Tuition & Financial Aid
Tuition and Fees
Tuition for the standalone Law and AI certificate is charged on a per unit basis for each semester up to 7 units enrolled. For2026-27, the per-unit tuition rate is $3,344 and university fees for the academic year are $2,139.
Textbooks and other course materials average an additional $1,100 per semester.
USC's Office of Student Financial Services offers numerous payment options, including an interest-free USC Payment Plan for tuition and fees, paid in monthly installments.
USC Gould Scholarships
All students admitted to our Law and AI certificate will be considered automatically for merit scholarships. In addition, applicants who submit their applications by our Early Action Deadline will be eligible for consideration for our Early Action Scholarship. Those who are awarded a scholarship will be notified upon receiving their offer of admission.
Outside Scholarships
USC Gould highly encourages students to seek USC scholarships and financial support offered by foundations, government agencies, and corporations. It’s never too early to begin looking for “free money” for graduate school. Please explore the following resources:
- USC Scholarship Universe
- USC Awards and Fellowships Database
- CareerOneStop Scholarship Finder, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor
We also encourage you to explore financial aid from additional sources in the U.S. or your home country. In order to assist you, we have set forth a list of outside scholarship resources for your reference. While we do not have further information on these organizations nor do we endorse any, we do encourage students to contact the organizations directly for more information.
Federal Loans
U.S. citizens and permanent residents who wish to pay for school through loans from the U.S. government must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA can be completed as early as October 1 of the year prior to the year in which you intend to enroll, and should be completed as early as possible. USC's school code is 001328.
After you have successfully completed the FAFSA, and have been admitted, you will receive an electronic notification from USC Gould's Office Financial Aid with additional information and instructions on the federal loan application process. For additional details about the student loan options available to graduate students, please refer to http://financialaid.usc.edu/loans/.
Effective July 1, 2026, you should expect the following as it pertains to borrowing federal student loans:
- Aggregate federal student loan limit at $100,000 for graduate students
- Prorated (less than $20,500 per annum) graduate loan limit for graduate students enrolling less than full-time
- Elimination of the Graduate PLUS Loan program for all new enrollment beginning July 1, 2026 or later
Private Loans
Private educational loans can cover up to the cost of attendance, less other financial aid received. One major difference is that they can have a variable interest rate determined by the lender upon review of your credit history.
USC's Office of Financial Aid offers information about private educational loans.
Military and Veteran Education Benefits
USC supports military-connected students in their legal studies through a variety of U.S. military and veteran education benefits programs. Additionally, USC Gould is proud to participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program. We offer an unlimited number of Yellow Ribbon awards to eligible candidates, which can provide funding for much of their legal studies education. To learn more about military and veteran benefits, please contact the USC Veterans Certification Office.
Next Steps
USC Gould School of Law
699 Exposition Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90089-0071
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