Financial Aid
(Click here to learn how to apply for financial aid.)
(Click here for information about Cleveland-Marshall’s Loan Repayment Assistance Program - LRAP)
At Cleveland-Marshall College of Law:
We are committed to ensuring that every qualified student, regardless of financial need, can pursue a legal education. We have a full service financial aid office located in the Law Building, and we offer a quality education at an affordable price.
Scholarships:
All scholarships (money that does not need to be repaid) for entering students are distributed by the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid. Scholarships range from $2000 to full tuition. There is no special application process; simply apply for admission to the college and you will be considered for scholarship money. Last year 46% of entering law students received scholarships.
For a listing of current outside scholarships for which you may qualify or compete, please see the Current Scholarships page.
Loans:
About 80% of the law students receive loans. The average loan is $17,000 per year and the average debt for a graduating law student is $62,000.
Deferments:
Deferments are available for most of your existing educational loans. Simply request the deferment forms from your loan servicer(s), complete the student section, and forward the form to Marcie Rechner, Director of Student Records in the Law Building, Room 142.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Financial Aid process for Admitted Students
Q. What should I do after I receive my award letter?
A. Several things:
1. Return a signed copy of your award letter to Law Financial Aid.
Your award letter lists the loan opportunities that are available to you. Please keep one copy for your records and sign and return a copy to the law school's Office of Admissions and Financial Aid indicating how much of your loan eligibility you want to accept and the lender from whom you want to borrow. Please return your signed award letter to us in a timely manner.
2. Complete Entrance Loan Counseling
If you are a new borrower at Cleveland State University (i.e. you have never borrowed student loans at CSU before), entrance loan counseling is mandatory. You can complete the process online at http://www.csuohio.edu/financialaid/loans/
3. Complete the Master Promissory Note
All new borrowers must complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN), which is your contract with your lender of choice. This MPN is valid for 10 years.
(a) If you choose to borrow from the lending institution Access, indicate this on your award letter. We will notify Access that you wish to borrow from them and they will send you a MPN, which you will complete and return directly to them. DO NOT COMPLETE AN ACCESS MPN VIA THEIR WEBSITE.
(b) If you choose to borrow from another lender, you can complete the MPN online using your Federal PIN as an electronic signature at http://www.csuohio.edu/fao/typesaid.htm. You must return your signed award letter before you complete the MPN.
4. Alternative/Private Loans
If you wish to secure your private/alternative loan you must actually go to the lender’s web site and apply for the loan. This loan is based on your creditworthiness as determined by your lender so there is no guarantee you will be able to get these dollars.
CSU will be notified electronically of your loan request once you are approved for the private/alternative loan. CSU will then certify the loan. A paper loan check will be mailed to the Office of Treasury Services (OTS). You will receive a letter indicating when your check will be available for you to endorse.
Q. What is the Grad PLUS loan?
A. As of July 1, 2006, students enrolled in graduate/professional programs will be allowed to borrow Federal GradPLUS loans. This is similar to a PLUS loan that a parent may have borrowed on your behalf while you were in undergraduate school. However, as an independent student, you can now borrow your own GradPLUS loan. The GradPLUS loan:
- will be based on your creditworthiness (repayment history only);
- has a fixed interest rate of 8.5%;
- can be consolidated with other eligible federal loans; and
- will be disbursed to the institution via Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). The GradPLUS loan can be used as an “alternative” to the private/alternative loan. If you are interested in the GradPLUS, please indicate this on your signed award letter before you return it the Law Financial Aid Office. We will send more information on the new GradPLUS loan as soon as it becomes available.
All of our preferred lenders offer the GradPLUS loan so you can borrow both your Federal Stafford and GradPLUS loans from the same lender.
Q. When is my payment due for classes?
A. Each student has a different due date, depending on the time of registration. For more information, contact the Office of Treasury Services (OTS) at 216-687-3615.
Q. When will my financial aid be reflected on my bill?
A. If you complete your financial aid paperwork in a timely manner, your funds will be available before the start of classes. Per federal guidelines, educational loans cannot be disbursed to the institution until 10 days before classes start. If your guaranteed financial aid will not cover the cost of your tuition and fees, please make arrangements to pay the difference BEFORE your payment due date.
Q. My bill is due today but my loan money has not yet been credited to my account, what do I do?
A. Your loans and grants (which includes scholarships if applicable) will not be reflected on the first bill you get for the semester. You may reduce your bill by the Fall portion of your loans and grants. You must make arrangements to pay the difference if you have a balance owed. If your loans exceed the amount of the bill, you will get a refund. There will be no bursar penalties provided your loans and grants cover the amount due, or if you pay the difference (if any) by your due date.
Q. When do I get my refund check?
A. By federal and university regulations; tuition, fees and any other authorized expenses including but not limited to parking, university housing, insurance, etc. will be deducted from your incoming financial aid. OTS will send you a refund check for the remainder. Refund checks will be mailed by the last week of August (and every Tuesday and Friday thereafter).
Q. Where will my refund check be mailed?
A. Your refund check will be mailed to the address that you have on CampusNet. Please verify and update your address on CampusNet at https://campusnet.csuohio.edu/login.jsp before the start of classes.
Q. Can I pick up my refund check or have it directly deposited to my bank account?
A. No. At this time, CSU does not allow students to pick up their refund checks nor do they have the capabilities for direct deposit of financial aid.
Q. Can I pick up my private/alternative loan check?
A. Maybe. If you have a balance owed on your student account, you must endorse your check over to OTS. They will credit the full amount to your student account, deduct the balance owed and then mail you a refund check for the remainder. If you have a zero balance, OTS will allow you to walk away with your private/alternative loan check, which you can then deposit in your personal checking/savings account.
Q. I received my bill and my tuition deposits are not credited to my student account. hould I worry?
A. No, don’t worry. Your tuition deposits will be credited to your account around the start of classes. You may deduct the deposit amount from your balance.