Yale Law School Awards 89 Hurst Horizon Scholarships for 2026–27

For the 2026–27 academic year, Yale Law School has awarded 89 students its Hurst Horizon Scholarship, the need-based scholarship that covers the full amount of tuition, administrative and activities fees, and University hospitalization coverage for the academic year. Now in its fifth year, the program currently supports J.D. students in the classes of 2027, 2028, and 2029.

More than 14% of current J.D. students are Hurst Horizon Scholars. Since it began in 2022, the scholarship has funded 190 students. 

The Soledad ’92 and Robert Hurst Horizon Scholarship Program supports scholarships for students whose assets are below $150,000. Eligibility was expanded in fall 2023 to include students whose family income is up to 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. 

Access to law programs like Hurst Horizon are a priority for Dean Cristina Rodríguez ’00. “Widening Yale’s doors to talented students regardless of means is vital to our mission and enriches our intellectual community,” said Rodríguez. 

Widening Yale’s doors to talented students regardless of means is vital to our mission and enriches our intellectual community.” —Dean Cristina Rodríguez 

The Hurst Horizon Scholarship Program is only one aspect of Yale Law School’s robust financial aid program. Each year, through careful fiscal stewardship and the generosity of donors, the Law School spends more than $20 million from its endowment income alone to fund need-based financial aid, which ensures that more than 70% of Yale Law students receive generous financial aid packages that significantly lower the cost of attendance.

Sam Haddad’s ’26 decision to come to Yale Law School depended on the scholarship. “Because of the autonomy and freedom I’ve had in law school as a result of the Hurst Horizon Scholarship, 1) I was able to take out fewer loans for my second and third years. I’m graduating with very limited debt, debt which I can knock out in the first few months of practice… and 2) I got to use that money to support my family during some difficult periods,” he said in a spring 2026 interview. “Instead of reducing my aid, the Hurst Horizon Scholarship allowed me to keep my earnings, so I got to support my family. I would not have been able to do that under any other scholarship program in any other school.”

Read more about recent Hurst Horizon graduates.

Yale Law School is one of just two law schools in the U.S. that offers financial aid solely based on need. In 2023, the School withdrew from the U.S. News and World Report rankings due in large part to how the rankings incentivized merit scholarships over need-based aid. The move inspired nearly 60 schools to follow suit. Since the launch of the Hurst Horizon program, several other schools have also followed Yale Law School’s example by establishing their own need-based aid programs.

Associate Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid Miriam Ingber ’04 emphasized the importance of making legal education accessible to all who qualify. “Our Hurst Horizon Scholars not only add to the community of students, they will add their perspectives to the wider legal profession.”