Scholars Program

The Office of Admissions awards California Scholarships to a select number of admitted students who earned their undergraduate degrees at one of California’s public universities (CSU or UC). These scholarships are awarded at the time of admission and are based on the recipients’ academic achievements and contributions to their campus communities. Scholarship amounts are stated in the offer of admission. California Scholarships are one-time, non-renewable scholarships.

Entering student merit scholarships are partially funded by the following scholarship endowments:

• The Anne Marie Bourgeois Memorial Endowed Law Scholarship was established in memory of a 1989 graduate. It is awarded to women students with prior experience in the legal field.
• The Louis Garcia Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund was established in memory of a 1952 graduate and the first Latino judge to serve in San Francisco. The primary objective of this fund is to assist minority students.
• The Diana Richmond Endowed Scholarship Fund for African Americans was funded with a major gift by Diana Richmond, a 1973 graduate and an established family practice lawyer in San Francisco. This award is given to African-American law students.

CONTINUING STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS

After the first year of law school has been completed, students who did not receive a scholarship at the time of admission may be evaluated for a Continuing Merit Scholarship. The awarding of these scholarships is at the discretion of the law school’s Scholarship Committee and dependent on the availability of funds. Specific information regarding merit scholarship eligibility for continuing students will be outlined in the Student Handbook. Prior to matriculation, admitted students are encouraged to contact the Financial Aid Office (Law FAO) with any questions regarding the law school’s merit scholarship programs and eligibility requirements.

Continuing student scholarships are partially funded by the following scholarship endowments:

• The Leon A. and Esther F. Blum Foundation Loan and Scholarship Program provides financial aid to worthy students attending accredited law schools in San Francisco.
• The Lawrence A. Cowen Scholarship Fund, created by a bequest from one of the School of Law’s earliest graduates, provides scholarships to students based on financial need and other factors.

SCHOLARSHIP RETENTION CRITERIA

For purposes of all institutional scholarships, the scholarship evaluation period occurs at the conclusion of each spring semester. Any student who receives an Incomplete in a required course or is granted a leave of absence from law school will not be evaluated for scholarship eligibility until all required courses have been completed. This might jeopardize the total amount of scholarship a student is able to receive. Please refer to the Academic Standards section of the Student Handbook for a complete list of required courses that are considered in order to determine a student’s cumulative grade point average (GPA) in required courses.

At the end of the first year, or during any subsequent evaluation period, if a student fails to achieve the necessary cumulative GPA in required courses and loses his or her scholarship, there will not be an opportunity for re-evaluation. Once forfeited, institutional scholarships cannot be regained at a later time.

Institutional scholarships will be applied against tuition for courses taken at GGU Law during the fall and spring semesters, so long as students are enrolled in the full or part-time program and maintain their scholarship eligibility. Dean’s scholarship recipients and students in the first-year Honors Lawyering Program (HLP) who maintain their entering merit scholarship after the scholarship evaluation period will have their scholarship retroactively applied toward their summer tuition charges. Changes in a student’s program or enrollment status will result in a re-evaluation of the scholarship award, but will not extend the terms or increase the amount of the scholarship. At no time may a student receive a scholarship in an amount that exceeds the student’s tuition expenses for a given semester.

Continued scholarship eligibility is communicated by Law FAO in mid-June every year after spring semester grades have been posted. All institutional scholarships are applied against tuition for courses taken at GGU Law. Students may not use institutional scholarship funds to pay tuition at other law schools or other schools within Golden Gate University. A student who graduates early or chooses to visit away may forfeit a portion of the scholarship award. Questions about scholarships should be directed to the Director of Financial Aid, Gabriela De la Vega at 415-442-6635 or via email at gdelavega@ggu.edu.

Required Courses Considered in the GPA Evaluation

For students matriculating in the fall 2021 semester, the following criteria will be considered to determine scholarship eligibility after the first scholarship evaluation period. Any student who receives an Incomplete in a required course listed below or is granted a leave of absence from law school, will not be evaluated for scholarship eligibility until all required courses have been completed. This might jeopardize the total amount of scholarship that a student is eligible to receive.

Entering Full-time Students: Must enroll in a total of 30 units during the fall 2021 and spring 2022 semesters. However, evaluation for scholarship eligibility as a continuing student will be based on the cumulative grade point average achieved in the following courses only (28 units):

Please note that in addition to the 28 required units listed above, full-time students must also enroll in a 2-unit first-year Lawyering Elective during their first spring semester. The grade received in the 2-unit course will NOT be considered for purposes of determining scholarship eligibility as a continuing student.

JD Flex Students: Must enroll in a total of 24 units during the fall 2021, spring 2022 and summer 2022 semesters. However, evaluation for scholarship eligibility as a continuing student will be based on the cumulative grade point average achieved in the following courses only (22 units):

Please note that in addition to the 22 required units listed above, JD Flex students must also enroll in a 2-unit first-year Lawyering Elective during their first spring semester. The grade received in the 2-unit course will NOT be considered for purposes of determining scholarship eligibility as a continuing student.

