Financial Aid & Scholarships

Active duty, reservists, veterans and spouses: Post-9/11 GI Bill 

All current active duty service members, reservists, veterans and spouses should learn about the Post-9/11 GI Bill. For students who qualify for funding at the maximum rate, the Post-9/11 GI Bill will provide almost half of TJSL tuition.

The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides up to 36 months of financial support for education and housing to individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate military service after September 10, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. Benefits are generally payable for 15 years following release from active duty. In addition to tuition and fees, the GI Bill can also provide a monthly housing allowance. Some service members may also transfer their GI Bill benefits to dependents. For much more information on the Post-9/11 GI Bill and how it applies to you, visit http://www.gibill.va.gov/benefits/post_911_gibill/.

Veterans: Yellow Ribbon Program

In addition to the Post 9/11 GI Bill, veterans and spouses of veterans should learn about the Yellow Ribbon Program. Under this program, many military veterans (and their spouses or other dependents) may attend TJSL without ever paying out-of-pocket for tuition.  

The Yellow Ribbon Program, which is administered by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, makes up the difference between funds provided by the Post-9/11 GI Bill and the full cost of tuition for any semester in which a veteran (or the spouse or other dependent to whom he or she has transferred benefits) is entitled to the maximum benefit rate under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.  In other words, if you are entitled to the 100% benefit rate under the Post-9/11 GI Bill and apply your GI-Bill benefit to your TJSL tuition, the Yellow Ribbon Program makes it possible for you attend TJSL tuition-free.  

It is up to the educational institution to decide how many Yellow Ribbon participants it will fund, and in what amounts. At TJSL, we take great pride on our generous participation in this important program. 

You may be eligible for participation in this program if (1) you served an aggregate period of active duty of at least 36 months after September 10, 2001, or (2) were honorably discharged from active duty for a service-related disability and you served 30 continuous days after September 10, 2001, or (3) if you are a dependent eligible for transfer of a veteran's Post-9/11 GI Bill benefit. You are not eligible for participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program if you are still on active duty.  

For more information on the Yellow Ribbon Program, please visit: http://gibill.va.gov/benefits/post_911_gibill/yellow_ribbon_program.html.

Entering Student Merit Scholarships

Beginning with the class that enters August 2014, TJSL has adopted an exciting new scholarship policy. Thomas Jefferson offers guaranteed merit scholarships to students entering law school for the first time based on the students highest LSAT score and their cumulative undergraduate grade point average (UGPA) as calculated by LSAC. An entering student is guaranteed to retain his or her scholarship as long as he or she remains eligible to continue enrollment and is enrolled at the law school. Full-time students receive scholarships for six semesters. Part-time students receive scholarships for eight semesters. There is no need to submit a separate scholarship application; awards will be based on the highest LSAT and UGPA as reported on the student's LSAC CAS Report. Applicants from undergraduate schools that do not use a traditional 4.0 grading system and applicants who received an undergraduate degree from a foreign school will be awarded a scholarship consistent with the matrix using an individualized assessment of the applicant’s complete file.

To learn more, go to the Entering Student Merit Scholarships FAQs.

FAQs

I am eligible for military benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. What does the award cover?

The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides financial support for education and housing to individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service after September 10, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. You must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill.  This benefit provides up to 36 months of education benefits. Generally, benefits are payable for 15 years following your release from active duty. Payments include a tuition allowance for 2014/2015 up to $20,235 per year (as determined by VA), monthly housing allowance based on the zip code of the school (as determined by VA), and book stipend up to $1,000/year. The percentage of maximum benefit payment is based on the length of military service time after September 10, 2001.

I am a military veteran. Does Thomas Jefferson participate in the VA Yellow Ribbon Program?

Yes. The Law School prides itself on its generous participation in this important program. This program allows institutions of higher learning (degree granting institutions) in the United States to voluntarily enter into an agreement with VA to fund tuition expenses that exceed the highest public in-state undergraduate tuition rate. The institution can contribute up to 50% of those expenses and VA will match the same amount as the institution. Unlike most law schools, Thomas Jefferson School of Law agrees to fund the maximum 50% of the tuition cost, with a corresponding match from VA.

For more information on the Yellow Ribbon Program go to the Law School’s website at www.tjsl.edu/admissions/financial-aid/types-aid/va-benefits and the VA’s website at www.gibill.va.gov/gi_bill_info/ch33/yrp/2013/states/ca.htm

I am a military veteran. How does that affect my scholarship?

Military veterans who are eligible for the Veterans Affairs’ Yellow Ribbon program will receive scholarship funding from both the VA and the Law School, not to exceed full tuition. Due to this shared arrangement, once the Law School receives the appropriate documentation, your scholarship amount might change. In no event, however, will you receive less financial assistance than you were offered on admission.

I am a military spouse.  How do I qualify for educational benefits?

The Department of Defense (DOD) determines whether or not an active-duty service member can transfer benefits to family members. Upon approval by DOD, a spouse may apply to use transferred benefits with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) by completing VA Form 22-1990e (http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov). An eligible service member may transfer up to the total months of unused Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, or the entire 36 months if the member has used none.  Once approved by DOD and VA, a spouse may start to use the benefit immediately. Spouses are not eligible for the monthly housing allowance while the member is serving on active duty.

Please also visit our general Financial Aid page to learn more about paying for law school, even if military benefits will not apply.