Prospective law students are a determined bunch—and savvy consumers. Whether they’re visiting us for a guided tour, attending an information session, or previewing law school with an open house, they come armed with questions about what their future will be like.
Lots of questions.
That’s why we gathered some of those New England Law FAQs, with a series of blog posts outlining the answers. Next up: finances!
Of course, if you have a question not on this list, feel free to get in touch with us directly! Our Admissions team is happy to help. Just email us or call 877-387-2417.
Related: New England Law FAQs: Student Life
Where can you get financial aid information?
Prospective New England Law students can start their financial aid journey here. Our friendly and knowledgeable financial aid team is always happy to answer any questions they can.
How do we apply for FAFSA?
Law students should fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) directly through the government website.
The New England Law Office of Financial Aid advises filing as soon after October 1 as possible the year before you intend to enroll in law school. They also recommend using the IRS Data Retrieval tool, if you are eligible to do so. You can learn more FAFSA tips specific to New England Law here.
What is the typical cost of living in Boston?
Boston has many neighborhoods, and where you live will of course heavily impact your rent. Boston.com keeps a handy running tally of average rents (one-bedroom apartments) in various neighborhoods; perennial favorites among New England Law students include Allston, $1,900; Beacon Hill, $2,445; and Jamaica Plain, $1,950 (all Spring 2019).
Beyond housing, your living costs will be rather personal, though we do base our student expense budget cost of living estimates on local benchmarks and data.
How do students pay for housing?
Like most graduate and other professional schools, New England Law does not offer on-campus housing. Most students commute in from home or move to apartments near campus. And with our location in downtown Boston, surrounded by public transportation options, you can live practically anywhere in or around the city.
As for paying for those bountiful housing options, students often use a combination of savings and student loans, planning their borrowing to allow for living expenses, based on predetermined student budgets. Students are advised to come up with their own budgets as well, particularly when planning housing costs. For example, they may choose to move farther away from downtown and/or find roommate to offset the costs of renting.
Related: How to Be Smart About Law School Financial Aid: 12 Tips You Need to Know
What scholarships do you offer?
Oh, lots.
Incoming law students are automatically considered for many merit-based scholarships, including scholarships for demonstrated interest in criminal law, immigration, intellectual property (IP), public interest law, and other legal specialties; for being a first generation student; for attending any four-year Massachusetts state college or university; for relocating to Boston for law school; and more. Our most generous award is the full-tuition scholarship for our Justice Sandra Day O'Connor Honors Program scholars, who are chosen based on exceptional academic achievement.
Learn more about financial aid at New England Law | Boston.