SCHOLARSHIP RETENTION STATISTICS

GGU Law is committed to providing all students with clear and up to date information about our scholarship policies. The chart below outlines the merit and conditional scholarship retention statistics for the fall 2019, 2018 and 2017 entering classes.

Among members of the fall 2019 entering class, 75 of 129 new students (58.1%) enrolled with a merit scholarship. Of these, 49 were awarded “conditional” scholarships, the retention of which is dependent upon maintaining a minimum grade point average other than that ordinarily required to remain in good academic standing.

Entering scholarships range from partial-tuition to full-tuition and have retention criteria that must be met at the end of each evaluation period for the student to be eligible to renew the scholarship for the following year. Entering students are notified of the specific scholarship retention criteria in their letter of admission.

While entering student scholarships are awarded according to potential demonstrated in the application file, scholarships for continuing students are based on academic performance in the first year of law school.

According to their academic achievement during the first year of law school:

• Some students might have their entering scholarship eliminated or reduced
• Some students might have the amount of their entering scholarship increased
• Some students who did not qualify for an entering scholarship might be awarded a new merit scholarship as a continuing student

Every admissions cycle is different, just as every student’s experience, ability and motivation are unique. The law school’s merit scholarship policies are also subject to change from year to year. If you have been admitted and offered a conditional scholarship, we strongly encourage you to have a conversation with a professional staff member in admissions or financial aid about the terms and conditions of your scholarship award. Our contact information is below.

Office of Admissions
415-442-6630
lawadmit@ggu.edu

Office of Financial Aid
415-442-6635
lawfao@ggu.edu

Golden Gate University administers several donor-based and endowed scholarship funds that are distributed to continuing JD students based on specific award criteria. These scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis and an application is required. Special scholarship applications are open from May 15 through June 15 every year. JD Students are eligible to apply for special scholarships as they enter their second, third, or fourth year of law school. Scholarship recipients are notified of their award by July 15th. Scholarships will be applied towards a student’s tuition charges for the subsequent Fall and Spring terms, depending on their academic program.

ELIGIBILITY AND INSTRUCTIONS

Special scholarships are available to upper-division JD students for the 2024 – 2025 academic year who will have completed at least 24 units before the start of fall 2024 semester. Students receiving a full-tuition scholarship are not eligible to receive a Special Scholarship. A few of the donors have asked that their gifts be restricted to students who meet certain criteria. A scholarship committee will review all applications and select scholarship recipients. Special Scholarship Awardees are required to submit a ‘thank you” note to the donor(s) to the financial aid office prior to the award being posted on to their student account. Failure to do so will forfeit the award.

To be considered for our Special Scholarships, you must:

• Submit a completed online application by the scholarship deadline of June 15th.
• The application will require you to submit a short essay not to exceed 500 words where you should:
  • Describe your financial need.
  • Describe your academic achievement/improvement during law school.
  • Describe any special circumstances you would like the scholarship committee to consider when reviewing your application.
• Some scholarships will require you to submit a supplemental essay addressing a specific prompt as indicated below.
• You will need to attach a resume that includes a summary of your work, school and extracurricular activities.
• Complete your Special Scholarships Application Here.  Note: You will need to login using your GGU credentials to access the application form.

AVAILABLE SCHOLARSHIPS

The Alumni Association Endowed Scholarship is awarded to a law student who has demonstrated leadership and is in the top fifteen percent of their class. The selection committee may also consider financial need.

The Frederick W. Bradley Endowed Scholarship named for a 1966 graduate of the School of Law, is awarded solely on the basis of financial need.

The Phillip Burton Endowed Law Scholarship named in memory of the former US congressman and 1953 School of Law graduate, is awarded on the basis of financial need.

The Linda Caputo Memorial Scholarship was established by the friends, family, law school faculty, and classmates of Linda Caputo, who graduated from the School of Law in 1987 and had spina bifida. This scholarship is awarded to a student who has overcome significant obstacles to obtain a legal education. An additional essay is required to be considered for this scholarship.

The Martin S. Cohen Endowed Memorial Scholarship named for a former student, is awarded to a Jewish student with demonstrated financial need and good academic standing.

The Kevin J. Connell JD Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund was established in memory of a third-year student who died in spring 1995. The scholarship is awarded to a student in good academic standing with demonstrated financial need, with preference given to veterans of the US Armed Forces.

The Bita Darybari Scholarship is available to International women pursuing a law degree born in Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine (Gaza Strip and West Bank), Pakistan, Qatar, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan or Yemen must reside in or outside of the U.S. Students will describe how they had overcome significant obstacles as a woman and how they would advocate for women’s rights facing discrimination due to cultural differences and unfair practices. An additional essay is required to be considered for this scholarship.

The William Enderlein Endowed Scholarship was established to recognize international students seeking a professional position in management. An additional essay is required to be considered for this scholarship.

The Environmental Law Scholarship is awarded to a student who has completed their second year of law school and has a demonstrated commitment to, and record of, achievement in environmental law. An additional essay is required to be considered for this scholarship.

