College of Law Financial Aid
Thank you for selecting Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) College of Law. FAMUCOL is committed to providing Excellence with Caring as we assist you in financing your legal education with federal, institutional, state, and private scholarships and loans. We offer assistance through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at studentloans.gov. All students are required to complete a FAFSA - even students who are only receiving institutional or outside scholarships.
Director's Message
The Florida A&M University College of Law offers a comprehensive financial aid program that includes institutional grants and federal loan programs to help eligible students meet the expenses associated with attaining a legal education. These funds are awarded and administered by the Office of Financial Aid at the College of Law in conjunction with the University’s Office of Financial Aid.
One key issue that all entering students should be apprised of involves the timing of financial aid disbursements. All financial aid is disbursed after drop and add ends and attendance has been verified. This means that refunds for financial aid will not begin until after the first week of class and all disbursement requirements have been met. Please make sure you are financially prepared to pay for your expenses for the month of August and possibly your September rent and other personal expenses if you do not want to pay late fees. Only students receiving financial aid in excess of their fees that have completed all requirements by August 1st can be guaranteed not to receive a late payment fee, they will be deferred. Book vouchers are offered as a courtesy to students who have been awarded funds and have accepted those awards. All other students should be prepared to purchase their books for any assignments due before they receive refunds. It is also imperative that you complete all financial aid forms and submit required documents as outlined on iRattler to avoid delays in the disbursement process.
The Office of Financial Aid at the College of Law serves as a resource to assist students with FAFSA completion, loan information, loan repayment, budgeting, credit management, tuition and fees, retention scholarships and academic support for financial aid regulating guidelines. You are welcome to drop by at any time during office hours or to schedule an appointment during any evening hours that you may need. Expect to receive more helpful tips from our office as we strive to play a vital role in your successful financial navigation through law school.
To schedule an appointment with our office, please email us or call:
Tocoa Hampton/ Director College of Law Financial Aid
tocoa.hampton@famu.edu 407-254-3232
All current FAMU Law students, please use this email for submitting documents and requests:. col_financialaid@famu.edu
We encourage you to check your FAMU emails often to make sure you have no pending emails, notifications, or notices of balances due. We look forward to working with you.
Sincerely,
Tocoa Hampton
Director Office of Financial Aid College of Law
Tocoa Hampton, Director of College of Law Financial Aid Student Affairs
This document is designed to help counselors and mentors assist postsecondary students in developing the skills necessary to make informed financial decisions, with regard to the student loan process in particular.
More Detailed Information
The Cost of Attendance is the educational expenses budget given to students. The
Cost of Attendance includes tuition, books, and living expenses associated with being
a student. The Cost of Attendance is determined by a student’s enrollment, residency
status, and housing status. A student may not receive a financial aid package that
exceeds the student’s Cost of Attendance.
Tuition payment is deferred for financial aid recipients until financial aid disburses each semester. Financial aid begins the disbursement process after the add/drop period of each term. Students are required to submit all requested documentation and have a valid Master Promissory Note on file with the U.S. Department of Education to receive financial aid disbursements. The Office of Financial Aid authorizes the disbursement of student funds to the accounts of students who meet disbursement criteria. After funds are authorized, Student Financial Services (Student Accounts) releases any remaining funds. At the beginning of each semester, students should be financially prepared with the first two months of living expenses.
The Federal Graduate PLUS loan is available to Graduate/Professional students who meet the eligibility requirements to receive federal aid. The Graduate PLUS Loan is offered to students at a 7.9% interest rate. Hence, students should exhaust annual eligibility in the Stafford Loan Program before considering borrowing from the Graduate PLUS Loan program. Students must meet the credit worthiness criteria of the U.S. Department of Education in order to receive the Graduate PLUS Loan. Students who are not deemed credit worthy have the opportunity to apply with a credit worthy endorser (cosigner). Students may borrow up to the remaining balance of the Cost of Attendance, for the given loan period, in the Graduate Plus Loan. Once a student has been credit approved, the University will be notified. The Office of Financial Aid will accept the Graduate PLUS Loan on behalf of students with approved credit. Graduate PLUS Loans are certified for the requested amount or the remaining unmet Cost of Attendance, whichever amount is the lesser.
