Planning how to finance your legal studies can be daunting. We want to provide you with the tools to understand the many opportunities that Cardozo offers for financing your education.  

Once you are admitted to Cardozo Law you will automatically be considered for merit-based scholarships and grants based on the strength of your admissions application.  

All applicants are considered for the following scholarships or grants upon admission to Cardozo: 

• The Dean’s Merit Scholarship is offered in varying amounts to entering students nominated by the Admissions Committee on the basis of academic credentials and demonstrated potential for success in the legal profession. 

• The E. Nathaniel Gates Scholarship recognizes outstanding potential in those who are first-generation college or graduate students or who have experienced particular barriers or challenges in their path to a career in the law. Professor Gates, a member of the Cardozo faculty from 1992 until his death in 2006, was the first member of his family to attend college and law school. He served as advisor to important initiatives and organizations, including the Diversity Coalition and the Black, Asian, and Latino Law Students Association. 

• The David Martinidez Scholarship provides scholarship funding for applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion or have themselves overcome obstacles, financial and otherwise, in advancing their career objectives. The scholarship is named for a former dean of admissions who championed diversity at Cardozo Law.

Scholarship Retention Data 

Cardozo Law does not award scholarships that may be reduced or eliminated based on law school academic performance other than failure to maintain good academic standing. 

Need-Based Grants 

Cardozo awards a limited amount of need-based grants to qualifying J.D. students. Applicants must file a FAFSA (international students should file the International J.D. Student Financial Aid Application) by April 1st each year to be considered for these awards. Additional information may also be requested. 

Students Eligible for Federal Student Loans (U.S. Citizens and Eligible Non-Citizens)

Students who determine that they may need to utilize student loans in order to help finance their legal education, should carefully review the student loan information provided on our website. We encourage students to review our Debt Management webpage, which provides details pertaining to student loan repayment options, loan forgiveness, and short and long-term financial planning. We offer one-on-one financial aid counseling for newly admitted and currently matriculated students, as well as for graduates. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or if you would like to set up an appointment. 

1. File your FAFSA. 

Financial aid applicants are required to complete and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is utilized to determine eligibility for Federal Aid (Stafford and Graduate PLUS Loans, and Federal Work-Study) and Cardozo's institutional need-based aid. 

To file your FAFSA, please visit: http://fafsa.gov/

• For the 2024-2025 academic year (Summer '24, Fall '24, & Spring '25 semesters) file the 2024-2025 FAFSA - Priority Deadline April 1, 2024

Yeshiva University Federal Title IV Code: 002903 

Once your FAFSA is officially completed, the federal processor will e-mail you a Student Aid Report (SAR), which is a summary of your FAFSA responses. Please carefully review the SAR for errors and make any corrections. An electronic version of the SAR will also be sent to Cardozo (Yeshiva University: 002903). Cardozo's Office of Student Finance (OSF) will utilize your FAFSA to determine your eligibility for Federal Aid and institutional need-based aid. You may also be required to submit additional documentation to satisfy federal compliance, such as tax "Verification", to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship, Permanent Residence, and Social Security Number verification. Cardozo's OSF will notify you directly if additional documentation is required. 

Your signature on the FAFSA indicates that you understand that Cardozo's OSF reserves the right to request additional documentation in support of your aid application, and you will not receive a financial award until you have complied with the requirements. 

2. Complete Cardozo's Consent to Participate in Electronic Transactions Form. 

Federal law requires that Cardozo's Office of Student Finance (OSF) obtain a student's voluntary consent in order to participate in electronic transactions for all financial information provided or made available to student loan borrowers, and for all notices and authorizations to Federal Student Aid recipients required under 34 CFR 668.165. 

This consent will allow OSF to electronically communicate important financial aid information directly to you, which may include notices, disclosures, award letters, and direction to secure websites. Upon request, students are entitled to a paper copy of any of the information electronically communicated by OSF. 

Newly admitted students (who have not yet officially deposited at Cardozo): please click HERE to complete Cardozo's 2024-2025 electronic consent form. If you weren't provided a YU ID yet, you may write "Don't Know My ID" in the electronic consent YU ID box.

Continuing students: Log into your Inside Track account (click hyperlink) -> On the top left of the page, click on the 3 horizontal lines, which is the Main Menu - Click on "Students" -> Scroll down to the Cardozo Financial Aid card, and click on "Financial Aid Account" -> A new browser will open, taking you to your Banner account -> Next to "Aid Year" on the top right, select "Financial Aid 2024-2025" -> Under "Responses Required", view the "Questions from the Financial Aid Office" in red -> Click on "View Questions" -> Please carefully read the electronic consent statement -> If you agree, click on the dropdown box and select "I agree" -> Click "Submit"

3. Review Cardozo's Financial Aid Award Notification Email.  

Admitted students who have filed the FAFSA and met all of the requirements will receive a financial aid award notification email from Cardozo's OSF. The award notification will detail eligibility for federal student loans and any institutional aid (merit scholarships, need-based grants, need-based loans) if applicable. Detailed information regarding these awards will be included in the award notification email. It is extremely important that you thoroughly review all of the information provided to you within the financial aid award notification email. We recommend that you visit Cardozo's Debt Management website for helpful information on budgeting, loan repayment (including Income Driven Repayment plans), loan forgiveness (including Public Service Loan Forgiveness and Cardozo's LRAP), and other important details. 

4. Set Up Your Financial Aid. 

Deposited students may proceed by accepting and/or applying for the appropriate student loans as indicated in the financial aid award notification. Detailed instructions will be provided to you on how to officially accept and/or apply for student loans. 

International Students (Non-U.S. Citizens - Ineligible for Federal Student Loans) 

J.D. students who are ineligible for U.S. federal student loans may apply for institutional need-based aid (grant and loan) by submitting a completed annual International J.D. Student Financial Aid Application.

• For the 2024-2025 academic year (Summer '24, Fall '24, & Spring '25 semesters) file the 2024-2025 International J.D. Student Financial Aid Application - Priority Deadline April 1, 2024. 

Admitted students who have filed Cardozo's International J.D. Student Financial Aid Application, demonstrated financial need, and met all of the eligibility requirements, will receive a financial aid award notification email from Cardozo's OSF.  The award notification will detail eligibility for institutional financial aid, which may include need-based grants and/or need-based loans. Detailed information regarding these awards will be included in the financial aid award notification email. It is extremely important that you thoroughly review all of the information provided to you within the financial aid award notification email.

1. Log into your Inside Track account: https://insidetrack.oci.yu.edu/
2. On the top left of the page, click on the Main Menu (3 horizontal lines)
3. Click on “Students”
4. Scroll down to the Cardozo Financial Aid card, and click on “Financial Aid Account”
5. A new browser will open, taking you to your Banner account
6. Next to "Aid Year" on the top right, select "Financial Aid 2024-2025"
7. On the top of the page, click on "Offer"
8. Scroll down to view your 2024-2025 Cost of Attendance and Financial Aid

Please Note - newly admitted students will not have access to log into Inside Track, and should refer to their financial aid notification email. 

AccessLex Law School Scholarship Databank

FastWeb

Mapping Your Future

Big Future

For International Students:

EduPass

IEFA

Career One Stop

Additional External Scholarships:

New York Bar Foundation Fellowships and Scholarships

NAPABA Law Foundation Scholarships

Trial LawHER Scholarship 

When There are Nine Scholarship Program

Brandeis Association Scholarship Fund

DRI Law Student Diversity Scholarship Program