Student Affairs

Tuition & Financial Assistance

Financial Aid for Current Students

Duke Law School's Office of Financial Aid makes every effort to help students who require financial assistance to meet tuition and living expenses. Financial aid at Duke Law comes from several sources: scholarships, federal loans and private loans. A legal education is a significant investment and should be approached by students who know as many of the financial aspects as possible.

Financial Aid Counseling The Office of Financial Aid is available to assist current and prospective students with questions about financial aid. Write to: Office of Financial Aid, Duke Law School, Box 90363, Durham, NC 27708-0363, phone 919-613-7025, fax 919-613-9402, or e-mail: financial_aid@law.duke.edu.

Most common inquiries can be answered by reading the Financial Aid Handbook.

Scholarships

Duke Law School awards three-year scholarships on the basis of either merit or merit and need to entering law students only. There are no continuing academic performance requirements attached to the grant, relieving students of uncertainty about scholarship renewal.

There are also External Scholarship Opportunities available.

International students should visit the International Programs Office Website for information on scholarships.

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Loans

DUKE MOVES TO DIRECT LENDING

Beginning with the 2010-2011 academic year, Duke will join hundreds of other U.S. college and universities in the Federal Direct Student Loan Program. For more information on Direct Loans including a comparison chart and FAQs visit Student Loans.

Loan Options, Instructions, and Information

Loan Repayment Assistance Program

Duke Law offers a Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) to students who engage in qualified public interest legal careers. Detailed information on this program and all facets of financial assistance can be obtained from the Office of Financial Aid.

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Financial Aid for Dual Degree Students

Students pursuing dual degrees with other departments at Duke may also be eligible for financial aid. Those enrolled in summer-starting programs are eligible only for financial aid through the Law School. Scholarships and loans are available for the summer term.

Students pursuing dual professional degrees through the Law School and another professional school (Fuqua School of Business, Nicholas School of the Environment, etc.) may qualify for financial aid from the other school during the terms in which they are not enrolled at the Law School. During terms in which they are enrolled at the Law School only or are taking classes at both schools, all financial aid will be administered through the Law School Office of Financial Aid. For more information, contact the Law School Financial Aid Office.

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Tuition and Fees

The legal education that Duke Law School offers is competitively priced. Endowment income and student tuition help cover the expense of offering outstanding professors, small classes and a wide range of program offerings.

Law School Budget for 2011 Summer Term
Tuition $16,750
Health Fee (mandatory) $182
Rent & Utilities $1,800
Food $1,225
Books & Supplies $378
Local Transportation $600
Personal/Miscellaneous $900
TOTAL $21,835

 

Law School Budget for 2011-2012 Academic Year
Tuition $48,800
Medical Insurance $1,705 *
Health Fee (mandatory) $580
Law Student Activity Fee $110
Graduate Student Activity Fee $34
Recreation Fee $93
Transcript Fee (one time only) $40 **
Rent & Utilities $6,480
Food $4,410
Books & Supplies $1,326
Personal/Miscellaneous $3,286
Local Transportation $2,206
TOTAL $69,070

* Duke University requires that students enrolled in programs that require payment of the health fee must have adequate medical insurance. Adequate means that the benefits must be similar to those offered by the Duke Student Medical Insurance Plan (SMIP). The amount listed is the rate that applies to most law students, however your rate may vary based on your age.

** The transcript fee is a one-time only fee paid to Duke University.

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Tuition Refund Insurance

Duke Law School has arranged with A.W.G. Dewar Inc. to offer the Tuition Refund Plan to our students to minimize the financial portion of losses incurred when a student suffers a serious illness or accident and has to leave Duke before the semester is completed. The insurance program extends and enhances the University's published refund policy. For a qualifying medical event, you are assured of a refund of covered charges throughout the term even after the University's own refund policy has expired. This can be especially beneficial when a student is forced to withdraw and then return for a later term.

The cost of the insurance is $200 for the Fall 2010 and Spring 2011 terms. (Tuition for the 2010-11 academic year is $46,930.) Applications and payment must be received prior to the first day of classes. For detailed information about coverage and how to apply, please visit the Bursar's website.

Direct Deposit

You may arrange for the direct deposit of your financial aid refund into your personal checking account. Direct Deposit helps to ensure that you receive your funds quickly. In order to set up this service, please fill out the Direct Deposit Authorization Form, include a voided check, and mail or fax the documents to the University Bursar's Office:

Bursar's Office - Student Accounts
324 Blackwell Street, Suite 1000
Durham, NC 27701
FAX: (919) 684-3091

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College Cost Reduction and Access Act

The College Cost Reduction and Access Act (P.L. 110-84) will make it easier for law school graduates to pursue public interest and public service careers. When the law takes full effect on July 1, 2009, an "Income-Based Repayment Option" -- reduced monthly loan payments -- will be available for all borrowers who have high federal debt loads in comparison to their income. In addition, the law provides that after a borrower makes 120 monthly payments on federal loans while working in public service, the government will forgive the remaining balances on these loans.

View the recent presentation on the CCRAA sponsored by the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid, the Career and Professional Development Center, and the Office of Public Interest and Pro Bono.

Additional information, including a checklist and podcast for students interested in federal forgiveness, can be found on the Equal Justice Works website.

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FAFSA

Students seeking federal loan assistance must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is the need analysis document that must be completed by all U.S. citizens and permanent residents, who are applying for any federal aid (i.e., Federal Stafford Loans). Previous aid applicants/recipients can also complete a Renewal FAFSA at the same website. A personal identification number is required (PIN). If you have not received a PIN, you can request one at www.pin.ed.gov. It will take 7-10 days to receive this via U.S. mail. The FAFSA requires you to indicate the name of each school to which you are applying in Step Six of the form. Once the application is completed, you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR). Be sure to retain this report for your records. To minimize delays, students are encouraged to complete the FAFSA online as soon after January 1 as possible. The priority filing date is March 15. Please include Duke Law School’s Title IV code (E00167) on this form to ensure that the School will receive a copy.

The Office of Financial Aid has developed a list of frequently asked questions to assist Duke Law students in filing their FAFSAs. Students who have questions not covered here should contact the Financial Aid Office.

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Summary Statement of Student Lending Principles

Duke University has established a set of publicly available principles and policies to govern educational lending practices for undergraduate, graduate and professional students. These principles emphasize that lending practices proceed from a commitment to the best interests of our students, that we support students’ right to choose their lenders and that neither Duke nor its employees accept financial payments, goods or services of material value from lenders. All employees involved in financial aid and student lending are subject to a rigorous conflict of interest policy. Administrators may serve as unpaid members of lender advisory boards in order to help shape the products and services that will best meet the needs of our students; in such cases, Duke pays all costs associated with that service.

For more information on the principles and policies of educational lending, please review the Duke University Statement on Educational Lending.

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Income Based Repayment

Income-Based Repayment is a new repayment plan established by the College Cost Reduction & Access Act that can substantially reduce monthly student loan payments. Typically, borrowers who earn less than they owe in federal student loans will be eligible to choose Income-Based Repayment. The good news is that for most borrowers payments will be less than 10 percent of income.

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Public Service Loan Forgiveness

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program is one of the most significant breakthroughs for public interest lawyers in a generation. Public Service Loan Forgiveness is a new program established by the College Cost Reduction & Access Act offering loan forgiveness after 10-years of public service employment. To qualify for loan forgiveness, a borrower must make monthly loan payments for ten years (120 payments) while working full-time in qualifying public service employment.