Admitted JD Students

July 1
FAFSA and aid-related tasks in Catalyst should be submitted by July 1 to ensure completion of the full process in advance of the Fall bill payment due date. Students may continue to apply and complete tasks after this date; however, aid may not be processed by the time fall payment is due. 

July 15
Fall bills will be generated for all registered students.  

August 1 
Enroll in direct deposit. To set up direct deposit, open  Catalyst and click the My Finances tile. On the left side, click Billing Information and then Direct Deposit Enrollment from the drop-down menu. 

August 14
Fall Semester Financial Aid Disbursements Begins 

August 17
New Student Orientation Begins and Fall Semester Direct Deposit Begins 

August 24
Fall Semester Classes Begin 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How do I Accept My Financial Aid?

Each academic year, follow the steps below to accept your aid:

• Log into Catalyst
• Select the My Finances tile
• Under Financial Aid Information, click Accept/Decline Financial Aid
• Select the appropriate aid year.
• Select the awards that you wish to accept. 
• For the Federal Direct Unsubsidized loan, you must enter the dollar amount you wish to borrow in the accepted column. 

What Happens if I have an outstanding balance?

Students with a past due balance are subject to late payment fees and limitations of service that can prevent future registration. Also, federal aid regulations limit aid from one academic year being used to pay off an amount owed from a previous academic year. Be sure to monitor your online bill and ensure their payments are up-to-date to avoid registration and aid problems in the future.

When will I Receive My Refund?

Students with credit balances (“CR: will appear after the amount on the Amount Due line) for any term will have a refund issued by the Student Accounts Office. Students must sign up for direct deposit.  

General refund policies are noted below:

• The refund process for a term will not begin until 10 days prior to the start of the term.
• Your online bill will display when your specific refund is processing with the anticipated date of the refund noted as well.
• Refunds may also be delayed due to academic action (e.g. withdrawing or adding classes) during the first 2 weeks of the term. 
• Refunds based on a credit balance due to financial aid will be processed as an overage occurs.

How Can I Review Remaining Loan Eligibility and Increase My Loans?

Once you have accepted any portion of your loan, your financial aid award offered amount will then reflect your accepted amount. Students who decline a portion of their loan may later ask to have their loan increased/reinstated if they remain eligible for the loan. 

Contact Enrollment Services (enrollmentservices@uc.edu or 513-556-1000) to have eligibility evaluated.

When a student is deemed eligible, the requested loan increases will appear as part of the award package within 5 business days. 

How Much Money Can I Borrow During Law School?

Eligible U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens may borrow up to $50,000 per academic year for professional programs such as law, with a $200,000 lifetime limit. No credit check is required. An origination fee is deducted from each disbursement, and interest begins accruing immediately.

Do I Have to Reapply for Financial Aid Every Year?

Yes. Because eligibility for federal student aid does not carry over from one award year to the next, you need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for each award year in which you are or plan to be a student. FAFSA typically opens on October 1. University of Cincinnati’s FAFSA code is 003125. 

How Much Interest Do My Loans Accrue? 

Loans begin accruing interest as soon as they are disbursed to your account. You may view current interest rates online at StudentLoans.gov. It is important that you understand how interest is calculated and the fees associated with your loan. Both factors will impact the amount you will be required to repay.  

What is Verification?

If your FAFSA is selected for verification, the Department of Education requires the University of Cincinnati to check the accuracy of the FAFSA information you provided. Verification must be completed before financial aid can be disbursed. You will be notified via your UC email of any required documentation. Instructions to access your Financial Aid Portal will be listed on the To Do List in your Catalyst account.  

How Do I Learn About Veterans Benefits?

It's important that any student wishing to take advantage of Veterans Educational Benefits contact the Veterans Program and Services (VPS) Office. 

UC Veterans Programs and Services Office  
Phone: (513) 556-6811  
E-mail:   vetcert@uc.edu  
In-Person: 230 University Pavilion (2nd floor) 
(Monday - Friday, 8:30am - 4:30pm)

Will I receive a refund of my Enrollment Deposit?

With the exception of Taft Scholarship recipients, all enrollment deposits are credited to your account as a partial payment on your fall semester tuition. 

Are Loan Forgiveness Programs Available for Law Graduates? 

Visit https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation for the latest updates on Federal Student Loan Forgiveness. 

Cincinnati Law Orientation will begin the week of Monday, August 17, 2026. Attendance in-person throughout the entire week is mandatory, and students should plan for sessions to run from about 9:00am until 4:00pm each day.

Please note that you should have arranged parking via UC Parking Services. You can find that information at: Student Parking Services. 

A schedule for the week can be found on the New Student Orientation Intranet Page (access will be available July 2026). There may be some revisions prior to Orientation week and this page will be updated accordingly. You’ll note that there will be days when we will be providing lunch, and other days when you’ll be on your own, so do plan accordingly. 

