Financial Aid Checklist for Incoming Students

Welcome to RWU Law! We have put together this checklist to help students access the financial aid resources they need to start law school. As always feel free to contact us with any questions you might have.

Accept Financial Aid Package (online)

The Office of Financial Aid has received your FAFSA, and it has been reviewed to determine eligibility for federal student loans. Carefully review the aid package to determine the amount of federal student loans you will need to borrow to cover tuition, fees, books/supplies, and living expenses. In order to receive the aid offered, please accept yours at Roger Central. This financial aid portal also allows you to reduce or decline your federal student loans.

Complete Federal Loan Entrance Counseling

Loan Entrance Counseling is required for all first-time Federal Direct Loan borrowers. 

Complete Master Promissory Note

A Master Promissory Note (MPN) is required for all first-time Federal Direct Loan borrowers. 

Check Your Credit Now

To prepare for the federal changes effective July 1, 2026, students who may need private loans to bridge the $50,000 annual cap should proactively monitor their credit. Unlike federal loans, private lenders rely heavily on credit history to determine both eligibility and interest rates. 

  • Request Free Reports: Access your official reports from the three major bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) via AnnualCreditReport.com.
  • Determine Co-signer Needs: Many law students with limited credit history will require a co-signer to qualify for private loans.
  • Secure Better Rates: A higher credit score can unlock significantly lower interest rates than the standard federal rates. 

Recommended Action Plan

  • Request Free Reports: Access your official reports from the three major bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) via AnnualCreditReport.com.

  • Monitor Your Score: Use tools like myFICOto understand how lenders view your creditworthiness.

  • Correct Discrepancies: If you find errors, contact the credit reporting agencies directly to update your file before you apply for loans.

  • Consolidate Applications: When you are ready to apply, submit all private loan applications within a two-week window to minimize the impact of multiple "hard inquiries" on your score. 

Submit Verification Forms

Submit all documentation as requested by the Office of Financial Aid. Disclose any outside scholarships or funding assistance.

Veterans: Submit Certification of Enrollment

This must be submitted to the Office of Student Academic Services so the VA can process your GI Bill benefits.

Title IV Authorization Form 

Please complete the Title IV Authorization Form if you would like to use your federal student loans to pay your "non-institutional charges." These charges can include health fees, bookstore charges, parking permits, library fines, and parking fines.

If you have enough financial aid to cover your current term charges and have excess financial aid that you would like to apply to pay off a prior term balance, signing this form gives the Bursar authorization to use excess federal funds to pay off a prior balance. Please contact the Bursar's Office at bursar@rwu.edu or at 401-254-3520 for additional information.

Receiving a Financial Aid Refund (Title IV Funds)

If your federal financial aid (Title IV funds) exceeds your tuition, fees, and other authorized charges, the remaining balance will be issued to you as a refund. Refunds are processed after financial aid has been disbursed and applied to your student account. Refunds are processed through U.S. Bank. Once a refund is ready to be issued, you will receive an email from U.S. Bank with instructions for setting up your payment preferences through the Payee Choice platform. Please note that this email is not sent until a refund has actually been processed.

The payment preference setup is a one-time process. You may choose to receive your refund by:

  • Zelle® Transfer – Receive your refund using your RWU email address or U.S. mobile phone number.
  • Direct Deposit – Have your refund deposited directly into your bank account.

Once your payment preference is established, future refunds will be sent using the option you selected unless you update your preferences.
 

  1.  Go to Federal Federal Student Aid
  2. Select I am a Graduate or Professional Student
  3. Click Log In to Start
  4. Enter your FSA Username and Password
  5. Confirm your contact and communication information
  6. Select Roger Williams University
  7. Click Start
  8. Complete Entrance Counseling session (takes approximately 15-20 minutes)
  1.  Go to Federal Federal Student Aid
  2. Select I am a Graduate or Professional Student
  3. Select MPN Type 
  4. Click Start next to MPN for Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loans 
  5. If you plan to borrow a Graduate Plus Loan, complete a separate MPN by clicking start next to MPN for Direct Plus Loans 
  6. Follow directions to complete MPN(s). When you complete the MPN online, you receive a confirmation number so you know immediately that the federal government (the lender) has received and accepted the MPN. 
  1. Bankruptcy (Chapters 7, 11 or 12 within the last 5 years)
  2. Repossession/Voluntary surrender within the last 5 years
  3. Foreclosure proceedings started
  4. Foreclosure within the last 5 years
  5. Deed in lieu reported in the past 5 years
  6. Charge Off Account, Collection Accounts currently 90 days or more delinquent on any debt with an outstanding balance of $2,085 or more
  7. Wage garnishment within the last 5 years
  8. Defaulted loan that has been claimed paid. Any Title IV debt that is currently in default
  9. Lease of contract terminated by default
  10. Country/State/Federal tax lien, within the last 5 years
Close Course Type Descriptions

Course Types

We have classified RWU Law classes under the following headers. One of the following course types will be attached to each course which will allow students to narrow down their search while looking for classes.

Core Course

Students in the first and second year are required to take classes covering the following aspects of the law—contracts, torts, property, criminal law, civil procedure, and constitutional law, evidence, and professional responsibility.  Along with these aspects, the core curriculum will develop legal reasoning skills.

Elective

After finishing the core curriculum the remaining coursework toward the degree is completed through upper level elective courses.  Students can choose courses that peak their interests or courses that go along with the track they are following.

Seminar

Seminars are classes where teachers and small groups of students focus on a specific topic and the students complete a substantial research paper.

Clinics/Externships

Inhouse Clinics and Clinical Externships legal education is law school training in which students participate in client representation under the supervision of a practicing attorney or law professor.  RWU Law's Clinical Programs offer unique and effective learning opportunities and the opportunity for practical experience while still in law school.