The Marie Galanti Scholarship is named for a 2003 graduate who enrolled in law school at the age of 55. It is awarded to women law students with academic merit, financial need and who are pursuing a change of career. Preference is given to students who are interested in estate planning, intellectual property or international law. An additional essay is required to be considered for this scholarship.

The Helen A. and John A. Gorfinkel Endowed Scholarship was established in memory of John Gorfinkel, a former professor and dean, and is awarded on the basis of financial need and academic achievement.

The Handlery Endowed Scholarship is awarded to students who have demonstrated community involvement in support of the school’s mission.

The Richard W. Johnson Memorial Endowed Scholarship was created and funded by classmates and friends of a 1965 graduate of the School of Law. This scholarship, given to a student who has shown great academic improvement since starting law school, is awarded at the start of a student’s third year.

The Paul S. Jordan Endowed Law Scholarship is named for a School of Law faculty member, dean, and university trustee. Preference is given to students who demonstrate scholastic excellence and financial need.

The Hugh Geoffrey Major Endowed Women’s Law Scholarship was established by Patricia Carson (Class of 1952) and named for her son. The scholarship is awarded to women students with financial need and good academic standing.

The Masud Mehran Endowed Fellowship is named for a former member of the University Board of Trustees. The fellowship is awarded to students in good academic standing with demonstrated financial need. Preference is given to individuals displaying entrepreneurial spirit and initiative. An additional essay is required to be considered for this scholarship.

The Anthony J. Pagano Dean’s Merit Scholarship, named for a former dean of the School of Law (1988-1998), is awarded at the discretion of the current dean to a law student with financial need who demonstrates outstanding achievement in law school.

The Roderick S. Polentz Memorial Endowed Scholarship, established in 2005 by a generous gift from the Polentz family, is named in memory of a 1984 alumnus and is awarded to an evening law student.

The Joseph R. and June B. Rensch Endowed Scholarship is awarded to upper-division students on the basis of financial need, academic achievement, and potential for business leadership. An additional essay is required to be considered for this scholarship.

The Kathryn E. Ringgold Endowed Scholarship is awarded to a student with demonstrated financial need and solid academic standing, with preference given to women or African Americans.

The Catherine Sherburne-Thompson Endowed Scholarship Fund is named in memory of a 1956 School of Law graduate and its first female faculty member. This fund provides assistance to a part-time woman student in her third or fourth year.

The Professor James B. Smith Memorial Endowed Scholarship is given to a part-time woman student with significant financial need or to an older student of any gender.

The Michael A. Zamperini/W. Clay Burchell Endowed Scholarship is awarded to a gay or lesbian law student who is beginning his or her final fall semester. This scholarship is awarded based on overall academic achievement and academic performance in the Writing & Research courses. An additional essay is required to be considered for this scholarship.

The Joseph and Ruth Zukor Memorial Scholarship was endowed by Ruth Zukor in memory of her husband, who graduated from the School of Law in 1956. This scholarship is awarded to students who have demonstrated financial need and are in good academic standing.

We encourage all students to research outside private scholarship opportunities for entering law students through state or local bar associations, ethnic or cultural membership organizations, or local chambers of commerce. Many national and local organizations are eager to recognize promising law and graduate students with scholarship awards. Law FAO receives information on outside private scholarships available to upper division JD students. Information on these scholarships is available in the weekly student newsletter Law School News (LSN). Students receiving scholarships from external sources should report them to Law FAO as they must be considered as part of the aid package.

Outside scholarship opportunities that Law FAO has been made aware of are listed below. Scholarship opportunities are listed for informational purposes only. The listing of scholarship does not represent the endorsement of any organization.

Farzad Family Law Scholarship

Open to: All law students.
Award: $1,500
Deadline: 12/15/2016
More Information

Law Offices of Adam Perlmutter Scholarship

Open to: All college students.
Award: $3,500
Deadline: 12/31/2014
More Information

St. Thomas More Society of San Francisco Scholarship

Open to: All law students at GGU, Hastings, USF, and SF Law Schools
Award: $2,000
Deadline: 01/16/2017
More Information

TUITION BENEFITS FOR QUALIFYING VETERANS

• Chapter 1606 Montgomery GI Bill®: Selected Reserve
• Chapter 30 Montgomery GI Bill®: Active Duty
• Chapter 31 Veterans Affairs Vocational Rehabilitation
• Chapter 32 Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP)
• Chapter 33 Post 9/11 Tuition/Fees & Yellow Ribbon Program
• Chapter 35 Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance

YELLOW RIBBON PROGRAM

Golden Gate University has been a proud member of the Yellow Ribbon Program since its inception in August 2009.

Golden Gate University is in the top 20% nationwide of colleges and universities who have committed to a large dollar grant to the Yellow Ribbon Program for our country’s veterans to start or complete their educational goals.

GGU Law’s Yellow Ribbon Program provides qualifying veteran students with matching grants that cover 100% of tuition. Many law schools have a cap on the number of student veterans they admit through the Yellow Ribbon Program, but GGU Law does not. We are committed to building a strong veteran community here and in the Bay Area.