If you need to discuss accommodations prior to Orientation, please contact Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, Community Engagement, and Equity Rudy Trejo (trejorg@ucmail.uc.edu).

THINGS TO DO BEFORE JUNE 1

• Pay Your Seat Deposit
  Admitted students must pay a non-refundable $500 Enrollment Deposit, which is split into two $250 installments ("First Enrollment Deposit", "Second Enrollment Deposit"). The Enrollment Deposit(s) reserves your place in the entering class and will later be applied as partial payment of your fall semester tuition. Deposit deadlines can be found in your acceptance packet and status portal. You can pay your seat deposits online through the links provided in your Applicant Online Status portal. 
  • Pay $250 First Enrollment Deposit
  • Pay $250 Second Enrollment Deposit

• Submit Your Confirmation Form
  In addition to the Enrollment Deposit(s), the online Confirmation Form ("Confirmation Form - Respond to Offer") must be completed in order to confirm your enrollment for the Fall term. This form is also used by the university to determine your initial status for state residency and student financial aid. You will receive instructions via email for accessing the confirmation form prior to your deposit deadline.

THINGS TO DO BEFORE AUGUST 1

• Complete and submit the Student Services Form
• Complete and submit the Student Photo Release Form
• Email trejorg@ucmail.uc.edu if you need accommodations for Orientation Week
• Request your UC Bearcat ID Card
• Obtain a Parking Pass Student Parking Services.
• Submit your Final Transcript
  
The transcript submitted to LSAC with your application does not satisfy this requirement. 

All transcripts must arrive before August 1. We must receive confirmation that your bachelor’s degree was conferred before you begin classes. If your bachelor’s degree will not be completed until the summer term immediately preceding the start of law school, you should contact the Office of Admissions as soon as possible to discuss documentation of your anticipated graduation.

University of Cincinnati Law Admissions, P.O. Box 210040, Cincinnati, OH 45221-0040

THINGS TO DO BEFORE AUGUST 12   

• Contact the Accessibility Resources Office if you need accommodations for a physical, mental, or learning disability.

KEEP YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION UPDATED
It is important to notify the Office of Admissions & Financial Aid of any changes to your primary email, phone number, and mailing address.

Questions? Contact the College of Law Office of Admissions at admissions@law.uc.edu or (513) 556-0078.

Corporate Law Center | Center for Race, Gender, & Social Justice | Ohio Innocence Project | Urban Morgan Institute 

In addition to scholarships, our Centers of Excellence offer prestigious fellowships to incoming first year students and returning students. These fellowships offer in-depth, real-world experience to students interested in specialized legal fields, opening doors to future career opportunities. Many also come with additional scholarship and/or stipends, giving you extra support as you dive deeper into your legal journey.

Join us for an exclusive virtual information session on Thursday, January 29 at 12:00 PM! Get the inside scoop as you connect with representatives from all four dynamic centers. Discover exciting fellowship opportunities and have your questions answered in real time. Don’t miss this chance to take your legal journey to the next level! 

 Register here. 

Please Note: 

• To be eligible, you must be a JD applicant for Fall 2026. While all applicants can apply for fellowships, only admitted students will be interviewed and considered for fellowship positions.

• Deadline to apply: February 15, 2026. Applications received after February 15 will automatically be placed on our fellowship waitlist and reviewed (and potentially interviewed) on a rolling basis at the director’s discretion.  

• Students may apply and interview for multiple fellowships but may only accept one. 

• Accessibility Resources
• Catalyst and Canvas
• Digital Technology Solutions
• Dining Options
• Enrollment Services
• International Services
• Optional Reading for Incoming 1L Students
• Parking
• Tuition, Financial Aid, & Residency
• Laptop Requirements
  • Windows (recommended)
    • Processor: 8th generation Intel i5 or AMD Ryzen 3 with 2.0Ghz clock speed and quad-core    
    • Memory (RAM): 8GB (minimum), 16GB (recommended)
    • Hard Drive: 256GB (minimum), 512GB (recommended)
    • Built-in or External Webcam with Microphone and Speakers (These will be needed to participate in synchronous online classes.) 
  • Mac
    • Processor: 8th generation Intel i5 with 2.0Ghz clock speed and quad-core (recommended)
    • Memory (RAM): 8GB (minimum), 16GB
    • Hard Drive: 256GB (minimum), 512GB
    • We recommend MacBook Pro over MacBook Air
    • Built-in or External Webcam with Microphone and Speakers (These will be needed to participate in synchronous online classes.) 
  • While recent Windows Surface Pro tablets are supported, tablets running iOS (iPads), Android, or Windows RT are not supported for exams and are not appropriate laptop computers. Additionally, computers running Windows 10 S, Chrome OS, and Linux are not supported and will not work with the exam software.