Making the Numbers Work for You
Summer Externships: How to keep tuition costs down and give yourself free time.
The Challenge: Summer courses, such as summer externships, are not included in tuition for full-time students; therefore students need to pay for these courses on top of their regular tuition.
The Solution/Benefit: Students can switch to the part-time program for one semester later in law school (a simple administrative process), still graduate in three years, and pay almost the same amount of tuition (an extra $549). This has the added benefit of freeing up much of one semester later in law school for other activities.
The extra time available during that semester (often in third year) might be used:
- Finding a part-time paid job;
- Spending more time with a live client in Clinic;
- Doing an internship, perhaps with a for-profit law firm, in a field in which you might like to practice;
- Getting a head start in your last semester studying for the bar exam, etc.
The Costs:
- The tuition and fees for an 8 credit part-time semester ($1,921 per credit + $512/semester in fees) is approximately $15,880 (based on 2016-2017 tuition).
- The tuition and fees for a 9 credit part-time semester is approximately $17,801 (based on 2016-2017 tuition).
- The tuition and fees for a 10 credit part-time semester is approximately $19,722 (based on 2016-2017 tuition).
- The tuition and fees for an 11 credit part-time semester is approximately $21,643 (based on 2016-2017 tuition).
- The tuition and fees for a full-time semester is approximately $26,508 (based on 2016-2017 tuition).
- The tuition and fees for a 6 credit summer semester ($1,856 per credit + $41 in fees) is approximately $11,177 (based on summer 2016 tuition).
- Participating in a summer session and taking an 8 credit part-time semester will only cost approximately $549 more in tuition and fees compared to a student who takes one full-time semester.
The Procedure for switching to part-time for one semester:
- Go to Registrar’s website and read the “Divisional Shift” information.
- Fill out a Divisional Shift form (available at Registrar’s Office & Website).
- Submit Divisional Shift form to Registrar’s Office.
Important notes:
- This applies only to full-time student.(Part-time students or part-time students moving to full-time status will not have the same tuition issues).
- The financial aid allocated for Living Expenses will be the same for either a Full-Time or Part-Time Enrollment.
- The Health Insurance fee is charged at the beginning of the fall semester.
- The numbers provided are for the cost of tuition and fees.They do not include books, supplies, and living expenses.
- The General/SBA fee, the Sports Center Fee and the Technology Fee will be charged at a Full-time Enrollment level when enrolled as a full-time student.When a student switches to part-time status, those fees will be charged at Part-Time Enrollment level.
- In order to take full advantage of the cost savings of moving to the part-time program for one semester, students need to take 8 credits.This is the approximate “break-even” point.For each additional credit in which you are enrolled during the part-time semester (e.g., 9, 10 or 11 credits), there will be less in savings.Likewise, if you take fewer than 8 credits (e.g., 6 or 7 credits) during your part-time semester, the savings will be greater, and you will actually come out ahead.
- The costs are based on 2016-2017 tuition rates.They are subject to change.Always check the most current tuition information on the WCL Financial Aid website and contact a Financial Aid counselor with any questions.
- Always discuss any potential changes with the Registrar’s Office regarding residency and other graduation requirements to ensure you will not cause problems with graduating in a timely fashion.