HOW IT WORKS

• The Veteran must submit their DD 214 and all pages of their COE (Certificate of Eligibility) to the University Financial Aid Office.
• The Veteran must be fully admitted to GGU (either full admission or conditional admission) and enrolled in classes.
• The Veteran’s Administration provides each eligible Veteran, who has 100% of Chapter 33 benefits, $22,805.34 for academic year 2017 – 2018 (fall, spring and summer).
• Once the $22,805.34 is used up, GGU provides a grant of up to 50% of tuition costs (not to exceed $14,000 per trimester).
• The Veterans Administration matches the other 50%.
• An eligible Veteran may incur no tuition costs out of pocket.

GGU tuition discounts and/or scholarships/grants are applied towards a portion of tuition costs only and may not be on top of the Post 9/11 and Yellow Ribbon. Students may not receive GGU tuition discounts and/or GGU scholarships/grants on top of the 100% tuition coverage by the Post 9/11 and Yellow Ribbon benefits.

Merit scholarships awarded by GGU Law will be applied to tuition costs only. The combination of a merit scholarship, VA tuition benefit, and GGU Law’s Yellow Ribbon grant may not exceed the total cost of tuition. Eligible students should contact our VA certifying official as soon as possible to receive a comprehensive review of how VA benefits may assist with tuition and to initiate the certification of enrollment to the Veterans Administration. We can be reached by phone at 415-442-7283 or via email at va@ggu.edu.

The Veterans Administration determines the Veterans eligibility and issues a Certificate of Eligibility which must be submitted to GGU by the Veteran.

TO DETERMINE YOUR ELIGIBILITY

Visit the GI Bill® Website: www.gibill.va.gov or call 1-888-442-4551

*Students applying for VA benefits are strongly encouraged to review any possible changes to VA benefits at www.gibill.va.gov as benefits may change at any time without prior notice.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Website at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

MORE INFORMATION

Contact GGU Law’s VA Certifying Officer:

Office of Financial Aid

• 415-442-7283
• va@ggu.edu

In determining a student’s cost of attendance (COA)/Budget, Law FAO includes direct expenses (tuition and fees) and indirect expenses (room and board, books and supplies, transportation, and personal/miscellaneous expenses). A student may not receive aid above the total COA. The School of Law reserves the right to adjust the rate for tuition and fees prior to the beginning of each semester.

*For JD Full Time – 12 units per semester (24 units for 9 months at $1,750 per unit)
*For JD FLEX – 9 units per semester (18 units for 9 months at $1,750 per unit)
*For LLM – 4 units per semester (8 units for 9 months at $1,860 per unit)
*For LLM TAX – 4 units per semester (8 units for 8 months at $1,860 per unit)
*For SJD Residency – Flat Tuition for 9 months
*For SJD Candidacy – Flat Tuition for 9 months

The COA/budget allocations are as follows*:

• Students enrolled for their first year of law school receive a nine-month budget.
• Students enrolled in summer classes at GGU receive a two month budget for summer and a nine month budget for fall and spring.
• Students enrolled in summer classes at GGU and graduating in December, receive a two month budget for summer and a four-month budget for the fall semester.
• Students enrolled for only one semester (fall or spring) at GGU receive a four-month budget.
• Students studying abroad will have an adjusted budget to reflect the cost of their study-abroad program.

In order to determine how much to borrow, students will need to complete a budget worksheet to identify their need. Students will want to compare their individual expenses to the financial resources available. Please be sure to identify and include all (non-loan) financial resources available, such as savings and/or gifts from family, scholarships, and summer employment (after the first year of school). Students are strongly encouraged to be conservative when evaluating their financial needs while in school, especially if relying on loans to meet those needs.

We strongly encourage all students to check their credit reports. A free credit report may be obtained annually from each of the three major credit reporting agencies at www.annualcreditreport.com. Checking credit reports prior to applying for student loans will allow students to correct any discrepancies or delinquencies ahead of time.

In order to be eligible for federal student aid, a student must:

• Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at www.fafsa.ed.gov;
• Be admitted and/or enrolled in the School of Law (at least on a half-time basis);
• Be a US citizen or permanent resident or have an eligible alien status;
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress;
• Have registered with the selective service, if required by federal law;
• Not be in default on any Title IV loan nor owe a refund on any Title IV grant.

If selected for verification, students may be asked to submit additional information. Law FAO will notify students if any additional documentation is needed. Law FAO must have a student’s FAFSA on file in order to package a student for financial aid. Our school code is 001205.

FIRST TIME AID RECIPIENTS

Entrance loan counseling is mandatory for all aid recipients who participate in the federal loan program. All first-time aid recipients at the School of Law must complete online entrance counseling prior to the certification of federal loans by Law FAO. To complete online entrance counseling, please log onto www.studentloans.gov. Make sure to select the graduate/professional entrance counseling option. After you complete the entrance counseling, our office will be notified electronically.

