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What is a law school tuition deposit?
Published March 26, 2020
Congratulations! You’ve been accepted to law school. But wait a minute, you were accepted to more than one… Hooray! Now you have a tough decision to make and you’ll probably need some money to secure your seat.
| 1. What is a tuition deposit? How much are they? |
| 2. Am I committed to a law school if I pay the tuition deposit? |
| 3. What if I can't afford the tuition deposit? |
1. What is a tuition deposit? How much is it?
It is a set amount of money that law schools require you put down to show you are serious about attending. Some schools don’t require any money, and just want a written confirmation that you intend to enroll. However, most schools require one, if not two, monetary tuition deposits. The depsotis vary from hundreds to thousands of dollars, it depends on the school. This money will be later credited to your fall tuition bill. UB School of Law only requires one deposit of $400 and in leiu of a second deposit, we ask that you submit an Intent to Enroll form which is a written confirmation that you intend to enroll.
2. Am I committed to a law school if I pay the tuition deposit?
Law schools view your tuition deposit as a moderate commitment for enrollment, since there are no rules against paying multiple seat deposits (although that can get very expensive). If you do not have the resources to pay multiple seat deposits, you can reach out to the law school admissions office and request an extension for your seat deposit. Your extension may not be granted, but it is worth asking. Be aware that seat deposits are partially or non-refundable.
3. What if I can't afford the tuition deposit?
If you are serious about attending a law school but the tuition deposit poses a financial hardship, you should reach out to the admissions office to let them know your situation.
