Financial Aid
- General Information
- Applying for Aid
- Scholarships
- Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP)
- Student Billing Office
- Tuition Costs and Student Budget
General Information
Your Maine Law education is an important investment in your future. The Law School's reasonable tuition combined with the cost of living in Portland offers you one of the best values in the country whether your are a resident or a nonresident. Even so, educating yourself about the costs associated with a legal education and financing options is critical. We recognize that many students do not always have the immediate access to resources to pay for ther law school education. As a result, financial aid, in the form of scholarships, grants, employment, and federal and private loans, or some combination thereof, may be an integral component of your funding strategy.
Applying
Financial Aid for students at the University of Maine School of Law is administered through the Financial Aid Office of the University of Southern Maine. The USM Financial Aid Office provides substantial need-based financial assistance to a majority of first-year law students in the form of Stafford Loans (Guaranteed Student Loans), Perkins Loans, and work-study employment. In addition, private loans (alternative loans) are also available.
Students are encouraged to apply for aid by February 15. (Do not wait for an admissions decision to apply for financial aid!) This will enable the Financial Aid Office to determine eligibility before the first nonrefundable tuition deposit is due.
To apply for financial aid, students must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA can be filed electronically by visiting the FAFSA web site. Detailed instructions for completing the FAFSA are available at the web site. Applicants to the University of Maine School of Law must use the University of Southern Maine code number 009762 on the FAFSA. More information on priority filing dates and additional form requirements may be obtained by visiting the Financial Aid web site, or by calling USM Responds (Interactive Voice Response) at (207) 780-5800.
Note that no additional (institutional) application for financial aid at University of Maine School of Law is required.
Learn more about applying for financial aid.
International Students
Financial Aid is not available to international students. International students need to provide proof of financial ability to pay for tuition and living expenses. However, scholarships are available, and while many outside grants, scholarships and loans for study in the United States are limited to U.S. citizens, there are sources of financial aid available for foreign students. Students admitted to our program are often successful in securing outside funding. Sources to consider include financial support from current employers (law firms, companies, government agencies, and universities), from a range of government and private scholarships such as Fulbright, Muskie, Amideast, DAAD, BAEF, SOROS, and Rotary, and loan programs in one's home country. A special educational loan program for non-permanent U.S. residents or citizens is offered by the Global Student Loan Corporation.
Other resource information may be found through:
- Edupass - The Smart Guide To Studying In the United States; or
- FINAID - considered the most comprehensive annotated collection of information about student financial aid on the web.
Personal Finance and Debt Management Resources
Find information about personal finance and debt management on The Access Group's WiseBorrower® Curriculum web site.
Disclaimer
Offers of financial aid are conditional upon receipt of funds from all funding sources. The Office of Student Financial Aid reserves the right to revise offers of financial aid at any time during the year based on availability of funds or changes in regulations or procedures mandated by University, state, or federal authorities.
Additional Information
Additional information regarding financial aid programs, policies and procedures may be obtained from the Student Financial Aid Office, 202 Corthell Hall, University of Southern Maine, Gorham, Maine 04038, (207) 780-5250.