DEFERMENT OF STUDENT LOANS

Federal student loans disbursed during a student’s tenure at GGU Law, as well as federal loans a student may have received during prior studies are eligible for in-school deferment of payments as long as the student remains enrolled at least half-time. Federal loan servicers will be notified of students’ enrollment via the National Student Clearinghouse. If loans are not automatically placed into deferment by the servicer, a student may request an in-school deferment form from the loan servicer. Enrollment verification can be completed by the Law Registrar’s Office. Students may also download an enrollment verification form from the Clearinghouse via GGU4YOU: under the Enrollment heading, choose the Registration link. Private lenders may offer an in-school deferment period as well. Please contact the lender directly regarding instructions for requesting a deferment of loan payments. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that any educational or student loans are placed in deferment.

Federal Work Study (FWS) is a federally funded student financial aid program. The FWS program is designed to provide work experience while helping students offset the cost of education. Through this program, federal funds are used to pay a portion of the student’s salary and the employer is responsible for the remainder. GGU Law is proud to offer the Public Interest Work Study program, which assists employers who cannot pay their share of the student’s salary.

FWS is limited; funding is awarded at the discretion of Law FAO with priority given to students who meet the FAFSA priority deadline and demonstrate financial need as defined by the federal processor and the University. Accepting FWS reduces a students’ debt by allowing the student to earn a portion of the aid package rather than borrowing a loan. Upon being awarded FWS, students will need to complete additional forms before the placement may begin.

Over the last few years, the Federal Stafford Loan Program has undergone several changes. Loan terms and conditions may vary, depending on the loan period or when the loan was first disbursed to the school/borrower. Therefore, a borrower’s portfolio may have different educational loans with various terms, interest rates, repayment incentives, etc. We encourage all borrowers to closely review the terms of their respective loans. We encourage borrowers to keep copies of all loan documents, including promissory notes and disclosure statements. If you need copies of them, please contact your loan servicing agencies or the Department of Education (DOE) for assistance in obtaining the appropriate documents.

Listed below are some of the most recent changes to the Federal Stafford Loan Program affecting federal loans students will be receiving for the 2019 – 2020 year and beyond. If you have any questions, please let us know.

• Effective July 1, 2007: the combined annual loan limit for Stafford Loans is $20,500;
• Effective July 1, 2010: Stafford Loans are funded by the Department of Education (DOE). With this change, Stafford Loans are now referred to as the William D. Ford Direct Loan Program;
• Effective July 1, 2012: Stafford/Direct Loans (made for loan periods beginning on or after July 1, 2012) will no longer be subsidized. The terms and conditions of Stafford/Direct Subsidized Loans received by a borrower for loan periods prior to July 1, 2012 are not affected by this change. Also, Stafford/Direct Loan Borrower Repayment Incentives are terminated and no longer available for new Direct Loans made beginning on or after July 1, 2012.The terms and conditions of any repayment incentives on loans received by a borrower for loan periods prior to July 1, 2012 are not affected by this change. These changes were the result of The Budget Control Act (BCA) of 2011 (Pub. L. 112-25) signed into law on August 2, 2011.
• Effective July 1, 2013: Changes to origination fees and interest rates on Stafford and Grad PLUS loans, as detailed below.

UNSUBSIDIZED STAFFORD LOAN

The Direct Unsubsidized Loan is a deferred payment loan funded by the DOE with a fixed interest rate (see below). Interest begins to accrue at the time of disbursement. Repayment of the loan begins six (6) months after the borrower graduates, leaves school, or drops below half-time enrollment. Payment of interest may be deferred during this time. However, any interest accrual will be added to the principal borrowed and increase the amount on which future interest is calculated.

Federal loans are funded by a combination of loan origination fees and interest paid by the borrower. The Direct Stafford loan fees are as follows:

Origination Fees:

• Loans first disbursed on or after 10/1/2017 and before 10/01/2018 – 1.066%
• Loans first disbursed on or after 10/1/2018 and before 10/01/2019 – 1.062%

Interest Rates:

• Loans first disbursed prior to 7/1/2016 — 5.84% (fixed)
• Loans first disbursed on or after 7/1/2016 — 5.31% (fixed)

Please Note:

• The annual maximum loan limit in the Direct Unsubsidized Loan Program is $20,500;
• The lifetime aggregate Stafford/Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loan Program limit is $138,500 per borrower.

To accept a Direct Unsubsidized Loan, students must log onto www.studentloans.gov to complete and sign the Direct/Stafford Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN) electronically (if an MPN is not already on file) prior to Law FAO certifying student loans.

SUBSIDIZED STAFFORD LOAN

As of July 1, 2012, graduate students are no longer eligible to receive a Subsidized Stafford loan.

The Direct PLUS Loan is a deferred payment loan funded by the DOE available to credit-worthy students in addition to the Direct Stafford Unsubsidized Loan. The Direct PLUS loan has a fixed interest rate (see below). Interest begins to accrue at the time of disbursement. Direct PLUS loans do not have a grace period. However, repayment of the loan and interest can be deferred to six (6) months after the borrower graduates, leaves school, or drops below half-time enrollment. If interest payments are deferred, they are added to the principal borrowed and increase the amount on which future interest is calculated.

