Learn how to pay for an Environmental Law Master’s Degree, a program that builds specialized expertise in environmental, natural resources, and energy policy. At Lewis & Clark Law School, you gain direct access to renowned leaders and immersive coursework, equipping you with the specialized credentials to advance your career.
At Lewis & Clark, students can pursue either an LLM or an MSL in Environmental, Natural Resources, and Energy Law. The LLM is designed for students who already hold a law degree, such as a JD or equivalent foreign law degree. The MSL is designed for students who do not have a law degree and requires a bachelor’s degree.
Understanding the tuition and total cost of an environmental law master’s degree is a key step in planning your education. For the current 2026-27 academic year, online Environmental Law LLM and MSL tuition is $1,764 per credit (reflecting a 25% savings compared to on-campus study). Based on this rate, the tuition total is $45,864 for the 26-credit MSL and U.S. LLM programs, and $49,392 for the 28-credit International LLM program. Please note that tuition rates and fees are subject to change each academic year. Because tuition is charged on a per-credit basis, students also have the flexibility to spread their coursework, and payments, over multiple terms.
Wondering how to pay for a master’s in environmental law? Here are six ways students can plan for those costs.
1. Lewis & Clark tuition awards and scholarships
A top-ranked degree is now more accessible. At Lewis & Clark Law School, we’re offering up to 25% in scholarships to qualified applicants for our online Master of Studies in Law (MSL) and Master of Laws (LLM) in Environmental Law programs.
Lewis & Clark offers a limited number of Tuition Awards to exceptional candidates based on a combination of academic merit and financial need. Applications are reviewed holistically, considering academic and professional achievements alongside financial circumstances. The Tuition Award Form is available directly within the application for ease of access. Scholarship decisions typically take two to three weeks.
These awards reduce tuition; they cannot be applied to living expenses, travel, or books. Students should therefore calculate their remaining tuition balance separately from other expenses such as housing, food, transportation, books, and technology.
2. FAFSA and federal loan eligibility
Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a critical first step for U.S. students seeking federal financial aid. Key steps to maximize your eligibility include:
- Apply early: Submit your FAFSA as soon as possible, rather than waiting for an admission or registration decision.
- Use the school code: Enter Lewis & Clark’s federal school code (003197) on your application.
Eligible students can receive federal student aid to help pay for their degree, but loan availability and limits vary based on individual program classifications. Because other graduate and professional classifications have different borrowing limits, prospective students should confirm their specific eligibility with the Lewis & Clark Financial Aid Office and determine how much of their total cost federal loans can cover before assuming loans will finance the entire degree.
3. Semester payment plans and paying by credit
When considering how to finance an LLM or an MSL, graduate school payment plans can help students manage cash flow without taking out additional borrowing.
For a nominal fee, Lewis & Clark offers a payment plan during the fall and spring semesters that divides the semester’s bill into five monthly installments, for a total of ten installments over the academic year. There is no monthly payment plan for summer expenses.
The Environmental Law LLM and MSL programs also use a pay-per-credit model. This can give students some flexibility in deciding how many credits to take in a given semester. Students can adjust their credit load based on their budget and desired completion timeline; those who can keep earning income while studying may spread coursework over additional semesters to make the tuition bill easier to manage.
4. Employer tuition assistance and professional-development funding
Employer assistance can be another source of funding, particularly for students who are already working in environmental policy, government, consulting, nonprofit organizations, compliance, sustainability, or related fields.
Some employers offer:
- Tuition reimbursement
- Tuition assistance
- Professional-development budgets
- Education stipends
- Paid educational leave
The availability and tax treatment of these benefits vary by employer, so students should check their company’s benefits or human resources policies.
The online Environmental Law programs are specifically designed to accommodate working professionals. Coursework is flexible and asynchronous, allowing students to fit school around existing professional responsibilities. This can make employer-sponsored education particularly relevant for students who want to continue working while completing the degree.
5. Military and external scholarships
Students should also look beyond Lewis & Clark when building a funding plan. LLM applicants should investigate outside scholarships and databases including the Foundation for Natural Resources & Energy Law LLM Scholarship, AccessLex’s scholarship database, FinAid, and Fastweb.
Potential sources include:
- Environmental and natural-resources organizations
- Professional associations
- Bar associations
- Foundations
- Employers and industry groups
- Community organizations
- Veterans’ education benefits
- Government or international scholarship programs
For veterans and eligible military-connected students, Lewis & Clark also maintains Veterans Services resources for information about education benefits. Eligibility depends on the individual’s military service and benefit program.
6. Private loans for any remaining gap
Private student loans for graduate school can be used to cover eligible educational expenses that aren’t met through scholarships, savings, employer assistance, payment plans, or federal loans.
Private student loans may be considered to meet costs not covered by other forms of financial aid. Lewis & Clark recommends eligible students consider federal loans and outside scholarships before turning to private borrowing. Private loans can differ significantly in:
- Interest rates
- Fixed versus variable rates
- Origination fees
- Repayment terms
- Cosigner requirements
- Deferment options
- Forbearance provisions
Private student loans can bridge remaining gaps after you’ve applied scholarships, savings, employer assistance, and federal options. Keep these key evaluation factors in mind when comparing private lenders:
- Compare rates and fees: Look closely at fixed vs. variable interest rates and origination fees.
- Examine repayment flexibility: Review deferment options, forbearance terms, and cosigner release policies.
- Evaluate borrower protections: Prioritize lenders offering terms that align with your post-graduation financial plan.
Because private loans generally don’t carry all of the protections associated with federal student loans, students should compare terms carefully and borrow only what they need. Students can explore options through tools like Juno, which negotiates student loan deals, and ELMSelect, which displays lenders recommended by Lewis & Clark based on student-friendly terms. Additional details and guidance on private lending are available on the Financial Aid Office’s site.
Funding hierarchy
When planning how to finance an Environmental Law LLM or MSL program, establishing a clear funding hierarchy helps ensure you maximize gift aid and lower-cost options before relying on loans. Prospective students should build their funding plan around the following priority order:
For someone starting an Environmental Law LLM or MSL program, the practical takeaway is to build the funding plan around:
- Lewis & Clark tuition awards
- Outside scholarships
- Personal savings or employer assistance
- Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans, if eligible
- Payment plans
- Work or externship opportunities where permitted
- Private education loans, if additional funding is necessary
Start Planning Now
Paying for an environmental law master’s degree often requires combining several sources of funding rather than relying on one option. The best approach is to start planning early. Review your expected tuition and living expenses, apply for scholarships and financial aid, ask your employer about education benefits, and determine how much you can reasonably contribute from savings or income. If you need to borrow, compare federal and private options carefully and understand the repayment terms before accepting a loan.
Creating a comprehensive funding strategy before enrolling helps make your educational investment predictable and manageable. Ready to map out how to pay for an Environmental Law Master’s Degree? Connect with the Lewis & Clark admissions team today to create a personalized financial plan tailored to your career goals.