The Office of Financial aid is required to develop a cost of attendance/budget each year for full-time and part-time students. The budget is an estimate of allowable expenses (tuition, fees, books & supplies, transportation and living allowance) for the approximate nine month academic year that students are enrolled. Figures within the budget are based on the average amount needed to meet direct charges such as tuition and indirect charges such as living expenses. In addition, the student budget represents the maximum amount of financial assistance that a student may be awarded for the academic year (the total of grants, scholarships, and loans).To repeat, students may not be awarded financial aid above the cost of attendance as determined by the school.
The budget is based upon projected maximum costs for the 2018-2019 academic year. Allowances are provided to assist in meeting educational costs and are not intended to cover individual expenses which vary greatly depending upon personal lifestyle. Students receiving a scholarship or other awards must subtract such awards from the budget in determining their maximum borrowing limit, i.e. loan eligibility.
Law students enrolled in 13 or more credit hours per semester are considered full time for financial aid purposes. Enrolling for fewer than 13 credits does not necessarily make you part-time or place you in the part-time program. Tuition is charged at a block rate and is the same for in-state, out-of-state and international students. Residency does not affect tuition rates at the law school, but it may have an impact on tuition rates for dual-degree students.
Law students who have higher-than normal expenses (e.g., day care) may request an increase to accommodate these expenses by contacting the Office of Financial Aid at ofalaw@msu.edu. Due to federal guidelines, only certain expenses can be used to have the budget increased. Refer to Appealing the Student Budget Limit section for details.
Please note: Students enrolled in the JD/MBA program, or who will have MSU credits as well as law credits in a semester, should review the dual enrollment information. Students are also urged to contact the Office of Financial Aid to schedule an appointment to discuss the aid process during a dual enrollment semester.
The Office of Financial Aid is required by federal regulations to establish a student budget each year for students. The budget represents the maximum amount of money that an independent student, living a modest lifestyle, should need during his/her enrollment as a full-time student. The cost of attendance is intended to cover the cost of tuition, fees, books, supplies and a living allowance for the time the student is enrolled (nine months).
In some instances a student may have the budget increased to accommodate special expenses. Increases to the budget are considered on a case-by-case basis. Sometimes one student’s request is approved while another’s is denied. To request an increase, a student must file a Cost of Attendance Increase form which can be obtained by contacting the Office of Financial Aid at ofalaw@msu.edu. If an appeal is successful, the student's budget will be increased and additional loan will be offered.
To repeat, obtaining more funds is a two-step process that involves submitting an appeal to have the budget raised and then accepting additional loan assistance.
The following are examples of permissible and impermissible reasons for requesting an increase.
Permissible Reasons for a Budget Increase
Impermissible Reasons for a Budget Increase
NOTE: Since appeals to the student budget result in increased borrowing limits, it is most important that law students who file an appeal are aware of their overall indebtedness and the impact on repayment.
The MSU College of Law encourages students to minimize reliance on loans and to consider the consequences of borrowing by projecting the percentage of expected monthly income that will be devoted to loan repayments. Students should always maintain accurate records of loans received and have a full sense of their current total educational debt. Generally speaking, loan repayments should ideally not exceed 10-15% of net income.
Law students who rely on loans are strongly encouraged to calculate the monthly repayment of loans, given the amount borrowed, the interest rate, and the period of repayment.
| Tuition | $44200.00* |
|---|---|
| Fees | $38.00 |
| Average Stafford Fees | $218.00 |
| Books | $1680.00 |
| Room and Board | $13180.00 |
| Transp/Pers/Misc | $3744.00 |
| Medical | N/A** |
| TOTAL | $63060.00 |
1L students should add $200 for the RWA Lab fee (total budget would be $63260).
3L students should add $625 for an average bar exam fee (total budget would be $63686 [rounded]).
We have moved to a new financial aid system for 2018-2019 which packages aid based on actual tuition costs and current class level. It is possible that your budget will be revised based on class level and enrollment changes.
* J.D. students who drop below 10 credits in fall or spring will be charged on a per credit basis ($1510 per credit) with scholarships adjusted accordingly.
** The cost of health insurance is not included in the budget as most students can still be covered through their parents' insurance. If you will be using the MSU student health insurance plan, or have coverage of another kind, then please contact the financial aid office at ofalaw@msu.edu or 517-432-6810. We can include ONLY the MSU plan cost in the COA. For more information about the Student Health Insurance Plan from MSU please visit https://www.hr.msu.edu/benefits/index.html
| Tuition (nine credits)# | $13590.00 |
|---|---|
| Fees | $19.00 |
| Average Stafford Fees | $109.00 |
| Books | $742.00 |
| Room and Board | $8665.00 |
| Transp/Pers/Misc | $2129.00 |
| TOTAL | $25240.00 |
# Students taking fewer than nine credits will have their budget reduced.