The Florida A&M University College of Law offers a comprehensive financial aid program that includes institutional grants and federal loan programs to help eligible students meet the expenses associated with attaining a legal education. These funds are awarded and administered by the Office of Financial Aid at the College of Law in conjunction with the University’s Office of Financial Aid.
A limited number of institutional scholarships are available to students entering the College of Law. All admitted students are automatically considered for available scholarships. A separate scholarship application is not needed. Additional donor scholarships are listed on the scholarship listing. For the majority of students, federally-sponsored student loans will be the most common type of financial aid available.
Students who anticipate receiving any form of financial aid, including federally funded student loans must complete either- 1) the U.S. Department of Education RENEWAL Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or 2) a standard Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. The information submitted on this application will determine your eligibility for loans under both the Federal Loan programs. To obtain the FAFSA online, visit www.fafsa.gov. The school code for FAMU is 001480.
Applicants who intend to apply for financial aid may contact the College of Law Financial Aid Office directly at 407-906-0468 / 407-254-4004 / 407-254-3232 for more information and assistance. Applicants are encouraged to begin the financial aid application process early.
For answers to questions specific to the financial aid process at the Florida A&M University College of Law, please review our Frequently Asked Questions section below.
In order to receive federally funded financial aid at Florida A&M University College of Law, a student must:
- have a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) certificate, pass a test approved by the U.S. Department of Education, meet other standards your state establishes that the Department approves, or complete a high school education in a home school setting that is treated as such under state law;
- be working toward a degree or certificate in an eligible program;
- be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen;
- have a valid Social Security Number (unless you’re from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau);
- register with the Selective Service if required. You can use the paper or electronic FAFSA to register, you can register at www.sss.gov, or you can call 1-847-688-6888. (TTY users can call 1-847-688-2567);
- maintain satisfactory academic progress once in school;
- enroll in the equivalent of half-time status;
- certify that you are not in default on a federal student loan and do not owe money on a federal student grant; and
- certify that you will use federal student aid only for educational purposes.
Additionally, students cannot receive Federal Stafford Loan funds in excess of the federally mandated Stafford Loan Aggregate limit
- HOW TO SIGN ON TO STUDENT FINANCIAL PLANNING PORTAL
- HOW TO UPLOAD AND SUBMIT DOCUMENTS ON YOUR STUDENT FINANCIAL PLANNING PORTAL
- HOW TO GRANT ACCESS TO A PARENT/SPOUSE TO VIEW STUDENT FINANCIAL PLANNING PORTAL
- HOW TO VIEW YOUR FINANCIAL AID AWARDS
Please remember to use the Financial Checklist to make sure you have done everything you need to do before August 1st! The checklist is located on the menu bar to your left.
Students who withdraw from all courses or fail to earn credit in a given semester
may require Return to Title IV calculations. During the Return to Title IV process,
the Office of Financial Aid must determine how much financial aid a student who has
withdrawn from all courses has earned. Unearned funds must be returned to the appropriate
federal financial aid program. As a result, students may incur a debt with the University
that must be repaid.
Per federal regulation, students must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress in order to receive federally funded financial aid. Florida A&M University Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy has the following requirements:
- Students must maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA;
- Students must successfully complete 67% of courses attempted (Successful completion of a course requires a grade of A; B; C; D; or S);
- Students attempted course hours must be within 150% of the hours required for degree completion.
- Students who do not meet standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress may submit a Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal based on extenuating circumstances. The appeal form can be found on the main campus financial aid website: www.famu.edu/financialaid.
Graduate/Professional students who meet the aforementioned requirements to receive federal aid may borrow from the Stafford Loan Program. Stafford loan funding is available to assist students with educational expenses. The Stafford Loan is offered at a low interest rate and does not require a credit check. Students may borrow up to $20,500 per academic year in the Stafford Loan Program. The Stafford Loan is not need based. Interest begins accruing on the principal balance of the Stafford Loan after the loan is disbursed to the university. The Stafford Loan has an aggregate loan limit of $138,500. Payment for the Stafford Loan is deferred while students are enrolled at least half-time and up to 6-months after the student ceases to be enrolled at least half-time.
