California Fee Waiver (CAFW) & UC Hastings (UC Law SF) — Yes, It Works

Yes. The California Fee Waiver (CAFW) — administered by the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) — is accepted by UC College of the Law, San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings) for the JD application fee.

Eligibility (Must Meet ALL)

• California resident (or AB 540 eligible).
• Undergraduate at a qualifying CA institution (UC, CSU, CCC, accredited private).
• Family income ≤ $100,000 (adjusted annually; check CSAC for current year).
• First professional degree application (JD qualifies).
• Apply via CSAC portal by deadline (usually early April for fall entry).

Process

1. Submit CAFW application to CSAC (online).
2. Receive Fee Waiver Code (if approved).
3. Enter code in LSAC CAS application for UC Law SF — fee waived ($85 value).

Also Available

• LSAC Fee Waiver: Separate, need-based (income ≤ 250% poverty line). Covers LSAT, CAS, 4 law school apps. Can stack with CAFW.
• UC Law SF Need-Based Waiver: School's own form (financial aid office).

Key: CAFW is for the application fee only. It does not cover tuition. UC Law SF tuition (2024–25): ~$53k (resident) / $58k (non-resident).