Federal loans are funded by a combination of loan origination fees and interest paid by the borrower. The Direct PLUS Stafford loan fees are as follows:

Origination fees:

• Loans first disbursed on or after 7/1/2014 and before 6/30/2015 — 4.292%
• Loans first disbursed on or after 7/1/2015 and before 6/30/2016 — 4.272%

Interest rates:

• Loans first disbursed prior to 7/1/2018 – 6% (fixed)
• Loans first disbursed on or after 7/1/2018 — 6.6% (fixed)

Please note:

To accept a Direct PLUS Loan, students must log onto www.studentloans.gov to complete and sign a Direct PLUS Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN) electronically (if an MPN is not already on file) prior to Law FAO certifying student loans. Also, a student must complete and submit the Additional Loan Eligibility Request Form. The form may be emailed (signed and scanned), faxed, mailed, or hand delivered in person to Law FAO. Please note that by requesting a Direct PLUS loan, a student is authorizing the DOE to run a credit check for final loan approval. Specific credit information is not released to the Financial Aid Office.

Private loans are not guaranteed through the federal government and are based on an individual’s credit rating. Lenders often have different variable interest rates, repayment schedules, and loan approval criteria. Some lenders offer interest rate reductions, principal reductions, or other borrower benefits that may reduce the cost of the loan. As a general rule, interest starts to accrue from the moment funds are disbursed to the school. Most private loans have a six (6) or nine (9) month grace period after graduation or once enrollment falls below half-time. Law FAO recommends students read all private loan applications in their entirety before selecting a lender or accepting a private loan.

In order to accept a private loan, students will need visit the lender’s website and complete, sign, and submit a private loan Promissory Note prior to certification by Law FAO. Please do not initiate this process until advised to do so by Law FAO. Students will also need to complete and submit the Additional Loan Eligibility Request Form. The form may be emailed (signed and scanned), faxed, mailed, or hand delivered in person to Law FAO.

All students who receive financial aid must maintain financial aid satisfactory academic progress. Golden Gate University is required to periodically evaluate students’ progress toward degree completion. Note that this financial aid evaluation is separate and distinct from the law school’s evaluation for academic standing.

GGU’s Satisfactory Academic Progress policy evaluates students’ qualitative progress (GPA) and their quantitative progress (courses completed) as follows:

• Qualitative (GPA) Measure of Progress
• Quantitative Measure of Progress
• Financial Aid Warning
• Financial Aid Probation & Appeals
• Reinstatement

Qualitative (GPA) Measure of Progress

All financial aid recipients must demonstrate a certain level of academic achievement, as measured by the cumulative overall and cumulative required course grade point averages (GPAs). Please refer to section C in the Academic Standards section of the Student Handbook for the list of courses that are considered in order to determine a student’s required course GPA.

The following GPAs represent the minimum cumulative GPAs needed to maintain financial aid eligibility:

• All JD degree programs (after two semesters): Overall: 2.00; Required Courses: 2.30
• All LLM degree programs (after eight or more units): 2.50
• SJD degree program: 3.00

Quantitative (GPA) Measure of Progress

All students receiving financial aid must successfully complete at least 80% of the units attempted. Attempted units include all graded and transcripted units, all incomplete units, units dropped after the first week of classes or that were not completed, and all transfer units. Completed units are those units for which the student has received grades and degree credit, including all transfer units.

In addition, students must complete at least 70% of the units for which they receive financial aid. A student will not receive degree credit twice for the same course, so a repeated course will not be counted as completed units. Courses taken with audit status are not included in either the number of units attempted or the number of units completed. Likewise, courses taken in “Open Enrollment” status are not included unless those courses are subsequently applied toward a degree program. Satisfactory progress always measures what has happened in prior terms, so all registration and enrollment activity for the current term is excluded from the evaluations.

All students on financial aid must complete their degree programs within 150% of the minimum required units for the degree (rounded up to the nearest whole number of units). For example, the JD degree program requires 88 units for graduation. Students may attempt 132 units toward this degree before becoming ineligible for financial aid.

Financial Aid Warning

A student who falls below either measure (qualitative or quantitative) will be placed automatically on “financial aid warning” (FAW) for one semester. (Note that financial aid warning/probation is completely separate from academic probation as described in the “Academic Standards” chapter of the Student Handbook. A student may be placed on FAW independent of his or her academic standing.) A student who has not met the minimum GPA requirements will have one warning semester to raise his or her GPA up to the minimum required level. A student who does not achieve the 80% completion rate will have one warning semester to raise his or her completion rate back up to 80%. A student on FAW will not be eligible to receive funding in a subsequent semester until he or she has met the minimum requirements to be removed from FAW. Funding for a subsequent semester may be certified but funds will be held until eligibility is cleared. If a student regains satisfactory standing at the end of this period, he or she will be removed from FAW, and any pending aid will be released. If, at the end of the warning semester, the student fails to gain satisfactory standing, the student’s financial aid will be canceled. Students are allowed only one warning period. Students who drop below the minimum progress requirements a second time will not be given a second warning period, and their financial aid will be subject to immediate cancellation.

