Tuition and Fees
Pre-Enrollment Costs
Prior to enrollment, you can expect the following financial obligations:
- Application Fee. This $60 fee accompanies your initial application for admission. It is a processing charge and is nonrefundable.
- Tuition Deposit. This $150 nonrefundable deposit is applied to your first semester's tuition and ensures you a place in the entering class. The deposit is due one month after the date of admission. A second $150 nonrefundable deposit is due by July 15 for admitted students starting fall term.
Tuition and Fees
Tuition will not be set until early March for 2009-10. Please review current year information at this time.
Matriculation Fee
There is a one-time matriculation fee of $100 that is due the first term of enrollment.
Student Bar Association (SBA) Fee
Every term except summer you will be charged an SBA fee. For academic year 2009-10, the SBA fee will be $33 for enrollment of more than 10 credits or $22 for enrollment of 10 credits or less.
Tuition
While first-year tuition is identical for all students, payment schedules vary depending on the number of credits you take per term. Tuition for the 2009-2010 academic year is $35,340 for 30 credits ($1,178 per credit). Other non-tuition costs (books, room and board, transportation, and other living expenses) average about $17,300 per nine-month academic year. (See Cost of Attendance section below.)
Tuition is paid per term, and determined by the number of credits you are taking. You may pay tuition charges with financial aid, personal resources, and/or employer benefits. If you chose not to use financial aid or have remaining charges after financial aid is applied to your account, you may arrange a payment plan directly with the Law School Business Office, 206.398.4050, or through TuitionPay, an organization that provides an interest-free monthly installment payment plan.
Please see 2009-2010 First-Year Courses and Tuition Schedules for a breakdown of tuition charges for first year students. We are happy to meet with you to discuss your individual financial aid package based on per term charges.
Cost of Attendance
Financial aid is determined by need and cost of attendance. Your financial need is the difference between the cost of your education and your financial ability to pay for it. Your financial need is determined by an analysis of the information provided on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). From this data, a federal calculation determines what you should be able to pay from your own resources. This amount is subtracted from your total cost of education. The difference is your financial need, and the amount we will try to help you meet with the various aid programs. Please note that there are aid programs available that are not need-based.
The cost of attendance includes tuition, books and supplies, room and board, transportation, and personal expenses while enrolled in law school. A standard student budget is comprised of these components, as specified by law, and financial aid cannot exceed the student budget amount. For 2009-2010, the cost of attendance, less tuition and books, averages approximately $16,400 for the nine-month academic year. Unfortunately, your financial lifestyle choices and personal expenses (such as credit card bills and car payments) cannot be included in the student budget. Many students save money by buying used books, sharing housing, and using public transportation.
If there are special financial circumstances, child-care, or one-time major moving expenses associated with attending Seattle University School of Law, with proper documentation, we may be able to increase your cost of attendance within certain limits. An increased student budget ordinarily provides more alternative credit-based loan eligibility.
A helpful resource may be an interactive budgeting worksheet and calculator found online.
Please see 2009-2010 Cost of Attendance to review the cost of attendance breakdown for entering students. Continuing students may use these figures, but need to adjust the tuition figure according to expected credits ($1,124 per credit for summer 2009), $1,178 per credit fall, and raise the book figure to $1,258 ($1,011 for part-time).
Computers
If you decide to purchase or lease a computer and need financial aid assistance, be sure to keep your receipt and documentation of payment. You must buy the computer first (within a reasonable time frame prior to matriculation or by April 1 during an academic year) and submit the receipt and proof of payment by you, the student, to Student Financial Services. The expense may be added to your student budget one time only during your law school career, up to cost or for academic year 2009-10 a maximum of $1,800, whichever is less. This will increase your Grad PLUS or private loan eligibility (credit report required), in effect paying yourself back. Please weigh whether the financial terms of a private loan are more beneficial than the original method of payment.
For answers to any questions you have about financial aid, please contact Student Financial Services at lawfa@seattleu.edu.
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