New England Law Scholarship | New England Law

New England Law Scholarship | New England Law
Admissions and Aid
Scholarship and Aid Programs
New England Law | Boston offers a variety of scholarships, grants, and other aid programs that help make a legal education accessible and affordable. In fact, 96% of our first-year students received scholarships in 2025. Here’s how you can, too.
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FAFSA Now
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Scholarships and Aid Programs
All admitted New England Law applicants are automatically considered for merit scholarships. You’ll be notified of scholarship eligibility in your acceptance packet.
Scholarships are awarded, disbursed, and reconciled by the Financial Aid Office each semester assuming all scholarship criteria are being met. While we do not accept student appeals to increase, reinstate, or otherwise adjust institutional scholarship awards. Students seeking additional funds should reach out to the Financial Aid Office to inquire about federal and private financial aid options.
Incoming law students who show exceptional academic promise may be eligible for the full-tuition Justice Sandra Day O’Connor Scholarship—no additional application is required for consideration.
This prestigious award covers full tuition for the student’s entire law school career—an investment in your future that would otherwise be priced at more than $188,000.
Students awarded the Justice Sandra Day O’Connor Scholarship upon admission are automatically enrolled in the Honors Program for their 1L year.
Ten Trustee Academic Scholarships are awarded automatically at the end of spring semester to the two highest ranking continuing students in the day full-time program and two in each of the part-time programs.
Awards are based on the student’s grade point average for the academic year just completed.
Only fall and spring grades are considered; summer grades are not.
Day full-time program students must have been enrolled in a minimum of 12 graded credits for each semester; a part-student must have been enrolled in 9 graded credits.
Funds are applied towards tuition in the following academic year. The total of all scholarships received by any individual student cannot exceed the cost of tuition.
For more information, contact the
Office of Financial Aid
or the
Office of the Registrar.
A $5,000 scholarship is awarded to one full-time day student in their final year of law school. The student must:
Be from a single-parent household
Have shown a commitment to trial practice, and
Demonstrate financial need.
Applications are available in early spring and are awarded before the end of the academic year.
New England Law | Boston, together with the US Department of Veterans Affairs, awards unlimited matching grant funds (up to the cost of tuition and fees) to an unlimited number of eligible veterans.
Find out more
about this and other veterans’ benefits programs.
The unsubsidized loan can help offset educational expenses for students enrolled at least half time (taking at least six credits during the academic year or three credits during the summer). Information regarding interest rates and origination fees are available online at studentaid.gov
Changes related to the Big Beautiful Bill will begin as of July 1, 2026:
Unsubsidized Stafford Loan Limits for Existing Borrowers
· Students must have borrowed a direct federal loan before July 1, 2026
· Students must be in the same degree program without a break in enrollment (for example: graduated or changing programs)
· Unsubsidized Stafford Loan yearly limit: $20,500
· Lifetime borrowing limit (subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford Loan graduate programs): $138,500
New Professional Programs (for example: law, medicine) Unsubsidized Stafford Loan Limits for New Borrowers after July 1, 2026
· Unsubsidized Stafford Loan yearly limit: $50,000
· Lifetime borrowing limit -all graduate programs included: $200,000
· Lifetime borrowing limit- undergraduate program included: $257,500
Resources
Federal Student Loan Program Provisions Effective Upon Enactment Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (GEN-25-04)
This loan allows eligible graduate students to borrow additional funding, capped annually by their cost of attendance, minus all other financial aid. Grad PLUS loans are subject to credit review so it’s best to review your credit report before applying. You can receive a free credit report once every 12 months at
AnnualCreditReport.com.
Loan Details
Students who have borrowed any Direct Loans prior to July 1, 2026, will be eligible for Graduate Plus Loans if they meet the following criteria:
Remain consistently enrolled in the same school and in the same program.
Students who withdraw will not be able to keep the Graduate Plus loan eligibility.
Graduate Plus Loans will be available for 3 years or until program completion, whichever comes first.
How to Apply
Complete the
FAFSA
as well as a
Title IV Authorization electronic form.
Find out more about the financial application process
here.
