BUDGET INFORMATION

FULL TIME AND LLM BUDGET Fall - Spring 2008-2009   On Campus Off Campus Tuition $30,500.00 $30,500.00 Fees $200.00 $200.00 Books $1,200.00 $1,200.00 Room / Board $8,420.00 $11,828.00 Transportation $3,000.00 $3,000.00 Personal / Miscellaneous $3,000.00 $3,000.00 Loan Fee $800.00 $904.00 TOTALS: $47,120.00 $50,632.00
PART TIME BUDGET Fall-Spring 2008-2009   Off Campus Tuition $20,060.00 Fees $200.00 Books $400.00 Room/Board $11,828.00 Transportation $3,000.00 Personal/Misc $3,000.00 Loan Fee $588.00 TOTAL $40,076.00		PART TIME BUDGET Summer 2008   Off Campus Tuition $5,290.00 Fees $70.00 Books $200.00 Room/Board $2,757.00 Transportation $600.00 Personal/Misc $600.00 TOTAL $9,517.00

How is the student expense budget determined and how much is it?

The cost of a legal education includes tuition, fees, room and board, books, transportation, and personal expenses. The Law School Financial Aid Office develops student budgets that estimate an individual student's annual projected educational expenses. These budgets govern the total amount of aid (loans or a combination of scholarships and loans) that are available to a student in any given year. Students who have federal loans in their package may not borrow in excess of the approved budget or up to a maximum of $20,500 every two semesters. Many students have found that their expenses are lower than the allowed amount under the budget. Living on less than the budget allows students to borrow less and to save money in the long run. Sticking to a budget is probably the most important financial aspect of attending law school.

We realize that students come to law school from varied backgrounds, experiences, and lifestyles, however the student expense budget allows for a simple lifestyle, that of a graduate student. Requests to borrow more than the budget are not acknowledged except in unusual circumstances including child care expenses, medical expenses not covered by insurance, and expenses incurred by disabled students.

Requests to increase student budgets using Graduate PLUS loans:

The following three categories can be used to request an increase in your student budget at any time during the academic year:

• Medical expenses not covered by insurance for student & dependents. You can include only those procedures that are medically necessary as determined by a physician. A signed letter from a physician along with written estimates for necessary procedures is required.
• Child care expenses. Submit a signed letter from a child care provider detailing the weekly/monthly cost per child and the beginning and ending dates of required childcare. Childcare expenses will be limited to the average amount for the Gulfport area.
• Laptop purchase. An entering student can request this increase automatically on the Lender Selection Form. A returning student who did not request this increase upon entering Stetson can request an increase only after he or she has purchased the laptop. A copy of the paid invoice must be submitted. The maximum increase for the purchase of a laptop is $1,500.00. Only one laptop increase is allowed per student during his or her stay at Stetson College of Law.

Examples of requests that cannot be used to increase student budgets:

• automobile repairs
• purchase of an automobile or monthly automobile payment
• increases in rent or rental deposits moving expenses
• spouse or domestic partner who is attending college or unemployed
• tuition to attend prerequisite classes for MBA program
• increased budget for summer abroad programs
• court ordered alimony or child support
• veterinarian or animal care bills

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