Scholarships & Grants
The Office of Admission & Financial Aid assists students in finding scholarships and grants for which they may qualify. Law students who want to be considered for scholarships offered by the College of Law are required to submit a letter of interest to the Office of Admission & Financial Aid.
Several scholarships and grants specific to the NIU College of Law are awarded each year. Scholarships and grants through the College of Law often provide a full or partial tuition waiver. Most scholarships are based on LSAT and GPA as well as residency, special interests, or demonstrated leadership qualities. Continuing students who have attained a high GPA, have significant financial need, and/or were active in the NIU College of Law community may receive a Dean's Scholarship or Grant. In addition to scholarships and grants, upper-level law students may obtain research or graduate assistantships.
The Office of Admission & Financial Aid also assists students in finding scholarships and grants not connected to the NIU College of Law. A financial aid library of scholarships is maintained and available for current law students.
Students are encouraged to investigate scholarship and grant sources through their local bar association or other groups with which they or their parents are affiliated.
NIU Scholarship Opportunities
Some of the available scholarships through the College of Law and the University are:
Abraham Lenkov Scholarship
- Award: $500/One-time
- Criteria: Entering full-time 1st year law students
- Application Deadline: July 1
- Contact Information: College of Law
Office of Admission & Financial Aid
Swen Parson Hall, Room 151
(815) 753-9485
lawadm@niu.edu
NIU Alumni Association Merit Scholarship
- Award: $1,000/One-time
- Criteria: NIU full-time Sophomore, Junior, Senior, Upper-Level Undergraduate, Graduate, Law or New Transfer student with at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA
- Supporting documentation: official transcript, letter from student, and a letter of recommendation
- Application Deadline: February 1
- Contact Information: NIU Office of Alumni Relations
Barsema Alumni & Visitors Center
(815) 753-1452
alums@niu.edu
- www.niu.edu/alumni/programs-scholarship.html
Anne Kaplan Fund
- Award: Variable
- Criteria: Junior, Senior, Upper-Level Undergraduate, Graduate Student, single parent who is near completion of a degree or certification program at NIU whose child is enrolled at the NIU Campus Childcare Center
- Additional Information: Provides some financial assistance for childcare costs
- Application Deadline: September 30
- Contact Information: NIU Campus Childcare Center
(815) 753-0125
jboyer@niu.edu
Honorable Richard Neil DeGunther, Sr. Endowed Merit Scholarship Fund for the Study of Law
- Award: $1,000/Per year
- Criteria: Entering or continuing full-time law students with high academic performance and a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA
- Application Deadline: July 1
Contact Information: College of Law
Office of Admission & Financial Aid
Swen Parson Hall, Room 151
(815) 753-9485
lawadm@niu.edu
Everett L. & Helen O. Marshall Scholarship
- Award: $1,000/One-time
- Criteria: Continuing NIU student in financial need and a minimum "C" average
- Application Deadline: February 1
- Contact Information: NIU Office of Alumni Relations
Barsema Alumni & Visitors Center
(815) 753-1452
alums@niu.edu
Michael Salnick Criminal Defense Scholarship
- Award: $1,000/One-time
- Criteria: Entering 1st year law students with an interest in Criminal Defense
- Application Deadline: May 1
- Contact Information: College of Law
Office of Admission & Financial Aid
Swen Parson Hall, Room 151
(815) 753-9485
lawadm@niu.edu
Elzo T. & Helen R. Schutt Quasi-endowed Scholarship
- Award: $1,000/One-time
- Criteria: Full-time Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior, Upper-Level Undergraduate, Graduate or Law Student, 3.0 cumulative GPA
- Supporting documentation: official transcript, letter from student, and letter of recommendation
- Application Requirements: Use the same application as Alumni Merit Scholarship
- Application Deadline: February 1
- Contact Information: NIU Office of Alumni Relations
Barsema Alumni & Visitors Center
(815) 753-1452
alums@niu.edu
Excellence Scholarship
- Award: Full tuition
- Criteria: Entering law students who maintain a 3.0 GPA throughout law school
- Application Deadline: Call for information
- Contact Information: College of Law
Office of Admission & Financial Aid
Swen Parson Hall, Room 151
(815) 753-9485
lawadm@niu.edu
"Zeke" Giorgi Memorial Scholarship Fund
- Award: $7,500/Per year
- Criteria: Entering law students desiring to enter the public interest law area and who have financial need
- Application Deadline: Call for information
- Contact Information: College of Law
Office of Admission & Financial Aid
Swen Parson Hall, Room 151
(815) 753-9485
lawadm@niu.edu
Illinois Consortium for Educational Opportunity
- Award: Variable amount
- Criteria: (1) Illinois resident and a citizen or permanent resident of the United States; (2) must have received a high school diploma or post-secondary degree from an Illinois educational institution or be a registered voter in Illinois with three or more years of residency in Illinois; (3) an African-American, Latino, Asian-American or Native American; (4) the recipient of an earned baccalaureate degree; (5) of above average academic ability; (6) unable to pursue a graduate or professional degree in the absence of a DFI award; (7) must demonstrate financial need. A free application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be filled out by January 31; and (8) applicant must be unconditionally admitted to a degree program at the time of application.
- Application deadline: February 13
- Contact Information: NIU Graduate School
Adams Hall, Room 218
(815) 753-9654 or (815) 753-1946
bfeltz@niu.edu
- www.grad.niu.edu/diversity/fellowships.shtml
Mothers Memorial Scholarship
- Award: Variable amount
- Criteria: Junior, Senior with a minimum GPA of 2.5 or Graduate students with a minimum of 3.0. Must have completed a minimum of 1 year at NIU. Students with university activities, volunteer service, or jobs dedicated to improving the lives of women; or students who have taken courses preparing them for careers in improving the lives of women. Students with demonstrated goals that include education, research, advocacy, support, or policymaking to improve the lives of women.
- Application Deadline: February 1
- Contact Information: NIU Women's Studies Program
Reavis Hall, Room 103
(815) 753-1038
- www.clas.niu.edu/wstudies/mmsf.htm
NIU College of Law Dean's Scholarship
- Contact Information: College of Law
Office of Admission & Financial Aid
Swen Parson Hall, Room 151
(815) 753-9485
lawadm@niu.edu
NIU College of Law Grants
- Award: Full tuition + Partial tuition
- Criteria: Entering or enrolled law students who would otherwise be unable to attend law school; must file FAFSA well in advance of deadline
- Application Deadline(s):
May 31 (Continuing students)
July 1 (Entering students)
- Contact Information: College of Law
Office of Admission & Financial Aid
Swen Parson Hall, Room 151
(815) 753-9485
lawadm@niu.edu
Opportunity Award
- Award: Full tuition
- Contact information: College of Law
Office of Admission & Financial Aid
Swen Parson Hall, Room 151
(815) 753-9485
lawadm@niu.edu
Russell E. Burns Scholarship
- Award: Not specified
- Criteria: College of Law Students who are in good academic standing and are members of the Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity
- Application Deadline: March 15
- Contact Information: College of Law
Office of Admission & Financial Aid
Swen Parson Hall, Room 151
(815) 753-9485
lawadm@niu.edu
