Financial Aid FAQs
How does Duke Law determine scholarship awards?
Duke Law School awards three-year scholarships to entering law students. All scholarships are based in part on merit, defined broadly to include academic excellence as well as a range of other personal accomplishments and experiences. To apply for a scholarship, admitted students should complete the Scholarship Application Form included in the admission packet and located on the admitted students website. This form will allow you to choose whether you would like apply for a scholarship based on merit or on merit and financial need.
Students with unique circumstances should include an addendum with their application. This addendum should explain to the Admissions Committee why requested information cannot be provided.
Note: In determining need, the law school considers all sources of income, including parents' income and financial situation. Some scholarship candidates are selected each year to receive special recognition as named scholars. No separate application is necessary.
I applied for a scholarship based on merit and need. Should I expect two different awards?
No. If you applied on the basis of merit and need, the Scholarship Committee has included consideration of both in your scholarship award.
What are the requirements to retain my scholarship?
The Law School will disburse the total scholarship according to the terms set forth in the scholarship contract, unless the recipient withdraws from the Law School, is placed on academic probation, fails to write an acknowledgment letter to the donor responsible for his or her scholarship and attend an appreciation event, if requested by the Associate Dean, or visits away at another law school, except for one of Duke Law School's international exchange programs. If the recipient chooses to study abroad in one of Duke Law School's approved exchange programs, the grantee will be registered for that term at Duke and normal tuition charges will apply. A student on academic probation may be supported by a scholarship only by special action of the Financial Aid Committee.
Can I be reconsidered for a scholarship after my 1L year?
No. Duke Law seeks to expend all possible scholarship funds each year to its entering students. While this method does allow for better scholarship offers to our admitted applicants, it leaves no additional funds for scholarship reassessment.
I received/will receive an award from a source other than Duke. Do you need to know about this?
Yes. Federal regulations require students to provide this information to the Office of Financial Aid even if the award is paid directly to them. If you have already used all financial aid eligibility outlined under the Student Expense Budget, the award will replace an equal amount of loan funds. These funds will be returned to the lender and subtracted from your outstanding loan debt.
How is my award package determined?
Your award package is created by using your FAFSA to determine what awards you are eligible for. We will then “fill up” your student expense budget using the most advantageous awards first. This hierarchy is generally:
Scholarship→Perkins Loan→Subsidized Stafford Loan→Unsubsidized Stafford Loan→Graduate PLUS or private educational loan
Do I have to accept all the awards I’m offered?
No. For each award offered, you can accept, decline, or modify the amount. However you do want to do so using the hierarchy listed above. You wouldn’t want to decline a loan for a different loan with less favorable rates or benefits.
I want to utilize work-study, but don’t see it in my award package. Can I do work-study?
That depends. During any semester or summer term during which he or she is enrolled as a full-time student, no first-year student shall engage in employment without permission of the Associate Dean for Student Affairs, and in no case shall engage in employment for more than twenty hours per week. Please assure you have read and understand the Limitations on Student Employment section of the Law School’s Rules and Policies.
If you are eligible to work, you can replace an amount of your loans with a work-study award, contingent on federal work-study funding.
How do I view my bill?
Please see the Bill Information section on the Bursar’s Office website.
How do I pay my bill?
Please see the Payment Information section on the Bursar’s Office website.
I have a question about my bill. Who should I contact?
That depends on the question. If the question is regarding financial aid that should be applied to the bill, please contact us. If the question is about fees, charges, or anything else, please contact the Bursar’s Office.
What is the ____ fee?
Please see the Explanation of Fees section on the Bursar’s Office Website.
I already have my own insurance. Do I have to take the school’s insurance?
Please see the Student Health Center’s Student Medical Insurance Plan FAQ.
What type of loans do I have?
There are several ways to determine what student loans you have:
- Use the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS). This database includes all of your Federal Student Loans (Stafford, Perkins, Grad PLUS. Private loans and bar-study loans will not appear here.
- Use the ACES system. Using your “Financial Aid” tab, you can view your financial aid history.
Ultimately, it is your responsibility to know your lenders, payment amounts, and payment dates. If you used more than one lender while enrolled at Duke Law, you will have more than one bill to pay!
When do I have to start repaying my loans?
That depends on the type of loan. Some student loans include a grace period-a short time period after graduation during which the borrower is not required to begin repaying his or her student loans. The grace period may also kick in if the borrower leaves school for a reason other than graduation or drops below half-time enrollment. Depending on the type of loan, you will have different grace periods:
- Stafford Loans – 6 month grace period
- Perkins Loans – 9 month grace period
- Graduate PLUS Loans – no grace period
- Private Loans – varies according to your loan terms.
Are there different repayment plans I can choose?
There are. Finaid.org provides an excellent overview of repayment plans.
I don’t start work until ____, but my loans begin repayment on ___. What do I do?
There are several options you can use to defer or lower your payments until you begin employment. For more information, please see the Postponing Loan Repayment (Deferment And Forbearance) section of the Guide to Federal Student Aid.
Does Duke Law offer any loan repayment assistance?
Duke Law is proud to offer a generous loan repayment assistance program for its graduates that enter public service employment. Please see Duke Law’s Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) webpage for more information.