Financial Aid Probation & Appeals

Students who are unable to regain satisfactory academic standing at the end of a warning period or whose financial aid is otherwise subject to cancellation have the right to petition for a probationary period. Students who feel that there were truly exceptional and/or unavoidable circumstances that prevented them from meeting the eligibility requirements should submit a letter of appeal to the School of Law Assistant Director of Financial Aid, stating in detail the basis of their appeal, along with any supporting documentation. Supporting documentation must be detailed and specific and must provide information about the student’s ability to continue in their program. The Assistant Director of Financial Aid will then make a recommendation to the Law School Financial Aid Committee for a final decision. The student will be notified of the decision in writing.

Reinstatement

If an appeal is approved and the student receives aid for an additional semester, the student becomes ineligible for further aid if the student does not meet the minimum requirements needed to be removed from Financial Aid Probation. A student whose financial aid is canceled after he or she fails to maintain financial aid satisfactory academic progress must regain satisfactory standing in order for his or her eligibility for financial aid to be reinstated. This can be done in one of two ways: the student can raise his or her cumulative GPA to the minimum required for the student’s degree program, or the student can increase his or her completed-to-attempted units percentage by transferring-in additional units from another institution.

A student who is returning to Golden Gate University after being academically disqualified will be evaluated on a term-by-term basis at the end of every term. In this case, a student’s evaluation for financial aid satisfactory academic progress will be based on the term GPA and not on the student’s cumulative GPA.

Financial aid is available to students planning on taking classes during summer. Summer is the beginning of the each financial aid year. Student budgets will be increased by the program in which they are participating over the summer (HLP, STEP, GGU’s summer session, etc).

To be eligible for summer aid, students must:

• Be enrolled in at least half-time for the summer term (3 units for JD students, 2 units for LLM students);
• Complete the FAFSA for the upcoming aid year at www.fafsa.ed.gov;

Please note:

• Students who drop below the minimum unit requirement after the funds have been disbursed will have their fall and spring eligibility reduced by the amount of aid they received for summer.
• Students currently on financial aid warning who are planning on taking summer classes are required to meet with a financial aid counselor upon submitting the summer financial aid application. In no circumstance will determination of eligibility and disbursement of summer funds happen prior to the middle of June.

JD/PHD

Students in the JD/PHD program may receive aid through our office for the first summer after their first full year of law school at GGU. All future aid/eligibility will be determined by the Pacific Graduate School of Psychology.

COST OF ATTENDANCE

Please be advised this information is intended to help students plan their budgets/expenses. In determining a student’s cost of attendance (COA)/budget, the FAO includes direct expenses (tuition and fees) and indirect expenses (room and board, books and supplies, transportation, and personal/miscellaneous expenses). When packaging students for the entire year, enrollment assumptions are made based on the program they are enrolled in (FT/PT, HLP, STEP, Paris, MBA, etc). If your plans change, please notify our office as soon as possible so that we are able to re-evaluate your new eligibility. A student may not receive aid above the COA. The School of Law reserves the right to adjust the rate for tuition and fees prior to the beginning of any semester.

The COA/budget allocations are as follows:

• Students enrolled for summer classes at GGU receive a two month budget for summer and a nine month budget for fall and spring.
• Students enrolled for summer classes at GGU and graduating in December receive a two month budget for summer and a four month budget for fall.
• Students enrolled for summer classes at GGU and graduating at the end of summer receive a two month budget for summer.
• Students studying abroad will have an adjusted budget to reflect the cost of their abroad program and enrollment period for that program.

The COA/budget breakdown is as follows:

SUMMER ABROAD/CONSORTIUM STUDENTS

Financial aid for students attending a summer session through another ABA law school (visiting or study abroad) is available. A student’s total eligibility will be determined by the host institution. Due to federal regulations, disbursement of funds will be a few days before the actual start of your summer program. Please plan accordingly and be prepared to cover any expenses prior to receiving funds. Students will need to submit the following documents before an award notice can be generated:

• completed GGU Financial Aid Consortium Agreement;
• acceptance letter from the university/program you are attending;
• copy of your approved Transfer of Units form;
• be enrolled at least half time as defined by the host school.

FEDERAL WORK STUDY/SUMMER EMPLOYMENT

If you will be participating in a summer apprenticeship or internship for which you will not be receiving class/course credit you may be eligible to receive Federal Work Study (FWS). FWS is a federally funded student financial aid program that enables students to earn money while pursuing an education. The work study program was designed to provide work experience while helping students offset the cost of education. Through this program, federal funds are used to pay a portion of the student’s salary. Golden Gate University School of Law offers the Public Interest Work Study (PIWS) program to help employers that cannot pay their portion. In this program, GGU pays the portion the employer would typically contribute.

To be eligible for FWS, students must:

• Complete the FAFSA for the upcoming aid year;
• Demonstrate financial need as determined by the federal processor and GGU School of Law;
• Submit a Summer Financial Aid Application;
• Submit a FWS Placement Form;
• Complete additional paperwork after being awarded work study.

Please note:

• The amount of work study award is based on a student’s demonstrated financial need as well as on the availability of funds.
• Limited Federal Work-Study (FWS) funds are available for summer.
• Accepting work study will reduce the student’s loan eligibility.
• Priority is given to students that meet the above requirements and will be awarded at the discretion of the financial aid office until funds have been depleted.
• If a student does not take classes during summer but receives FWS funding, the additional loan eligibility will be reduced for the fall and spring semesters.

