Tuition and Other Costs

For the 2007-08 academic year, tuition at the College of Law is $220.25 per credit hour for residents of Nebraska and $617.50 per credit hour for nonresidents. In addition to tuition, students pay University fees of $405 and a Law College fee of $800 each semester.

First year students take 15 credit hours the first semester and 18 credit hours the second semester. First year tution and fees for a resident are $9,678.25. First year tuition and fees for a nonresident are $22,787.50.

Upperclass students take an average of 15 credit hours each semester. A total of 93 credit hours is required to graduate.

The following schedule shows the tuition and fees for 2007-08:

Rules for Payment

Tuition and fees are due the second Wednesday in September for the Fall Semester, the second Wednesday in February for the Spring Semester, and at the beginning of each summer session. Students who do not pay all of their University financial obligations, including library and other fines, will not be permitted to receive a degree, leave the University in good standing, obtain transcripts, or register for classes.

Housing Costs

Residence Halls
University housing for graduate and professional students is available in Fedde Hall on East Campus and in Husker Hall, Selleck Hall, Husker Courtyards, and Husker Village on City Campus. The residence halls offer single and double rooms, as well as full-service dining, recreation, laundry, and lounge facilities. The rate for room and board for 2007-08 for a single room with the unlimited meal plan for seven days a week is $7,323. The cost of housing is dependent upon the dorm you select.

Additional information about residence hall accommodations can be obtained from the University Housing Office, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 1115 North 16th Street, Lincoln, NE 68588-0622, by telephone at 402.472.3561 or at their web site. Students interested in living in the residence halls should apply for housing as soon as possible after being admitted to the College of Law.

Family Housing
University of Nebraska family housing is limited. The University operates 153 unfurnished one, two, and three bedroom apartments for full-time students who are either married or single parents. Because there is usually a long waiting list, students interested in this type of housing should apply as early as possible. Student interested in family housing may apply on-line here or call 402.472.3753 for more information.

Off-campus Housing
A wide variety of affordable off-campus housing is available throughout Lincoln, and a substantial number of apartments are available within walking distance of the Law College. The rents vary depending on the type of housing which is rented. View Lincoln Journal Star's classified listings or Apartments for You.

The Admissions Office has information on some of the apartments near the College of Law and compiles a list of students looking for roommates. If possible, students may want to drive around the residential areas near the College. A number of landlords do not advertise vacancies, but instead place "apartment for rent" signs in front of their buildings.

Financial Aid: Scholarships and Loans

Although tuition at the University of Nebraska College of Law is lower than it is at many other law schools, most students need assistance in financing their legal education. At the University of Nebraska, that help can come in a variety of forms, including scholarships and federally sponsored student loans. The total amount of financial aid - academic scholarships, opportunity scholarships, and loans - cannot exceed the estimate of the student expenses for the academic year. The estimate of student expenses is set each year by the University of Nebraska Financial Aid Office. For 2007-2008, the maximum amount of a resident first-year student (living off-campus) could receive in aid is $21,194. The maximum amount a nonresident first year student (living off-campus) could receive in aid is $34,304.

Application Procedures
In order to apply for any financial aid other than an academic scholarship, you must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The federal financial aid school code for the University of Nebraska is 002565. Your FAFSA form should be filed after January 1, 2008 as soon as your 2007 tax return is complete. You should file your FAFSA form with Federal Student Aid Programs on-line at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. You need your student financial aid PIN number to file on-line. The PIN number can be requested at www.pin.ed.gov. You will receive a response in 2-3 working days if you supply an e-mail address when you apply for your PIN. The PIN number then replaces the need for a written signature. All admitted students are sent a more detailed financial aid handout with the letter of admission. It provides additional information about the FAFSA and the University financial aid processing system.

Scholarships
The College of Law administers its own scholarship program, awarding over $1,000,000 a year to incoming and upper class students. These awards include academic scholarships, opportunity scholarships, and nonresident scholarships.

Academic Scholarships
All admitted students are automatically considered for scholarships and no separate application is required. Academic scholarships are awarded to incoming students with exceptionally strong academic credentials. Academic scholarships vary in amount. Academic scholarships are generally awarded to upper class students who rank among the top ten students in their class.

