Financial Aid Student Review

Your Cost of Attendance is an estimation of the total amount it will cost you to attend the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law for the nine-month academic year.  It is determined by the ASU Student Financial Assistance Office using rules established by the U.S. Congress.  Your Cost of Attendance is a critically important number, as you are only allowed to receive financial aid (including loans, scholarships, grants, and so on) equal to, but not greater than, your Cost of Attendance.  In other words, your Cost of Attendance is your ceiling as to how much financial aid you can receive in one academic year.

Your Cost of Attendance will vary depending on whether or not you are an Arizona resident and the number of credit hours you have enrolled for.  For the 2006-2007 academic year, Cost of Attendance is $25,780 for Arizona residents and $36,366 for out-of-state students.

Special circumstances could dictate an adjustment in your Cost of Attendance. If any of these circumstances apply to you, you are eligible to complete a Student Review form (formerly known as Graduate Review form) to request that your Cost of Attendance be adjusted.

Note: Changes resulting from your review do not guarantee an increase in aid. Use this form to request a review of your aid eligibility due to extenuating circumstances not addressed on your 2006-2007 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Please follow the step-by-step instructions below to request changes to your Cost of Attendance and provide the requested documentation:

Child Care:

  • Attach a detailed letter indicating 1) your relationship to the child(ren) for whom childcare is being provided, 2) who pays for childcare (you or an outside agency) and 3) your planned enrollment for the Fall, Spring and Summer terms..
  • Attach a statement from your childcare provider (on the Childcare provider's letterhead) indicating the names and ages of your children in childcare. If your childcare provider does not have letterhead, his/her STATEMENT MUST BE NOTARIZED.

Additional Course Costs

  • Attach a detailed letter of explanation to include a list of required supplies and expenses. This list must include the course name/number and your academic major.
  • Attach documentation to support your statement that these are required supplies/expenses i.e. a signed statement from your instructor, a copy of the course syllabus or photocopies of proof of payment for expenses incurred.

Healthcare: Medical expenses may be allowed if required for treatment rather than elective care and documented by a physician.

  • Attach a detailed letter of explanation.
  • Attach photocopies of proof of payment for bills incurred since August 21, 2006 (for students beginning enrollment in the fall semester) or January 16, 2007 (for students beginning in the spring semester) for all medical, dental and/or optical expenses not covered by your
    insurance. Do not include premium payments.

  • Provide documentation that states monthly payments, duration of payments and whether or not you are qualified for reductions or forgiveness of any costs.

Other: This section is reviewed on a case-by-case basis and will only be reviewed for documented extenuating and unusual circumstances. DO NOT INCLUDE BASIC LIVING EXPENSES

  • Attach a detailed letter of explanation.
  • Attach photocopies of proof of payment for bills incurred since August 21, 2006 (for students beginning enrollment in the fall semester) or January 16, 2007 (for students beginning in the spring semester).
  • Attach documentation to your Graduate Student Review form.
  • Sign the bottom of page 2 of the Graduate Student Review form.
  • Submit your Graduate Student Review form with all required documentation attached, to Office of Admissions and Financial Aid, Room 119, Armstrong Hall, or mail to:

Joseph Lindsay
Director of Financial Aid
Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law
P.O. Box 877906
Tempe, AZ 85287-7906

Important Notes:
  • Student Reviews must be completed and submitted during the semester in which the costs occurred.
  • A financial-aid professional will carefully conduct your student review according to guidelines established by the federal government. This individual will use his or her professional judgment to decide if an increase in your Cost of Attendance is warranted, and will notify you of the status of your review by e-mail.

If approved, plan your next step. If your student review is approved, you will receive an e-mail stating: the amount by which your Cost of Attendance has been increased; a description of your eligibility for receiving additional financial aid; and instructions on how to apply for and receive that aid.  If after reading that e-mail you have remaining questions about your next step, please contact Joseph Lindsay, Financial Aid Counselor, at joseph.lindsay@asu.eduor 480-965-1474.