State Employees Utilizing Tuition Fee Waivers
State Employees who are granted fee waivers are welcome to register for six (6) credit hours on a “space available basis only.” (F.S. 1009.265)
Students who are employed by the State of Florida and are eligible to use the State Employee Tuition Waiver form, may submit their completed and approved State Employee Tuition Waiver Form to RegistrarCOL@famu.edu, after enrolling in the semester. The State Employee Tuition Waiver Program covers in-state tuition up to six (6) credit hours.
The designated registration period for State Employees is usually the drop/add week. However, the specific dates are listed on the College of Law Academic Calendar. Attempts to register at any other time will impact the opportunity to use the waiver for the semester and you will be responsible for paying the tuition and fees through other payment options, (i.e. financial aid or self-payment).
State Employees may only register for courses approved by their immediate supervisor, agency head, and the University.
As a State Employee using the state tuition fee waiver, I confirm the following:
- To utilize the State Employee Tuition Waiver, I must be a full-time State of Florida agency (Non-SUS) employee to participate in the State Employee Tuition program
- The waiver of tuition fees will apply for no more than six (6) credits hours per semester. All tuition and fees in excess of six (6) credits are the responsibility of the student to make payment on or before the fee payment deadline date or be subject to late payment fees.
- State Employee Tuition Waivers applies to tuition only.
- State Employee Tuition Waivers may not be used for online degree programs (MBA, Nursing and Public Health), thesis, dissertations, applied music courses, internship, courses requiring directed individual instruction, or offered in Architecture, Journalism, Nursing, and Pharmacy.
- Enrollment under the State Employee Tuition Waiver program shall be authorized on a “Space Available” basis only. “Space Available” refers to the enrollment capacity within a scheduled course.
- I must register only during the date and time prescribed for State Employees as published on the College of Law Academic Calendar, otherwise I will be responsible for the tuition and fees through other payment options (i.e. financial aid or self-payment).
- Use of the registration system to reserve space in a class ahead of the scheduled State Employee registration time will invalidate the tuition fee waiver.
- If I register for course(s) prior to the established State Employee registration date and later conduct a drop/add transaction for the same course(s), this will invalidate the tuition fee waiver and I will be responsible for the tuition and fees for the course(s).
- I am responsible for the terms and conditions of utilizing the State Employee Tuition Waiver set forth by my employer (i.e. providing grades).
- Tuition waiver verification must be assessed and completed each term. If verification is not confirmed, student will be responsible for tuition and fees. State Tuition Waiver is applicable for the current term and is not for retroactive use.
State Tuition Waiver Procedures:
- Review the College of Law (COL) Academic Calendar on the College of Law website to view the State Employee registration dates and other important deadlines. State Employee registrations dates are generally the same week of the drop/add period.
- Obtain the State Employee Tuition Waiver form from the COL Registrar’s webpage.
- Acquire the approval for your State Employee Tuition Waiver form from your supervisor and agency head(or designee).
- Submit completed State Employee Tuition Waiver form with all applicable signatures to the COL Registrar’s Office at RegistrarCOL@famu.edu by the fee payment deadline as published on the COL Academic Calendar.
- COL Registrar’s Office will validate your registration transaction date and provide approval to the University Controller’s Office of Student Account for posting to your student account.
Students who have received the maximum Stafford Loan for the academic year ($20,500) will not have remaining Stafford Loan eligibility during the summer term. However, students who have not exhausted the maximum academic year amount may receive the remaining amount up to $10, 250 for the summer. Students, who do not have remaining Stafford Loans available in the summer may apply for the Graduate PLUS Loan.
Federally funded student loans are disbursed in two substantially equal disbursements each loan period. For financial aid purposes, the summer is a non-standard academic term. Hence, the summer term serves as a loan period. Summer financial aid is disbursed in two disbursements. The second disbursement takes place after the midway point of the summer term.