Opportunity Scholarships
The College awards opportunity scholarships to students with financial need. Factors that are considered in awarding such scholarships are economic or educational disadvantages which were overcome by the student to obtain the undergraduate degree, academic promise, membership in a historically under-represented racial/ethnic group and individual circumstances. Opportunity scholarships typically cover resident tuition.

Nonresident Scholarships
The College awards scholarships to some nonresident students. These scholarships cover part of the difference between resident and nonresident tuition and are renewable. Students considered for nonresident scholarships are also considered for academic and opportunity scholarships.

University of Nebraska Residency Policy
Students who come to Nebraska solely for the purpose of attending law school and have no previous connection to Nebraska, e.g., a Nebraska high school graduate, are usually unable to establish residency. However, the Law College non-resident tuition is lower than many schools, and a number of nonresident scholarships are offered to students. Click here for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Residency Policy.

Federal Loans
Because the amount of scholarship money is limited, the primary sources of financial aid are the two types of federally sponsored student loan programs available to law students: Federal Stafford Loans and Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loans. The amount that a student can borrow under the Federal Stafford Loan program is tied to the individual student's financial need, which is calculated pursuant to a standardized formula. The Unsubsidized Stafford Loan is not need-based and is available regardless of the student's financial need; however, you must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form and undergo a need analysis before you can receive this loan. The total amount of financial aid - scholarships and loans - cannot exceed the estimate of student expenses for the academic year.

Federal Stafford Loans
Federal Stafford loans have a fixed interest rate of 6.8% for new borrowers after July 1, 2006. Repeat Stafford borrowers will continue with the same interest rate as their outstanding Stafford loans. You do not pay interest on the loan while in school; the federal government pays the interest. Your repayment of principal and interest will begin six months after graduation, and the repayment period is normally ten years. The maximum amount of a Stafford loan is $8,500 per year. The total amount of subsidized Stafford money a law student may borrow is $65,500, including Stafford loans and Federally Insured Student Loans made at the undergraduate level. The total amount of subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford money a law student may borrow, including Federally Insured Student Loans made at the undergraduate level, is $138,500. Origination and guarantee fees will be deducted from the loan amount, and you must repay the face value of the loan, including these fees.

Unsubsidized Stafford Loans for Middle Income Borrowers
This is a non-need-based program available to students who do not qualify for a Federal Stafford Loan. The interest rate is fixed at 6.8% for new borrowers after July 1, 2006. Students who have borrowed under the Stafford program will continue with the same interest rate as their outstanding Stafford loans. You are obligated to pay interest on the Unsubsidized Stafford amount while in school, and interest begins accruing from the date of disbursement. You may avoid paying the interest while in school by capitalizing the interest, i.e., adding the interest to the principal and paying interest on the interest. Repayment of principal and capitalized interest generally begins six months after graduation, and the repayment period is normally ten years. The Unsubsidized Stafford Loan annual limit will vary depending on whether you are receiving a Subsidized Stafford Loan. The maximum annual amount for an Unsubsidized Stafford Loan is $12,000. The combination of Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford loans cannot exceed $20,500 per year. Origination and guarantee fees will be deducted from the loan amount, and you must repay the face value of the loan, including these fees.

Federal Direct Grad/PLUS Loans
The Federal Direct Grad/PLUS Loan allows graduate and professional students to borrow up to their Cost of Attendance minus all other scholarships and federal aid, including Federal Stafford Loans. The interest rate on the Grad/PLUS Loan is fixed at 7.9%.

Private Educational Loans
Several private loan programs, such as Access Group Loans, Sallie Mae's Lawloans, and Wells Fargo Graduate Loans are available for students who need additional funding because their financial need exceeds the federal loan limits. These loans are not need-based and are not federally sponsored. There is no cap on the interest rate for these loans, and interest begins accruing on the date of disbursement. You are obligated to make interest payments while in school unless you capitalize the interest. The eligibility amount varies depending on the program. You should not borrow under these programs until you have exhausted your eligibility under the federally sponsored programs. Information on these loans

Work and the First Year of Law School
The College discourages first year students from working, primarily because the first year of law school is a full-time job.

Key Differences In Financial Aid for Law and Undergraduate Students
All law students are considered independent, and parental income and assets will not be considered in calculating a student's financial need. Some types of financial aid available to undergraduate students are not available to law students. Those include National Merit Scholarships, PACE Grants, Pell Grants, State Student Incentive Grants (SSIG), and Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG).