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Financial Aid FAQ

A: Yes. Since 1981, MCL has been accredited by the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California. As part of our accreditation, the Committee of Bar Examiners conducts site
visits every five years.

A: Yes. Monterey College of Law has been recognized as a Candidate for Accreditation by WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), 1080 Marina Village Parkway, Suite 500, Alameda, CA 94501, 510.748.9001. This status is a preliminary affiliation with the Commission awarded for a maximum period of five years. Candidacy is an indication that the institution is progressing toward Accreditation. Candidacy is not Accreditation and does not ensure eventual Accreditation.

The WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) is a nationwide institutional accreditor recognized by the United States Department of Education with the following scope of recognition: WASC Senior College and University Commission
1952/2018/W2023

Scope of recognition: The accreditation and preaccreditation (Candidate for Accreditation) of institutions of higher education that offer the baccalaureate degree or above, including distance education programs offered at those institutions.

Geographic Area of Accrediting Activities: Throughout the United States.

Jamienne S. Studley, President
1080 Marina Village Parkway Suite 500
Alameda, California 94501
Tel. (510) 748-9001, Fax (510) 748-9797
E-mail address: jstudley@wscuc.org
Web address: www.wscuc.org
See, https://www2.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/accreditation_pg3.html

A: MCL is extremely gratified that WSCUC has seen quality and compliance sufficient to allow it to recognize MCL with the status of Candidacy. The school continues to work toward attaining initial or full accreditation within the five-year Candidacy period.

A: Not at present. As the Federal Student Aid Handbook explains: “Schools must apply to and receive approval from the Department of Education to be eligible to participate in the FSA
programs before they can be certified for participation. Some schools apply only for designation as an eligible institution—they do not seek to participate—so their students may receive deferments on FSA program loans or be eligible for the American Opportunity and Lifetime Learning tax credits or other non-FSA programs that require schools to be FSA-eligible. The same application is used to apply for both eligibility and certification for participation…” (2024-2025 Federal Student Aid Handbook, Chapter 2).

Candidacy status affords MCL the opportunity to begin applying for eligibility and/or certification for participation, but this is a multi-year process with many steps and risks. It has been
determined that MCL will apply for designation as an eligible institution, but it has not yet been determined when or if MCL will apply or be certified for participation (that is, to originate new
loans for students.) It is also impossible to predict when or if eligibility or participation may be granted and available. Keep watching this space for updates on this process and
determination.

A: Yes. As a state-accredited law school, Monterey College of Law is not currently a Federal Title IV educational institution. This means that MCL students do not qualify for federally insured educational loans. However, Sallie Mae® Student Loans are available to students based on their personal credit or that of a co-signer. When students obtain a loan from a third party, students pay a non-refundable deferred tuition fee to Monterey College of Law. When a loan check is received, MCL will promptly notify the applicant and draw a check payable to the applicant. At that time, all current tuition owed must be paid. Our Financial Policy can be found on our website
https://www.montereylaw.edu/currentstudent/financial.html.

A: “Cost of attendance” is a term used in Federal Student Aid programs to describe the estimated total cost of attending college in a given year. It includes tuition and fees, books and supplies, room and board,transportation, and personal expenses, and it is an official number determined by each college. The 2024-2025 Federal Student Aid Handbook explains it as follows: “Awards for most of the Federal Student Aid (FSA) programs are based on some form of financial need. Unlike scholarship programs that may award funds based on academic merit or the student’s field of study, “need-based” grants, loans, and work-study are based on the student’s demonstrated financial need for assistance. The cost of attendance (COA) is the cornerstone of establishing a student’s financial need, as it sets a limit on the total aid that a student may receive for purposes of the… Direct Loan program…”See
https://fsapartners.ed.gov/knowledge-center/fsa-handbook/pdf/2024-2025
Because MCL attained Candidacy in February 2024 and has not yet applied for eligibility or participation in Federal Student Aid programs, it has not yet published a net cost calculator or cost of attendance in accordance with the Federal Student Aid definition. Keep watching this space for updates on this process and determination.