Hurst Horizon Scholarship Program

The Hurst Horizon Scholarship is a full-tuition scholarship for J.D. students with very significant financial need, specifically those from families whose income is up to 200% of the federal poverty guidelines and their family's assets are below $150K. The Scholarship is awarded on an annual basis for the upcoming academic year and is disbursed in equal amounts at the beginning of each semester. Only J.D. students who are enrolled and in good standing are eligible for the Scholarship. 

The Hurst Horizon Scholarship is for J.D. students with very significant financial need. In order to be eligible for the Scholarship, the student’s family must have income up to 200% of the federal poverty guidelines, and their family’s assets must be below $150K. The Financial Aid Office will evaluate financial information about the student’s custodial and non-custodial household(s) (as applicable). If one or both of a student’s parents has been waived from the Financial Aid process due to extraordinary circumstances, their income and assets will be ignored. Only J.D. students who are enrolled and in good standing are eligible for the Scholarship.

The Hurst Horizon Scholarship is a full-tuition scholarship that covers the full amount of tuition, administrative and activities fees, and University hospitalization coverage for the academic year.

*The Unit Loan covers room and board, personal expenses, books, and travel costs.

The Financial Aid Office will assess eligibility using the financial data provided on FAAST for the student, the student’s parent(s), and the student’s spouse (as applicable). In addition, all students awarded the Hurst Horizon Scholarship must submit tax returns, and other financial information as required, to verify the reported data. The Scholarship may be revoked or adjusted if there is a difference between the information reported on FAAST and the tax return that affects eligibility.

Spouse assets and income will be reviewed as part of the eligibility assessment process. The Hurst Horizon Scholarship may be reduced or not awarded if there is very significant spousal income or very significant spousal or joint assets.

Student assets and income will be reviewed as part of the eligibility assessment process. The Hurst Horizon Scholarship may be reduced or not awarded if there are very significant assets or income. 

Under most circumstances, students will remain eligible for the Hurst Horizon Scholarship if they work during the academic year or summer. The Financial Aid Office will calculate summer income contributions, however, these contributions earned will not affect Scholarship eligibility.

Students who are 29 or older are eligible for the Hurst Horizon Scholarship, however, they must submit parental financial information to be considered. Parents of these students will not need to submit a FAAST application; instead, they must submit their most recent tax return(s), W2(s), and a Parent Supplemental Form.

International and non-citizen J.D. students are eligible for the Hurst Horizon Scholarship. All income and assets in foreign currencies will be converted to USD to assess eligibility.

The Hurst Horizon Scholarship is only available to J.D. students. At Yale Law School, graduate law students receive substantial need-based financial aid as well as access to post-graduate loan forgiveness and repayment programs. 

Yes, J.D. students who are in joint degree programs are eligible for the Hurst Horizon Scholarship during those terms when they are enrolled at the Law School.

Students’ eligibility for the Hurst Horizon Scholarship will be reassessed each year as part of their application for financial aid, however, there is a presumption that the Scholarship will be awarded in each subsequent academic year provided there are no significant changes in circumstances. Tax returns will be required each year from students, spouses, and parents (as applicable) to confirm eligibility.

If one or both of a student’s parents has been waived from the Financial Aid process due to extraordinary circumstances, the waived parent’s income and assets will be ignored; only the income and assets of the student, any non-waived parent(s), and the spouse will be considered (as applicable). 

The Financial Aid Office will review all relevant financial information provided by students, parents, and spouses (as applicable) and has discretion to award, not award, or reduce the Hurst Horizon Scholarship based on professional judgment and individual, financial circumstances. Any special circumstances should be discussed with the Financial Aid Office. In general, the Scholarship is awarded based on financial criteria only. 

Yes, all other need-based financial policies apply to recipients of the Hurst Horizon Scholarship.