Financial aid will be awarded to students who are enrolled at least half-time in courses towards degree completion at Florida A&M University. Students enrolled in eligible ABA-approved study abroad programs that meet all other eligibility requirements will be qualified to receive financial aid via the Florida A&M University Office of Student Financial Aid. Students who have elected to take transient courses needed for degree completion that are offered at Florida A&M University at a host institution, while remaining a student at Florida A&M University, will not be eligible to receive financial aid via the Florida A&M University Office of Financial Aid.
Financial aid is divided into two categories: gift-aid and self-help aid. Gift aid
is funding given to students that does not require the student repaying any portion
of the funds received. Gift aid is typically given in the form of grants or scholarships.
Self-help aid requires that a student either earns the financial aid funding via employment
or the funds received must be repaid at a later date.
There are a limited number of institutional scholarships given to students based on
merit. The criteria for receiving a scholarship vary based on the specific award and
the resources available for the academic year. Recipients of institutional funding
will be notified and awards will be added to the students’ financial packages.
Federally funded financial aid available to professional/graduate students is limited
to self-help financial aid programs. Self-help financial aid programs are not gift
aid. Hence, the funds received from the federal programs offered at Florida A&M University
College of Law must be repaid. Students at the College of Law may take advantage
of the Federal Stafford Loan Program and/or the Federal Graduate PLUS Loan Program.
The College of Law Financial Aid Office is committed to serving as a resource to veteran
students and their families. The Financial Aid Office works in conjunction with the
College of Law Registrar’s Office regarding Veteran benefits and payment. All sources
of student aid have rules that govern how aid should be awarded when a student is
receiving Veteran Education Benefits; therefore, it is important for the College of
Law Financial Office and the Registrar to carefully coordinate VA benefits that students
receive to ensure prevention of being over awarded and avoiding the need to repay
any portion of aid that one receives.
Post 9/11 GI Bill and scholarships
Some scholarships may reduce the amount of the tuition payment the GI Bill sends.
If your scholarship is only allowed to pay tuition, the GI Bill cannot pay that tuition
a second time. As Professional Students if your scholarship is meant to pay for costs
beyond tuition, you must submit documentation from the scholarship provider to our
office to be eligible to receive the scholarship on top of the GI Bill. For students
receiving full VA benefits, a complete recalculation of the aid package will occur.
Frequently Asked Questions
The first step in determining a student’s federal financial aid eligibility is submission of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA may be submitted electronically at www.fafsa.gov. The FAFSA must be completed annually. The FAFSA becomes available on October 1st each year. The priority filing date at Florida A&M University is May 1st.
To receive the federal financial aid, students must: be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen; be enrolled in a degree seeking program; be enrolled at least half-time; not be in default on any federally funded student loan; and meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements.
Once a student has received his or her first bachelor’s degree, the federal government no longer provides gift aid (federal grants). Students who have obtained a bachelor’s degree are eligible for self-help federal financial aid. Hence, students at Florida A&M College of Law are eligible for the Federal Loan Programs.
Students may be awarded up to their Cost of Attendance. The Cost of Attendance is
a comprehensive student budget specifically created for students attending Florida
A&M University College of Law. Each student’s Cost of Attendance is based on the student’s
enrollment, residency, and housing status. Please visit Tuition and Fees for more
information.
To receive a disbursement of federal financial aid, students must ensure they have
submitted all items requested on the To-Do-List via the Student Center in iRattler.
Students must also ensure they have completed all steps in the loan process. Students
are required to set up direct deposit and to have an updated address on file for mailing
in order for Student Accounts to process refunds.
Financial aid documents are found on the main campus financial aid website under forms
and publications.
Students should complete all financial aid forms and submit required documents as
outlined on iRattler to avoid delays in the disbursement process.
Per federal regulation, students must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress in order to receive federally funded financial aid. Florida A&M University Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy has the following requirements:
Students must maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA
Students must successfully complete 67% of courses attempted (Successful completion
of a course requires a grade of A, B, C, D, or S)
Students attempted course hours must be within 150% of the hours required for degree
completion
All students, including readmitted and returning students, must meet SAP. Students who have been dismissed, were on leave of absence, or who are returning after appealing dismissal, may qualify for admittance, but still must meet the above SAP requirements to receive financial aid.
