Tuition and Financial Aid

Affordability Guarantee

Obtain an exceptional legal education while securing your financial future. We’ve taken steps to guarantee that you can afford a private law school education.

KEEP IT AFFORDABLE

A private law school education is within your reach.

$3.5M Awarded each year in grants or merit-based scholarships to law students
$20,900 Average award for law students entering in 2022
$33,600 Lowest private law school tuition in the Great Lakes Region
100% Incoming students in 2022 that received some form of aid

Tuition – Ohio and Non-Ohio Residents Student Technology Fee	$33,600 a year $1,050 a year
2022 Summer Starter Program Tuition	$9,760 a summer
Living Expenses (includes housing costs and food allowance)	$11,943 a year
Books and Supplies	$2,500 a year
Miscellaneous/Transportation	$4,112 a year
Estimated Loan Origination Fee	$217
TOTAL COST TO ATTEND (2022-23)	$52,372
HOUSING
On-Campus Housing	$10,000 a year
On-Campus Housing (Summer 2022)	$910 a summer
Off-Campus Living Expenses	$7,317 a year

If a student withdraws from the University, or is suspended for disciplinary reasons, refunds of tuition will be made on the basis shown below. Withdrawal date is the date the student officially submits the withdrawal form, or the date the University determines the student ceased attendance or failed to meet published academic policies, whichever comes first. Students attending Ohio Northern University are entitled to a pro-rata refund calculation through the 60 percent point of the semester. Tuition, room and board charges will be included in the designated refund percentage. Financial aid adjustments will be calculated based upon mandated federal refund calculations. A 100 percent refund is granted on or before the first day of class each semester. After that, the percentage is based on the number of days in attendance for the semester. There is no refund after the first 60 percent of the semester has been completed. Also, keep in mind that students who drop from full-time to less than full-time during the first 60 percent of the semester will have adjustments made to their financial aid and tuition.

Take the next steps

A degree from ONU Law is more than just a piece of paper. It’s a launchpad into a successful career. To achieve your dream of becoming an attorney, just take one step at a time. We’ve outlined the steps below for getting into ONU Law.

ONU Law accepts applications from September until Aug. 1, but it’s best to apply early for maximum scholarship consideration. Apply now.
Come and see why ONU is the perfect place to study law. While you are here, meet with a financial aid advisor who can walk you through the process and answer any questions you may have. Visit campus.
File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after October 1. Visit studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa to fill out the application.
The Office of Financial Aid will send out financial aid packets starting in January. If you submit your FAFSA after January, it will take around a week for us to process and send your financial aid packet.
Submit your first and second seat deposits. Due dates for your deposits are included in your acceptance packet. Submit your deposit here.
We host an on-campus Accepted Students Weekend in the spring. The weekend kicks off with an optional Welcome Reception on Friday evening at the ONU Legal Clinic. On Saturday, you’ll get a chance to meet with current students, the dean, and financial aid advisors; learn about student life, clinical and externship programs and academic support; tour the law building and Taggart Law library; and participate in first year mock class. ONU Law will provide complimentary accommodations for you and a guest at The Inn at Ohio Northern University.

William J. Brown Scholar Program

ONU Law’s most prestigious scholarship provides full tuition and a summer internship in Washington D.C. with the National Association of State Attorneys General. The William J. Brown Scholarship was established in honor of a widely-respected ONU Law alumni. The scholarship is awarded to one student in each incoming class through a competitive process and is renewable for three years.

The William J. Brown Scholar Program exists to attract the best and brightest to the Ohio Northern University Pettit College of Law. The scholarship is the most prestigious award offered to incoming law students and the only full-tuition scholarship awarded each year. The scholarship is awarded to one first year student, and is renewable for three years. In addition to receiving a full-tuition scholarship, the scholar is awarded an internship in Washington, D.C. with the National Association of State Attorneys General for the summer following the student's first year in law school. The scholar also receives a stipend to help with expenses associated with their summer internship.

ONU Law established the William J. Brown Scholarship in 2003 to honor a 1967 graduate of the Ohio Northern University Pettit College of Law. Just four years after graduating from law school, Mr. Brown was elected Attorney General of Ohio. He served for 12 years, the longest single tenure of its kind in Ohio history, and then became a founding partner of the Columbus law firm, Kegler, Brown, Hill & Ritter.

Mr. Brown was widely known and admired for his commitment to practicing law vigorously and humanely. He had an energetic personality and sought to aid young attorneys in their professional careers. He had an abiding interest in encouraging others to make a difference in people’s lives through the law.

The scholarship seeks to affirm the qualities of mind, values, and personality presented by William J. Brown in aspiring law students of unusual promise and talent. The scholarship will be awarded to persons who demonstrate the capacity to be superior students, to be leaders in the legal community, and to leave on the law an imprint of character and distinction inspired by Mr. Brown.

Invitations to apply for the William J. Brown Scholar Program will be sent on the first of April. Students selected for consideration have LSAT scores in the top 10%-15% of the class, undergraduate GPAs placing them in the top 10% or 15% of their class, significant academic honors, substantial additional activities (varsity athletics, student government, work experience, etc.), and a demonstrated commitment to attend ONU. Students will need to complete the additional one page application and submit a 500 word essay on the role of lawyers in society.

Financial Planning for Law School

With careful planning, you can graduate from law school with a secure financial future. The majority of law students finance their education through a combination of financial aid resources.