Funds Disbursement
Generally, you’ll receive your funds in two equal installments at the start of the fall and spring semesters. Any refund due after the payment of tuition will be available during the first week of classes.
What to do if You’re Denied
If your application is denied, you will be contacted by Direct Loans with the option to appeal the decision or to secure an endorser for the loan. For information about what the Department of Education will be looking for in its credit check, review the
Definition of Adverse Credit History for Grad PLUS Loans
Private education loans are available from a variety of lenders. While New England Law does not endorse any lender or lending institution, we will process a private education loan from any lending institution. Information regarding private lenders can be found online at elmselect.com.
What You Should Know
A private education loan may be used to cover your 9-month academic year allowable cost of attendance (COA), minus other aid offered. See
Expense Budgeting
to learn more.
Private loans are not guaranteed and require a good credit rating and/or a creditworthy cosigner so it’s best to review your credit report before applying. You can receive a free credit report once every 12 months at
AnnualCreditReport.com.
Before considering a private loan, you are encouraged to complete the FAFSA to exhaust all eligibility for federal funds.
Lenders may ask for:
Private Loan Certification Form
(usually provided by the lender) and provide to your private lender. You will need your
estimated cost of attendance
and
estimated financial aid information
to complete this form.
Private education loans are available from a variety of lenders to international students but typically requires a creditworthy U.S. citizen or permanent resident co-signer. While New England Law does not endorse any lender or lending institution, we will process a private education loan from any lending institution. Information regarding private lenders can be found online at elmselect.com.
What You Should Know
A private education loan may be used to cover your 9-month academic year allowable cost of attendance (COA), minus other aid offered. See
Expense Budgeting
to learn more.
As an international student, private loans are not guaranteed and typically requires a creditworthy U.S. citizen or permanent resident co-signer. It’s best for the co-signer to review their credit report before applying. A free credit report is available once every 12 months at
AnnualCreditReport.com.
Lenders may ask for:
Private Loan Certification Form
(usually provided by the lender) and provide to your private lender. You will need your
estimated cost of attendance
and
estimated financial aid information
to complete this form.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for a merit-based scholarship?
You’re automatically considered for a merit scholarship when you apply to New England Law.
Are there additional scholarship opportunities?
Yes, we offer
The Justice Sandra Day O’Connor Scholarship
Trustee Academic Scholarships
Robert S. Marcus Memorial Scholarship
Are federal loans available to law school students?
Yes. You may apply for a
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan
or
Federal Grad PLUS Loan
What about private education loans—are they an option?
Private education loans
are available from a variety of lenders. While New England Law does not endorse any lender, we will process any private education loan. Before you apply privately, though, there are
some things you should know
Do I need good credit to qualify for a student loan?
Grad PLUS loans
and
private education loans
are subject to credit review so it’s best to know your credit score before applying. You can receive a free credit report once every 12 months at
AnnualCreditReport.com
Does New England Law offer aid programs for veterans?
Yes. We participate in the Yellow Ribbon Grant Program with the US Department of Veterans Affairs, and award unlimited matching grant funds (up to the cost of tuition and fees).
Find out more
about this and other veterans’ benefits programs.
Who do I contact if I have questions or concerns?
Email
our supportive financial aid team; we’re here to help.
We’re Here to Help
Our supportive financial aid team can help you understand tuition costs, guide you through the aid process, and connect you with scholarships and budgeting resources. Have a question or concern?
Just reach out:
Office Of Financial Aid
46 Church Street/2nd Floor
Email:
finaid@nesl.edu
Phone:
617-422-7232
Fax:
617-422-7200
Stories of Success
“Choosing a law school with a part-time program enabled me to pursue my dream of becoming an attorney and provided the flexibility to build my Résumé through full-time internships, clinics, and employment.”
Christopher Hughes, Graduate
“I was able to experience what life is really like as counsel for an international corporation.”
Katie Milligan, Graduate
“Our graduates stay, grow their careers, and help build our communities. We’re woven into the fabric of New England.”
Karyn Polito, Graduate
“There are hundreds of law schools to choose from, but very few of them leave the impression New England Law does on its students.”
Czara Venegas, Graduate