DISBURSEMENT OF AID

If the aid you accept exceeds your university charges, a refund will be issued via direct deposit to your bank or mailed as a paper check. School policy does not allow students to pick up paper checks. Please note that it sometimes takes the postal service up to seven business days for the delivery of local mail. Please plan accordingly and be prepared to purchase books or cover any other expenses prior to receiving your refund. If your file is completed by the summer priority deadline of May 12, 2023 (April 27, 2023 for Paris and 1st STEP programs), you can expect to have your refund sent to your bank on:

Please be advised it may take up to two business days after this for the funds to post to your bank account. If you are not set up for direct deposit, your refunds will be mailed to the address on GGU4YOU account on the following day after the dates indicated above. Please plan accordingly and be prepared to purchase books or cover any other expenses prior to receiving your refund.

DIRECT DEPOSITS

If you have not already done so, we recommend you sign up for direct deposit through GGU4YOU to expedite financial aid refunds. Under the Student tab, choose the Finances heading. Click on Bank Information and enter the required banking information. For additional assistance regarding direct deposits, please contact Student Accounts at sas@ggu.edu or 415-442-7839, option #4.

EXIT LOAN COUNSELING

Students who accept a federal loan (Perkins, Stafford, and/or Grad PLUS loans) will be required to complete exit loan counseling upon graduation, dropping below half-time enrollment, taking a leave of absence, or any other separation from GGU Law. Instructions for completing exit loan counseling will be provided to students during their last semester before graduation or immediately upon notification of intent to separate from GGU Law. Exit loan counseling is mandatory for every student who obtains a federal loan while attending GGU Law.

BAR LOANS

Graduating students may find themselves with additional financial need for the costs associated with taking the Bar exam and to help cover living expenses during the bar exam study period immediately after graduation. Bar loans are private educational loans offered by lenders. They are not guaranteed by the federal government as Stafford and Graduate PLUS loans are.

Private Bar Loans:

• are additional funding beyond what you may have received for the regular school year;
• are credit-based (criteria is determined by the lender);
• start accruing interest at the time of disbursement;
• vary in loan amount, interest rate, credit criteria, and grace period after graduation;
• are mailed directly to the student;
• are not guaranteed by the federal government, and so it is the lender’s choice to continue offering this funding.

To apply for a bar loan, contact the lenders directly. We encourage you to review all loan programs before choosing a lender. Follow the lender’s instructions to apply, complete, and sign your promissory note. Next, contact Law FAO at lawfao@ggu.edu to let us know that you have initiated the bar loan process and the name of the lender you selected. We will, at that point, make sure that the loan is certified. Please note that our office will certify only one loan from one company, regardless of the loan amount you receive.

The private lenders currently offering BAR loans are:

• Lender: Discover Student Loans
  Maximum loan amount: $ 16,000
  Repayment term: Up to 20 years

• Lender: PNC Bank (Campus Door)
  Maximum loan amount: $15,000
  Repayment term: Up to 15 years

• Lender: Sallie Mae
  Maximum loan amount: $15,000
  Repayment term: Up to 15 years

GGU School of Law Bar Exam Prep Loan

Golden Gate University has a school sponsored bar loan program to assist eligible JD students who have not been able to secure a private bar loan and are taking the California bar exam for the first time. Funding is limited to cover up to the total cost of a bar review course through our partner, Themis, plus reasonable living expenses. Loans are awarded on a first come, first served basis. Funding is limited and students may not be awarded the entire amount they request.

To be eligible, a JD student must complete an application, and:

• be sitting for the California Bar Exam for the first time;
• have been denied a private bar loan through two of the private lenders within 30 days of applying for the GGU BAR loan (attach copy of denial letters with the application);
• be in good standing with the university (have no prior outstanding balance with GGU);
• submit proof of registration and payment for the bar review course;
• submit a brief statement explaining the need for funding;
• meet with our bar services department and submit a statement indicating you have developed a bar study plan for the upcoming exam. For more information, please contact Iris Fugate at ifugate@ggu.edu;
• schedule a one-on-one exit counseling appointment with Jeff Hanson to review your financial aid/loan repayment. Email lawfao@ggu.edu to do so;
• complete items 3, 4 and 5 of the second page and submit the additional documents with this application.

Download Application
Please note, incomplete applications or those missing the required documentation will not be considered.

GENERAL INFORMATION

• Financial Aid Information for First Year JD Students
• Financial Aid Information for Upper Division JD Students
• Financial Aid Information for LLM / SJD Students

BUDGETING WORKSHEETS

• Financial Aid Budgeting Worksheet for New JD / LLM / SJD Students
• Financial Aid Budgeting Worksheet for Upper Division JD / LLM / SJD Students

FEDERAL WORK STUDY

• FWS Placement Form for Law Students

CONSORTIUM AGREEMENTS

• Consortium Agreement Form

COMPUTER REIMBURSEMENT

• Computer Budget Increase Request Form