Loans

Right to Cancel Notice

The Department of Education allows students the opportunity to cancel their disbursements. If your school requires written confirmation (i.e. signed award letter) of the types and amounts of the Title IV aid you wish to receive prior to crediting your account at the school, you have 14 days after the date of this notice to cancel all or part of the loan. If your school does not require written confirmation, you have 30 days after the date of this notice to cancel all or part of your loan.

Loan Counseling and Default Prevention Outreach

At the Massachusetts School of Law, we understand that student loans can be intimidating. That’s why we have partnered with Inceptia, a division of the National Student Loan Program, to provide you with FREE assistance on your student loan obligations to ensure you feel comfortable and can be successful in your loan repayment.

Inceptia may be calling to help you with next steps in your repayment journey. Their friendly counselors are there to help you every step of the way. While you are in your grace period, they might reach out to you to answer questions you may have on your repayment options. If you become delinquent on your loans, they may also contact you to help find a solution that works within your means.

The Inceptia counselors are there to help you with every step by staying in touch with you via phone calls, letters, and/or emails. They will not be collecting money from you. Inceptia’s nonprofit purpose is to help you find answers to your questions and solutions to your issues. We encourage you to visit Inceptia’s Student Loan Knowledge HQ website at HeroKnowl.org.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

In order for MSL students to receive Federal Student Financial Aid, they must be making satisfactory academic progress (SAP) in accordance with federal rules.  Federal SAP rules are required to be the same as, or stricter than, the institution’s academic progress rules.

Satisfactory academic progress must be maintained. Students are required to have a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of a 2.0 or better every semester to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress.  Students whose CGPA falls below an overall average of 2.0 are placed on Academic Probation (AP) for the next full semester (Fall/Spring). Students on AP are ineligible to receive Federal Stafford Loans.

When the official final grades are released from the semester the student was on AP and if the student brings his/hers CGPA to above 2.0 he/she will regain eligibility for that semester and can be retroactively funded.   If a student becomes eligible again for Federal Direct Stafford Loans, in order to have his/her Federal Direct Stafford Loans disbursed, the student must have had a prior completed and approved Financial Aid Packet on record and meet all of MSL’s other policies.

The Financial Aid Department reviews students’ final grades immediately after they have been released. Our goal is to fund the student as soon as possible. The Registrar regularly and timely supplies the Financial Aid Department with official AP lists, as soon as grades are finalized.  The Financial Aid Department reviews the Registrars’ list to determine which students are eligible.  At the end and beginning of the Fall and Spring semesters, the Financial Aid Department reviews the Registrar’s new official AP list to determine if students previously on AP have regained eligibility for federal direct loans and checks to see if students are making academic progress, that is, achieving a GPA of 2.0 or better. If so, then funds will be released.

Students on Academic probation are expected to check in with Professor Kaldis, Assistant Dean of Students, as she is the academic advisor for Academic Probation students, and will help these students develop a plan to succeed and make academic progress. Students on Academic Probation are asked to review their final exams with their professors from the previous semester, to check for mathematical errors and to learn from the mistakes they may have made on the final exams.  If a student takes a semester off or leaves MSL, the AP status stays on their record and the student will be considered on AP until the student achieves a cumulative GPA of a 2.0 or better.

Appeal Process:  If a student needs his/her financial aid reinstated for the semester they are on AP, he or she may submit appeal paperwork, within 10 days of the official grades being released. Eligibility for Reinstatement occurs when there are mitigating circumstances which have resulted in deficiencies that could not be made up while on SAP probation.

The following criteria will be used as the basis for an appeal:

• A new medical or mental health issue – A doctor’s statement on official letterhead is required as documentation.
• A death in the immediate family –father mother sibling husband or child – Documentation required would be a death certificate or obituary notice stating your name.
• Military call for active duty – Copy of official military orders is required for documentation.
• Family/ relationship issues (i.e. Abusive relationship) legal documentation required.
• Natural Disaster: Flood, Fire, or Tornado – insurance verification required for documentation.
• Loss of Job, if previously held a job – Unemployment verification, W-2 Termination letter from employer for documentation.
• Review of student’s overall GPA to determine whether it is feasible for the student to make SAP during the semester the appeal is being sought

Other – Extenuating or unusual circumstances that prevented the student from succeeding academically. (Documentation required)

Note: The following criteria are NOT considered extenuating:

• Lack of funds.
• Employment scheduling issues.
• Change in marital status.
• Child care issues.
• Transportation issues.
• Lack of knowledge of school policy.
• Dissatisfaction with instructor and/or course.

Appeal forms can be requested from the Office of Financial Aid VIA email Bowab@mslaw.edu .Appeals for reinstatement of eligibility are the responsibility of the student. The Appeal Forms must be submitted within 10 business days of the release of the official grades for the prior semester grades.   Appeals must specifically reflect the unique circumstances that were beyond the control of the student. The appeal should provide specific resolution to circumstances and supporting documentation as indicated on the appeal form. Appeals made without documentation will be denied.

Students petitioning / appealing for reinstatement of eligibility remain ineligible to receive aid, but may pursue participating in the Massachusetts school of Law Installment Payment Plan.  Students should be prepared with other resources to pay all educational expenses not covered by the payment plan. Students whose appeals are approved may have their eligibility for aid reinstated.

For students currently on AP, if a student is unable to find an alternative means of paying their semester’s tuition, Lynn Bowab, Director of Financial Aid, will work with each student, individually, to develop a monthly payment agreement for these charges. As a student on Academic Probation is not eligible for Federal Direct Stafford loans, payment in full for the semester is not expected.  Payment of any past tuition, however, is expected before the student graduates.

Termination of Aid: Students who are dismissed from the Massachusetts School of Law for any reason are terminated from financial aid.
Maximum Timeframe:  As a general rule the maximum timeframe to complete the MSL program and receive a JD is 48 months. In some cases, a student may have extenuating circumstances, which may prolong their graduation date up to 84 months. 

Graduate PLUS Loans

Graduate PLUS Loans are also available in a recommended amount of $6,500.00 per year.  NOTE:  An additional Master Promissory Note, entrance session and creditworthiness and the student must be making academic progress to apply for this loan (www.studentloans.gov) every year.

To request monies over MSL’s recommended Grad PLUS amount, a student can indicate to MSL the amount on MSL’s MPN2 form.