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  2. Admissions & Financial Aid
  3. Financial Aid
  4. Aid Programs
  5. Scholarships and Grants
  6. Scholarships for First Year Students

California Western awards scholarships to admitted students based on a variety of criteria including:

  • Academic merit
  • Skill level
  • Cultural background
  • Life experience

All admitted students are reviewed for scholarship eligibility, and awards range from partial to full tuition coverage.

Scholarship awards are determined by the Admissions Committee at California Western. All institutional financial assistance programs are subject to change. Most of the scholarships do not require an application separate from your admissions application.

To learn more about our scholarship offerings or to discuss your scholarship offer, please talk with an admissions counselor.

Scholarship Listing

Justice Anthony Kennedy Scholarship Program

The most academically outstanding applicants to the law school are invited to become Kennedy Scholars.

  • Includes full tuition coverage, a bar exam stipend, and clerkship and mentoring opportunities.
  • The scholarship is renewable, subject to the terms in the scholarship letter.
  • No application required.

California Western Admissions Scholarship

A number of California Western Admissions Scholarships are awarded each year to entering students who have achieved outstanding academic merit credentials.

  • Awards range from partial to full coverage of current tuition.
  • No application required.

Career Transition Scholarship (Application Required)

One Career Transition Scholarship is awarded each entering class. The scholarship is awarded to a student who will be transitioning from another career to law school. The most qualified applicants will have at least 10 years of experience in a career and can demonstrate financial need.

  • Award is 50% of current tuition.
  • Application required.
  • Deadlines: April 1 for the fall entering class and November 15 for the spring entering class.

Inocente Scholarship (Application Required)

One Inocente Scholarship is awarded to a high achieving first year student who demonstrates a commitment to promoting social justice in Latin America.

  • Awards range from partial to full coverage of current tuition.
  • Application required.
  • Deadlines: April 1 for the fall entering class and November 15 for the spring entering class.

Steven R. Smith Scholarship (Application Required)

Steven R. Smith served as President and Dean of California Western for 16 years. In recognition of his service to the law school and to the legal community, an alumnus and longtime friend of the law school funded a scholarship in his name. One scholarship is awarded to a student entering in the fall term. The most qualified applicants will have a demonstrated commitment of service to their communities, past indicators of academic achievement, and proven potential for future academic and professional promise.

Military

California Western School of Law salutes our veterans and is pleased to be approved for the training of veterans and eligible persons under the provisions of Title 38, United States Code.

Yellow Ribbon Program

California Western School of Law proudly participates in the Post-9/11 GI Bill Yellow Ribbon Program, a provision of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008. For more detailed information, please visit Financial Aid.