Types of Aid
You will need to submit different sets of documents depending on the type(s) of aid you are seeking. Below are charts detailing the various required documents. Use this information to ensure you are submitting the correct documentation:
- Columbia Law School need-based grants and loans
- Loans only
If you are uncertain about whether you should apply for a grant, please refer to the Scholarship Grant section.
Please note that students seeking consideration for Law School grants must apply at the time of application to the first-year class of the J.D. program, and that grant decisions are made only after a student has been offered admission. Award letters to recipients of institutional grants will include information about the financial aid package for each of the student’s three years of study at Columbia Law School.
| Deadline | Columbia Law School Grants and Loans (Entering first-year J.D. students only) |
|---|---|
| February 15 | Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to federal processor*** |
| February 15 | CSS Profile Application to the College Board |
| February 15 | Columbia Law School Financial Aid Questionnaire* to the Office of Financial Aid |
| February 15 | 2023 Federal Income Tax Forms** for student, spouse, and parent(s) to the College Board using the Institutional Documentation (IDOC) Service |
| May 15 | Federal Loan Application(s) to Federal Direct Loan Program and/or Private Loan Application(s) to the Office of Financial Aid |
Loans Only
(All students planning to register in 2025-2026)
Submit by May 15 to ensure timely processing:
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to federal processor***
- Columbia Law School Financial Aid Questionnaire* to Financial Aid Office
- Federal Loan Application(s) to Federal Direct Loan Program and/or Private Loan Application(s) to the Office of Financial Aid
Students seeking consideration for Law School grants must complete their application at the time they apply for admission to the entering 1L class. All grant funds for the class (e.g., Class of 2028) are committed for the three years. Therefore, the Law School does not accept grant applications from students in their second or third years. Of course, upperclass J.D. students who are experiencing financial difficulty because of significant adverse changes to their circumstances are encouraged to meet with a Financial Aid Officer to explore their financial aid options.
In their second and third years at Columbia Law School, students who received a three-year grant offer at the time of admission will have their financial aid renewed in accordance with their award notification once they have submitted the following: Financial Aid Questionnaire, Grant Data Sheet, current resume, biographical sketch, loan documents, and loan application(s). They will not need to complete the CSS Profile application, nor to submit tax returns, unless tax data is required for federal verification of FAFSA data.
Grant recipients are required to notify the Law School's Office of Financial Aid of significant changes to their circumstances (e.g., tuition exemption, outside awards, etc.). While adjustments to the Law School award may not always result from such changes, it may be necessary to modify loan amounts.
* The Financial Aid Questionnaire (FAQ). For admitted students, this form may be found on the Admitted Student website. If you are applying for a Law School grant and have been admitted, please submit it by February 15 or immediately after admission. If you are applying only for loans, please submit the FAQ by May 15, along with your loan application materials. Upperclass (second- and third-year students) and Graduate Degree Program LLM students may request the Questionnaire from the Office of Financial Aid.
** For admitted students, if 2023 tax forms are not available by February 15, please submit (via IDOC) complete 2022 tax forms by February 15, and complete 2023 tax forms (again via IDOC) by the end of April. NOTE: Students will be notified by the College Board to submit tax returns via IDOC shortly after they are admitted AND once the CSS Profile form has been received by Columbia. Tax documents ARE NOT accepted by mail, fax or email. Finally, applicants to the J.D. program DO NOT need to submit tax returns unless they are admitted.
*** International students (those who are not US citizens or eligible noncitizens), are not eligible for federal aid and should disregard the FAFSA requirement.