1. For all students, we consider summer earnings in determining need-based tuition fellowship.

2. Our policy is to protect $8,500 of your earnings for your living expenses. We then take 57% of the amount over $8,500 as a resource.

1. Based on our dependence rules, any student who is 29 or older as of September 1 is considered independent in terms of tuition fellowship eligibility. In this scenario, then, no parental resources are considered in determining need-based tuition fellowship eligibility.

2. For each subsequent year of age starting at 26, the percentage of parental contribution considered will decrease by 25%. See below.

Student Age as of September 1 and % of Parental Contribution Considered:
26 -75%
27 – 50%
28 – 25%
29 – 0%

The use of parent(s)’ information is to calculate the ability to contribute. There is no expectation that they will provide any funds in payment to Stanford. Rather, that calculation of their contribution is used only to assess your tuition fellowship level. As such, parent information is required for students under the age of 29.

1. Siblings in college will reduce your Parental Contribution (PC) and may increase your eligibility for need-based tuition fellowship. We assume that parents are supporting all students in college equally so the PC is divided between enrolled sibling(s) and you.

a. If 2 students are in college, we only consider 50% of the PC. For example, if your PC is $20,000 and one other sibling is enrolled at least half-time at another institution, your PC will be reduced to $10,000.
b. If 3 or more are in college, adjustments are made accordingly following the guidelines above.

2. If a sibling graduates or is no longer enrolled, then your PC will no longer be adjusted. In that case, your PC will revert to the full amount as your parent(s) will no longer be supporting multiple children in college.

The 2026 Federal Poverty Level guidelines set the 200% poverty line for income for a family of 4 is $66,000. Additionally, if your parent(s) have no other resources (i.e., assets) that are more than $150,000, you would qualify for our full-tuition funding.

1. Your assets starting in the 1L year are pro-rated over three years of study. This pro-rated amount is considered as a resource.

a. Assets included are cash, savings, investments.
b. Retirement is not considered as an asset.
c. For example, if your assets total $15,000, this amount will be prorated over three years. $5,000 will be considered as a resource in each of your three years of law school.

2. If total assets increase by $5,000 or more during your 2L or 3L year, the higher amount will be used and prorated for the number of years remaining in the program.

a. If you started your 1L year with a total of $5,000 in assets and in your 2L year your assets increase to $10,000, we will use the $10,000 to recalculate the amount of contribution from assets will be used for the 2L and 3L year (i.e. prorated for the remaining 2 years left of study).

1. Our policy in considering student’s summer income is to protect $8,500 for your living expenses. We then consider 57% of the amount over $8,500 as a resource.

a. This means that $31,500 ($40,000 – $8,500) is the income that’s considered as a resource. We then consider 57% of this amount ($17,955) as a resource.

2. If a student meets the 200% poverty guideline for tuition fellowship they will be impacted in the following way:

a. Income $25,000 or less: No impact
b. Income of $25,001-$30,000: Protection of $8,500 and 5% of the remaining amount
c. Income of $30,001-$39,999: Protection of $8,500 and 10% of the remaining amount
d. Income of $40,000 and above: Protection of $8,500 and 15% of the remaining amount
e. To provide an example using scenario d above and using summer income is $40,000, 15% of the amount over $8,500 will factor into the tuition fellowship eligibility from income. This means that $4,725 ($40,000 – $8,500 = $31,500 * 15%) is considered a resource.

1. The policy in considering student’s summer incoming is to always protect $8,500 for summer living expenses. We then look at earnings beyond $8500 in calculating your available resources. In this scenario, we look at 57% of the amount over $8,500 as a resource.

a. In this scenario, $0 of your summer earnings will impact tuition fellowship since the earned income of $8,500 is protected.

1. Teaching Assistants and Legal Assistants receive a tuition allowance as part of their hiring package. This is considered a resource towards payment of tuition charges. This funding will affect loan eligibility but will not affect tuition fellowship eligibility.

2. Based on the 2025-2026 assistantship rates, if you work as a Teaching Assistantship at the 6 hour per week rate (i.e., total minimum hours of 72 for the quarter), then you will receive a tuition allowance (remission) of $5,034. Your total loan eligibility will decrease by the amount of the tuition allowance. These rates will be adjusted for the 2026-2027 academic year.

If you think there are additional circumstances that we should consider, please reach out and ask us to take another look at your materials.

1. Students are required to report any significant changes to financial circumstances including:

a. Changes in income
b. Outside scholarships/gifts
c. Changes in family circumstances

2. Financial aid awards may be revised if the change affects tuition fellowship eligibility by $1,000 or more.

3. Any outside aid including family gifts, tuition allowance, or external scholarships will affect loan eligibility and will not affect tuition fellowship eligibility.