Satisfactory Academic Progress is evaluated at the end of each spring term. Students who do not meet Satisfactory Academic Progress standards, due to extenuating circumstances, may submit an appeal. Appeals must include documentation of extenuating circumstances and a Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Performance Plan Form signed by the Academic Dean. Students who meet the requirements for SAP before the next spring term evaluation may submit the Request for Reinstatement of Financial Aid form. All forms can be found on the main campus financial aid website.
To receive a Stafford Loan students must:
- Accept the loans via the Student Center in iRattler
- Complete the online Entrance Interview Counseling for the Stafford
- Loan at www.studentloans.gov
- Complete a Stafford Loan Master Promissory Note at www.studentloans.gov
Graduate and professional students may borrow a maximum of $20,500, in the Stafford
Loan for the academic year. As of July 1, 2012, graduate and professional students
no longer receive subsidized Stafford Loans. Interest will begin accruing after disbursement
on all federally funded loans. The aggregate limit for the Federal Stafford Loan for
Graduate and Professional students is $138,500. This amount includes all Stafford
Loans, including loans received at the undergraduate level.
Students who would like to receive funding up to their Cost of Attendance may apply
for the Graduate/Professional (Grad) PLUS Loan. The Grad PLUS Loan is a credit based
loan that begins accruing interest once the loan is disbursed. Students may borrow
up to their cost of attendance minus any Stafford Loan eligibility in the Grad PLUS
loan. Credit worthiness is determined by the U.S. Department of Education. Credit
worthy endorsers may be utilized, if the student borrower does not meet the U.S. Department
of Education’s credit criteria.
- Apply for the Graduate PLUS Loan via www.studentloans.gov
- Complete online Entrance Interview Counseling for the Graduate PLUS Loan at www.studentloans.gov
- Complete a Graduate PLUS Loan Master Promissory Note at www.studentloans.gov
Please note the Graduate PLUS Loan is not accepted via iRattler. The Graduate PLUS Loan requires credit approval from the chosen lending institution. The Office of Financial Aid will accept Graduate PLUS Loans for students with credit approval from the U.S. Department of Education.
Financial aid disburses after the add/drop period of each term. Students are required
to complete all requested documents and sign the Master Promissory Note on studentsloans.gov
before disbursements are made. Students should be prepared to purchase the books and
materials required for their courses. Additionally, students should be prepared to
pay the first two months of living expenses of each semester.
Federal financial aid is provided to students to assist with expenses related to educational
pursuits. Funds students receive should be used towards tuition, books, supplies and
living expenses associated with being a student.
Students who have received the maximum Stafford Loan for the academic year ($20,500)
will not have remaining Stafford Loan eligibility during the summer term. However,
students who have not exhausted the maximum academic year amount may receive the remaining
amount up to $10,250 for the summer. Students who do not have remaining Stafford Loans
available in the summer may apply for the Graduate PLUS Loan.
If a student fails to earn any credit for a given semester, the student may have to
return a portion of the financial aid received for that term.
Yes. In some cases, your financial aid can be affected by your VA educational benefits.
The only benefits that may affect your financial aid award is the Chapter 33 tuition
and fees paying portion. Each award is different, so the VA benefit may affect each
person’s award differently. VA benefits does not impact a student’s eligibility for
Federal Student Aid such as Federal Direct Loans and Pell Grants.
Prospective students may generally receive their financial aid award notice before
veteran’s educational benefits are certified. Once the Financial Aid office is notified
of your actual VA benefits, the actual net cost for in-state tuition and fees charges
reported to VA will change after the acceptance and application of any waiver of or
reduction in tuition and fees and any scholarship, or other Federal, State, institutional
or employer-based aid or assistance (excluding loans and title IV funds) that is provided
directly to the institution and specifically designated for the sole purpose of defraying
tuition and fees.
