In the Office of Financial Aid, we know that your choice to enter law school is a decision to invest in your future. And, like any significant investment, we know that it doesn't come cheaply. That's why we will make sure you have the help you need to finance your education. 

The first step in the process is to apply for aid. In order to receive any federal financial aid, including student loans, you must complete the FAFSA. Remember that you should reapply for aid as early as possible every year you attend DU.

Steps to Apply for the 2013-14 Academic Year

1. Apply for admission to the Sturm College of Law (if not already admitted). We are not able to fully process your financial aid application until you have been officially admitted to the university.
2. File your 2012 tax return with the IRS as soon as possible. Having your return completed will simplify and expedite the financial aid application process.
3. Apply for a U.S. Department of Education PIN , if you do not already have one from a previous year. If you have forgotten your PIN, this site will help you retrieve it. You will use this PIN every year you apply for financial aid and to complete Master Promissory Notes for federal loans.
4. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for 2013-14, available January 1, 2013. DU's school code is 001371. We strongly encourage you to use the IRS data retrieval process when completing your FAFSA. Using this process will quickly transfer your 2012 tax return data into your application, and may prevent you from having to submit further documentation to us from the IRS.

Applying for financial aid by the priority deadlines listed below will increase your chances of receiving highly sought-after awards such as the Perkins loan and work-study. Because these types of aid have such limited funding, we are not able to offer them to everyone who may otherwise be qualified. If you have missed the priority deadline, you should still apply as soon as possible.

You may be selected for verification once your application is submitted. You will be notified via email if you are selected, and should submit the additional requested documentation as soon as possible. 

Steps to Apply for the 2012-13 Academic Year

If you need to apply for financial aid for the current academic year, please follow all of the steps outlined above, submitting the 2012-13 FAFSA instead. Once your application is complete, you can expect to receive an award letter within 3-4 weeks.

Annual Financial Aid Application Timeline

• January 1st: Earliest date to complete the FAFSA
• February 15th: Priority deadline for new students to submit the FAFSA
• March 1st: Priority deadline for new students to submit verification documents (if requested)
• March 15th: Priority deadline for continuing students to submit the FAFSA
• Late March: We begin sending financial aid award notifications to new students
• April 1st: Priority deadline for continuing students to submit verification documents (if requested) 
• Late May: We begin sending financial aid award notifications to continuing students