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Financial Aid Timeline

While a broad overview of the aid process is helpful, we also understand that students need more specific information about aid timing when planning a personal budget. The below financial aid timeline is consistent from year to year but differs based on whether you are an admitted student or you are a continuing student. The financial aid calendar with dates for the current academic year can be found on the Financial Aid Office's main homepage.

Alumni who want to apply for the Law School's Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) should review our LRAP webpage for more information and deadlines. 

Admitted JD Students

Students admitted to the Law School may have other deadlines communicated by the Admissions or Financial Aid Offices that are not outlined below. Be sure to monitor your email and contact Admissions and Financial Aid if you have any questions.

The scholarship process for admitted 3-Year JD/MBA students is overseen by the JD/MBA Committee, a joint committee between Booth and the Law School. The admissions process is administered by the Booth Office of Admissions. 3-Year and 4-Year JD/MBA students are eligible to be considered for all relevant merit-based scholarships and fellowships from Chicago Booth and UChicago Law. 

January/February

  • Admitted JD students will begin receiving "Next Step" emails from the Financial Aid Office shortly after being admitted. This email will include guidance on the scholarship process as well as the information needed to set up a UChicago electronic profile (or CNetID).
    • The initial admission email will not include financial aid awards. Scholarship offers are determined by a separate process after admission.
    • Admitted JD students who indicate on their admission application that they want to be considered for institutional scholarship funding are automatically considered for a scholarship based on the merits of their admission file. For financial need to also be considered in combination with merit, students must submit an optional, separate financial need application. 
    • JD students admitted later in the admission cycle will follow an identical process, with timelines delineated in their admission email as well as in post-admission "Next Step" emails from the Financial Aid Office.

March

  • The financial need application is due on March 1. Students who were admitted after March 1 and want to have financial need considered must submit the application within two weeks of their date of admission.
  • The Financial Aid Office begins releasing aid packages and scholarship letters in mid-March. Students who were admitted after March 1 will receive their aid package and scholarship letters within three to four weeks of admission.
  • Applications for certain named or endowed scholarships are announced to admitted JD students in late March and due in early to mid-April.

April

  • The Financial Aid Office hosts office hours and 1:1 appointments during admitted student events to answer questions and explain the aid process.

May

  • Admitted transfer JD students will begin receiving "Next Step" emails from the Financial Aid Office shortly after being admitted. This email will include guidance on the student loan process as well as the information needed to set up a UChicago electronic profile (or CNetID).
  • Students who have submitted a seat deposit and wish to apply for federal student loan funding for the following academic year are encouraged to submit their FAFSA by May 31.
    • Submitted FAFSAs will continue to be processed past this date in the order received. Loan offers for students who applied after May 31 are typically released about four to six weeks after submission.

June

  • Admitted students who have submitted a seat deposit and applied for student loans by May 31 will begin receiving official financial aid package notifications by late June. These notifications will outline loan offers and next steps in the loan process.

July

  • Admitted transfer JD students who have submitted a seat deposit and applied for student loans will begin receiving official financial aid package notifications by mid-July.
  • The University will begin processing accepted federal and private student loans.
  • Incoming students using federal student loans should complete any additional loan documentation with the Department of Education, which may include a Graduate PLUS Loan Application, Master Promissory Notes, and Entrance Counseling. Students will begin receiving emails if any loan documentation remains outstanding.

August

  • Admitted students who are using private student loan funding for the following academic year are encouraged to complete the private student loan application process by August 1.
  • The initial Autumn Quarter bill is released by the Bursar's Office in late August (or about three to four weeks prior to the start of the quarter) and will include an outline of tuition and fee charges on your UChicago student account and anticipated financial aid for the quarter. Updated bills are released on a monthly basis.

September

  • To finalize your loans by the start of the academic year, complete outstanding student loan documentation as listed in your aid package notification email no later than three weeks prior to the start of the Autumn Quarter.
  • Student financial aid disburses (i.e. pays out) to UChicago student accounts seven to ten days prior to the start of the Autumn Quarter.
  • Refunds for student living expenses are issued by the Bursar's Office about seven to ten days prior to the start of the Autumn Quarter. Refunds will only be issued to students whose bills are paid in full, have an excess credit on their student account, and have completed any outstanding loan items.
  • The Autumn Quarter begins in late September.

