USC JD Tuition & Financial Aid
USC Gould School of Law

A legal education is a major investment in your future, and it requires a significant financial commitment. We are here to help.

More than 95 percent of incoming USC Gould students receive some form of scholarship support and, as an admitted student, you will automatically be considered. Award amounts typically range from $10,000 per year up to full tuition, and no minimum grade point average is required. Overall, financial aid for USC Gould students has increased 172% since 2011 to improve the actual cost and value.

We offer several special scholarship opportunities, including full-tuition scholarships with guaranteed summer employment. Learn more about our Rothman Scholars, Public Interest Scholars and Honors Scholars.

In addition, the USC Gould Financial Aid Office will work with you one-on-one to help you navigate the scholarship and financial aid application process — and assist you with counseling and other resources for debt management and financial planning so you are well-prepared for life after law school.

How to Apply

Admitted first-year applicants are automatically considered for a scholarship award. With the exception of the Rothman Scholarship and Public Interest Scholars, no applications are required for scholarship consideration. Scholarship notifications are sent separately from admission decisions.

If, in addition to scholarship support, you want to be considered for student loan programs, you will need to submit the following:

• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• USC Financial Aid Supplement

USC's FAFSA code is 001328. The deadline to apply is generally soon after January 1 each year.

USC Gould does not require parental information on the FAFSA, nor do we require the Need Access Application.

After completing the steps above, admitted applicants will receive electronic notification of eligibility for student loans. If eligible, you will be informed of the additional steps required to secure the desired student loans.

Scholarships are unavailable if you are transferring from another law school.

International applicants are eligible for scholarship awards, but must provide additional materials. As a non-resident student, you will need an I-20 for a F-1 student visa. Please be prepared to provide the appropriate documentation verifying proof of financial support should you be admitted and choose to enroll at USC Gould. This may include bank statements, affidavits of support if the funds are not in your name, and a copy of the information page of your passport.

We established an endowed scholarship to support deserving students who have a dream of attending law school. Each year, we are blown away by the high academic merit and extraordinary drive of incoming USC Gould law students. We are proud to take an active role in helping to attract, welcome and retain the very best students to the Trojan Family.

C. Thomas Hopkins, JD 1993
Sandy Kaneoka

From the very first day of classes, my decision to attend USC and all of the effort that went into having this opportunity were immediately validated. I would not have the current privilege of attending USC Gould and all of the opportunities for personal and academic development that come with it, were it not for this financial assistance.

Kevin Kinder, JD 2018