Financing Your Education

Direct Costs: Tuition for law students for the 2012-13 academic year at the University of St. Thomas School of Law is $36,424 based on an average credit load of 29 credits and a tuition rate of $1,256. UST Law students take 31 credits in their first year for a tuition cost of $38,936. In order to graduate a student must complete 88 credit hours. Required fees for the 2012-13 total $308. This includes a Technology Fee of $183 and a Student Activity Fee of $125.

Indirect Costs: For students who apply for financial aid the nine month Cost of Attendance Budget includes allowances for other indirect costs. The allowances for such costs as books, supplies, housing, meals, transportation, insurance and other miscellaneous expenses is $19,745. The actual amount of these expenses will vary depending upon the circumstances of each student.

The University of St. Thomas School of Law is committed to making high quality legal education available to students by offering several forms of financial assistance, including scholarship, employment and loans.The financial assistance is designed to help students meet all education-related expenses, including not only tuition, but housing, meals and other living expenses.

Student Employment

Limitations on Student Employment

During any semester for which he or she is enrolled in 12 or more credits, no student shall engage in employment for more than 20 hours per week (whether inside or outside the School of Law.)

Work Study Opportunities

Under UST Law’s federal work study program, students with financial need can work for public interest and public sector employers across the country. Certain job postings will be specifically designed for the work study program; student must speak to a representative in the Financial Aid Office before applying for those position in order to make sure they qualify. Under the work study program, UST Law uses federal work study funds to reimburse qualifying employers for 75% of the students’ salary while employers pay only 25%. A students’ earnings from the federal work study program are counted as a resource and will be factored into their Cost of Attendance Budget.

The work-study program makes awards for both school year and summer employment. The off-campus employers who are partners with the law school for this program are listed below. The positions are posted through the Office of Career and Professional Development through a partnership with the Office of Graduate Financial Aid. For more information on these opportunities, please contact the Office of Career and Professional Development at lawcareers@stthomas.edu. This is a great opportunity to gain valuable legal experience.

To determine if you are eligible for work study, contact Chad Nosbusch, Associate Director of Financial Aid Graduate and Law Programs at chad.nosbusch@stthomas.edu.  To apply for work study, contact Nora Fitzpatrick, Sr. Assistant Dean for Administration at nbfitzpatric@stthomas.edu.

Dakota County Attorney Office

4th Judicial District Self Help Center

All Parks Alliance for Change

1st District Public Defender

Children's Law Center

Institute for Justice

Homeline

City Attorney Office, Minneapolis

Volunteer Lawyers Network

LRAP-MN

9th Judicial District, Public Defender

Central Minnesota Legal Services

2nd District Public Defender

Minnesota Fathers & Families Network

5th Judicial District PD - Mankato

Battered Women's Justice Project

Minnesota Justice Foundation

Legal Aid Society of MN

Appellate Public Defenders Office