Over 90% of students at California Western School of Law receive some sort of financial aid in order to help pay the costs of their law school attendance.

Institutional Scholarships

California Western School of Law offers scholarships to newly admitted students based on:

• Academic criteria such as undergraduate GPA and LSAT scores.
• Certain scholarships also include diversity criteria.
• The law school also awards scholarships at the end of the first year of study to students who perform at the top of their class.
• Additional scholarships are awarded for academic merit and to promote diversity.

Students who have received a scholarship upon admission are eligible for these additional scholarships awarded at the end of the first year of study.

Learn more about these scholarships

External Scholarships

California Western’s Financial Aid and Diversity Services offices notify current students of scholarship opportunities offered by external groups.

Students should also visit scholarship search websites like Fastweb.com and Scholarships.com, which can help students locate potential scholarship options.

Federal and state grants are virtually non-existent at the graduate level, and the number of outside scholarships at the graduate level is much smaller than it is at the undergraduate level. Nevertheless, it is always better to use free money rather than borrowed money whenever possible.

Seek out scholarships which are aimed at your specific interests and background: this will help to maximize your chance at a successful application.

Federal Work-Study

The Federal Work-Study program at California Western School of Law helps students obtain jobs both at the school, and at certain non-profit and government agencies.

While outside work is discouraged for first year law students, Federal Work-Study provides second and third year students with excellent opportunities for experience, networking, and earning money that does not have to be repaid.

Student Loans

Most students at California Western School of Law rely on federal student loans to assist with tuition costs and living expenses.

• Students should carefully evaluate their individual financial situations, construct their own living expense budgets, and only borrow what they need.
• Students should also be mindful of the potential financial consequences of part-time attendance, delayed graduation, and other choices which can result in increased total debt.
• Keep your debt to a minimum by making frugal choices: share rent with a roommate, avoid unnecessary luxuries, and create and stick to a financial plan.

Borrowing to finance a law degree can be a valuable investment in your future, but it is always wisest to keep the cost of that investment to a minimum.

The primary federal student loan programs available at California Western School of Law are the Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, and the Federal Graduate PLUS Loan.

• Stafford loans taken out during 2013-2014 have a 5.41% fixed interest rate and are limited to $20,500 per academic year.
• PLUS loans taken out during 2013-2014 have a 6.41% fixed interest rate, have no annual limit, but are subject to the rule that total student aid, including scholarships, loans, and work-study, may not exceed the student’s Cost of Attendance.
• PLUS loans are also subject to a credit check.

Private student loans are subject to the same limits as PLUS loans and other student aid. While the variable interest rates on private loans are frequently lower than the fixed rates of federal loans, students should remember that federal loans have much more flexible repayment plans including income-based repayment, deferment and forbearance options, and forgiveness plans such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

Contact Us

For assistance with your financial aid questions, please feel free to contact the California Western School of Law Financial Aid Office at finaid@cwsl.edu or 619-525-7060.