JD Program,  JD—Part-Time Program ("FlexJD"), and On-Ground LLM Programs

Financial Aid Disbursement in the JD Program

During your 1L year, financial aid is disbursed in coordination with the billing cycle in two semesters. During your 2L and 3L years, your financial aid is disbursed in coordination with the billing cycle in three semesters. Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans, Direct PLUS Loans, and private loans will be disbursed to your tuition account in equal installments across all three terms each year.

All merit- and need-based scholarships awarded by the School of Law are applied only to tuition for terms as a full-time student at the School of Law. These scholarships are disbursed in equal installments across your School of Law billed terms.

Financial Aid Disbursement in the JD—Part-Time Program ("FlexJD")

Your financial aid is disbursed in coordination with the FlexJD billing cycle in three semesters (fall, spring, summer) for each of your first three years in the FlexJD program and in two semesters (fall, spring) in your fourth year in the FlexJD program. Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans, Direct PLUS loans, and private loans will be distributed in equal installments across all terms.

All merit- and need-based scholarships awarded by the School of Law are applied only to tuition for terms as a FlexJD student at the School of Law. These scholarships are disbursed in equal installments across your School of Law billed terms. 

Financial Aid Disbursement in the On-Ground LLM Programs

Your financial aid is disbursed in coordination with the billing cycle. Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans, Direct PLUS Loans, and private loans will be distributed in equal installments across all terms.

All merit- and need-based scholarships awarded by the School of Law are applied only to tuition for terms as a full-time student at the School of Law. These scholarships are disbursed in equal installments across your School of Law billed terms.

Switching between the experiential program and the traditional program may impact your billing and scholarships. You must consult with the Office of Financial Aid if any adjustments are made.

Additional Financial Aid Information Applicable to JD Program, JD—Part-Time Program ("FlexJD"), and On-Ground LLM Programs 

Adjustments to your pattern of attendance, credits enrolled, degree conferral date, and/or scholarship funding may impact your billing and financial assistance. You must consult with the Office of Financial Aid at lawfinaid@northeastern.edu if any adjustments are made. The University retains the right to modify the aid package you have been awarded if your eligibility for federal, state, or institutional funds has changed.

Students who are interested in reapplying or applying for financial aid must provide the appropriate paperwork each year. The application process for the following year generally begins in January. Students should complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online. All paperwork must be submitted by the published deadlines.

Students enrolled in dual degree programs do not receive any merit- or need-based aid from NUSL while enrolled in the other degree program. The total amount of merit aid awarded to you at the time of acceptance could be impacted. All dual degree students are required to meet with the Office of Financial Aid.

Tuition Payments

Students will have a hold placed on their account if their billable charges have not been paid by the due date published on their bill. Students with a hold on their account are not eligible to register for or attend classes or utilize University services unless their bill has been paid or specific arrangements have been made with the University. Late fees are charged for late payment of tuition. Students are notified by email when their tuition bill is posted to the Student Hub. It is the student’s responsibility to review their bill and make timely payments.

Tuition Refunds

Students can view information about tuition refunds here.

Work Study

The award of federal work-study funds is made by the Office of Financial Aid. Federal work-study is a need-based award. Work-study is awarded to upper-level JD students, upper-level FlexJD students, and on-ground LLM students based on the information provided on their FAFSA. 1L students and eligible LLM students who are interested in work-study should contact the Office of Financial Aid.

Students who are awarded work-study and wish to take advantage of these funds must use them during an academic semester, not a co-op semester, unless their work-study funds have been specifically designated for use in connection with their co-op work. Students who receive work-study awards should consult Northeastern University Student Employment. Jobs may be available in the Law Library and other University locations; students can search and apply for jobs in Workday. Upper-level JD students, FlexJD students, and on-ground LLM students are eligible to apply for faculty research assistant positions, all of which are work-study eligible. Specific work-study guidelines, including payment procedures, are available on the Student Employment website.

Effect of Withdrawal

If you are receiving federal financial aid and withdraw or take a leave of absence from the University, you may be subject to the federal Return of Title IV Aid and state financial aid return policies. Students must notify Student Financial Services about any change in their planned period of enrollment, whether due to withdrawal from a class, a leave of absence, a change in co-op or academic division, or withdrawal from the University.

Non-attendance does not constitute official withdrawal. If a student who initially attended classes in a semester and does not officially withdraw fails to earn a passing grade in at least one course over an entire term, the University must assume that the student has unofficially withdrawn. For this purpose, non-passing grades include W, NE, *, IP, L, or I. Unofficial withdrawals will be determined within 90 days of the end of the term. Federal financial aid recipients will have their awards reviewed and recalculated, causing a reduction in aid awarded.

Remember that if you are not enrolled at least half-time for more than six months, your student loans will go into repayment.

Federal Return of Title IV Aid Overview

The University's Student Financial Services is required by federal statute to recalculate federal financial aid eligibility for students who withdraw, drop out, are dismissed, or take a leave of absence prior to completing 60% of a term. The student's eligibility for the funds received from federal Title IV financial aid programs must be recalculated in these situations.

Recalculation is based on the percentage of earned aid using the following Federal Return of Title IV funds formula:

  • Percentage of earned aid = number of days of the term completed up to the withdrawal date divided by the total days in the term. For unofficial withdrawals, the withdrawal date used for aid recalculation is the midpoint of the term. Any break of five days or more is not counted as part of the days in the term.
  • Funds are returned to the appropriate federal program based on the percentage of unearned aid using the following formula:
    • Aid to be returned = (100% of the aid that could be disbursed minus the percentage of earned aid) multiplied by the total amount of aid that could have been disbursed during the term.

If a student earned less aid than was disbursed, the institution is required to return a portion of the funds that have been received by the student. Keep in mind that when Title IV funds are returned, the student may owe a balance to the institution. If you took out a refund prior to withdrawing or to the Office of Financial Aid being notified of your withdrawal, you will be responsible for paying the funds back to the University. If a student earned more aid than was disbursed, the institution would owe the student a post-withdrawal disbursement, which must be paid within 120 days of the student's withdrawal.

Online LLM, MLS, and Graduate Certificate Programs (for Students Other Than JD students)

Students in these programs should consult the graduate catalog and the Student Financial Services webpages for applicable policies.