Loans

Most students pay their tuition charges and living expenses through a combination of savings, earnings during law school, and education loans. If a student decides to borrow, the first step is to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and list Vanderbilt University's Title IV code, 003535. 

An admitted student who submits a FAFSA to Vanderbilt will receive a Financial Aid Award Notice that shows:

• Vanderbilt Law School tuition and estimated living expenses for the coming academic year;
• Scholarship funds Vanderbilt Law School has offered to the student; and
• The maximum amount of loans the student may borrow to pay tuition expenses that are not covered by scholarship funds and living expenses for the coming academic year.

Please note that the maximum amount students may borrow is not necessarily the amount each student actually needs to borrow. Living expenses depend, in part, upon personal choices regarding housing, food, entertainment, transportation, and other non-tuition expenses, and many students live comfortably while spending less than estimated by the University. In addition, many students pay some tuition and living expenses using savings, gifts, and income earned during law school, which limits borrowing, thus protecting future income from loan repayment obligations.

Complete information for Vanderbilt graduate / professional students applying for loans is available through the University Office of Student Financial Aid, which awards all forms of federal aid, including Federal Direct Stafford Loans, Federal Work-Study, as well as alternative loans.