October/November/December

Continuing Students

Students may have other deadlines communicated by the Financial Aid Office that are not outlined below. Be sure to monitor your email and contact Financial Aid if you have any questions.

January

  • The Winter Quarter begins in early January.

February

  • Continuing students can start the federal student loan application process for the next academic year by completing the FAFSA. The Financial Aid Office will start including reminders about this in the weekly Student Services newsletter in February.
    • Because of credit pull deadlines, continuing students who will be applying for private student loans for the next academic year should either contact their lender for specific guidance or wait until the summer to begin the private student loan application process.

March

  • The Winter Quarter ends in early to mid-March.
  • The initial Spring Quarter bill is released by the Bursar's Office in early March (or about three to four weeks prior to the start of the quarter) and will include an outline of tuition and fee charges on your UChicago student account and anticipated financial aid for the quarter. Updated bills are released on a monthly basis.
  • The application for Summer Public Interest Funding stipends opens in mid to late March.
  • Student financial aid disburses (i.e. pays out) to UChicago student accounts seven to ten days prior to the start of the Spring Quarter.
  • Refunds for student living expenses are issued by the Bursar's Office about seven to ten days prior the start of the Spring Quarter. Refunds will only be issued to students whose bills are paid in full, have an excess credit on their student account, and have completed any outstanding loan items.
  • The Spring Quarter begins in mid to late March.
  • The Financial Aid Office will offer a loan repayment lunch talk in late March or early April. Reminders will be sent in the weekly Student Services newsletter.

April

  • Graduating students who received federal student loans while at UChicago will begin receiving federally-mandated loan exit counseling reminders via email.
  • The Financial Aid Office will offer an LRAP and PSLF lunch talk in early to mid-April. Reminders will be sent in the weekly Student Services newsletter.

May

  • Students who wish to apply for federal student loan funding for the following academic year are encouraged to submit their FAFSA by May 31.
    • Submitted FAFSAs will continue to be processed past this date in the order received. Loan offers for students who applied after May 31 are typically released about four to six weeks after submission.

June

  • Continuing students who have applied for student loans by May 31 will begin receiving official financial aid package notifications by late June. These notifications will outline loan offers and next steps in the loan process.

July

  • The University will begin processing accepted federal and private student loans during the summer.
  • Students using federal student loans for the first time should complete any additional loan documentation with the Department of Education, which may include a Graduate PLUS Loan Application, Master Promissory Notes, and Entrance Counseling. Students will begin receiving emails if any loan documentation remains outstanding.

August

  • Continuing students who are using private student loan funding for the following academic year are encouraged to complete the private student loan application process by August 1.
  • The initial Autumn Quarter bill is released by the Bursar's Office in late August (or about three to four weeks prior to the start of the quarter) and will include an outline of tuition and fee charges on your UChicago student account and anticipated financial aid for the quarter. Updated bills are released on a monthly basis.

September

  • To finalize your loans by the start of the academic year, complete outstanding student loan documentation as listed in your aid package notification email no later than three weeks prior to the start of the Autumn Quarter.
  • Student financial aid disburses (i.e. pays out) to UChicago student accounts seven to ten days prior to the start of the Autumn Quarter.
  • Refunds for student living expenses are issued by the Bursar's Office about seven to ten days prior the start of the Autumn Quarter. Refunds will only be issued to students whose bills are paid in full, have an excess credit on their student account, and have completed any outstanding loan items.
  • The Autumn Quarter begins in late September.

October/November

December

  • The initial Winter Quarter bill is released by the Bursar's Office in early December (or about three to four weeks prior to the start of the quarter) and will include an outline of tuition and fee charges on your UChicago student account and anticipated financial aid for the quarter. Updated bills are released on a monthly basis.
  • Refunds for student living expenses are issued by the Bursar's Office about seven to ten days prior the start of the Winter Quarter (timing may be impacted by the University's Winter Recess). Refunds will only be issued to students whose bills are paid in full, have an excess credit on their student account, and have completed any outstanding loan items.