ADMISSIONS AND FINANCIAL AID
Application Deadlines
- Summer session – April 1st
- Fall session – July 31st
- Spring session – November 30th
Applicants must submit an online application. Admission to the program is granted on a rolling basis. Admission is offered to qualified applicants whose previous academic or other experience and test scores, when applicable, indicate a high probability of success in the program.
Admission Requirements
To be eligible for the Master of Laws in Taxation, the Master of Taxation or Certificate Programs, applicants must provide the following materials:
- Completed online application with $50 application fee
- JD from a law school approved by the American Bar Association or completion of all requirements to practice law in a foreign country.
- Official transcripts* for all credits leading to that degree.
- One letter of recommendation (professional or academic)
- Essay identifying professional goals that are consistent with the purposes of the ֱ Graduate Tax Program
- Resume
*E-transcripts are the preferred method of delivery and should be sent directly from the institution to graduatetaxprogram@law.villanova.edu.
- Completed online application with $50 application fee
- Baccalaureate degree in accounting or a business-related degree from an accredited institution.
- Official transcripts* from each institution of higher-learning attended in which six (6) or more credits were earned.
- In addition, MT applicants must be a licensed Certified Public Accountant or have either passed the CPA exam or have taken the GMATs, or GREs within the last five (5) years. Official test scores or a copy of the CPA exam results or license must be submitted.Applicants who hold a professional licensure such as an Enrolled Agent, Certified Financial Planner, Chartered Financial Analyst, etc. may be exempt from standardized testing by submitting a copy of their credential. Those applying who have direct tax experience of 7 or more years as well as a 3.0 undergraduate GPA may also seek a GMAT/GRE waiver.
- One letter of recommendation (professional or academic)
- Essay identifying professional goals that are consistent with the purposes of the ֱ Graduate Tax Program
- Resume
*E-transcripts are the preferred method of delivery and should be sent directly from the institution to graduatetaxprogram@law.villanova.edu.
- Completed online application with $50 application fee
- Attorney-applicants must meet the same requirements as LLM applicants.
- Non-attorney applicants should follow the requirements set forth for MT applicants.
- Please note that applicants that are neither attorneys nor accountants must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.
- Additionally, the candidate must have a professional certification in the financial planning area (e.g., CLU, CFP) and experience in individual business, financial planning, or both.
- One letter of recommendation (professional or academic)
- Essay identifying professional goals that are consistent with the purposes of the ֱ Graduate Tax Program
- Resume
Admissions Requirements Exceptions
Any exceptions to admissions requirements are evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the Director and Faculty Director, in conjunction with the Admissions Committee.
Tuition
Tuition for all Graduate Tax Program courses for the 2024-2025 academic year is $1,630 per credit hour. There is an additional general university fee of $100 per semester.
The University Board of Trustees may increase tuition in future academic years.
Graduate Tax |
2025-2026 |
2026-2027 |
2027-2028 |
|---|---|---|---|
Estimated Tuition |
$1,675/credit |
$1,725/credit |
$1,776/credit |
Estimated Fees |
$103 |
$106 |
$109 |
Graduate Tax Estimated Indirect Costs based on 6 credits per semester |
|||
Estimated Books/Course Supplies |
$333 |
$333 |
$333 |
Estimated Food/Sundries |
$1,000 |
$1,000 |
$1,000 |
Estimated Housing/Utilities |
$1,200 |
$1,200 |
$1,200 |
Estimated Misc. Personal Expenses |
$350 |
$350 |
$350 |
Estimated Transportation |
$250 |
$250 |
$250 |
Estimated Federal Loan Fees |
$127 |
$127 |
$127 |
Health Insurance
ֱ University offers health insurance plans for graduate students who are enrolled in a minimum of 3 credits and who attend classes on-campus. Students enrolling in the University-sponsored plan can also include their spouse and children on the plan.
International Applicants
Applicants must have excellent English language writing and speaking ability. In addition to the required documents, applicants whose native language is other than English are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language ( exam) and obtain a score exceeding 100 points on the internet-based TOEFL exam (with minimum scores of 25 in each of the four sections) or 600 on the paper-based TOEFL exam (with minimum scores of 60 in each of the three sections).
Please note that the Graduate Tax Program does not satisfy the requirements for a student visa.
FINANCIAL AID
In order to qualify for financial aid, a student must be (1) admitted to the Program; (2) a U.S. citizen, national or an eligible non-citizen; (3) enrolled at least half-time; and (4) must meet any other applicable requirements identified by the ֱ Law School Financial Aid Office. For purposes of the financial aid rules applicable to the Graduate Tax Program, two courses are considered half-time participation and three or more courses are considered full-time participation.
For information about loans and financial aid, contact the ֱ Law Financial Aid Office. Call: 610-519-7015, email: finaid@law.villanova.edu.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Scholarships are available for new LLM or MT students enrolling in the Graduate Tax Program of up to $5,000, subject to funding availability.
As of fall 2023, scholarship applications are included within the admissions application, a separate application will not be required. Prospective students interested in applying for funding should select “yes” for the prompt on the admissions application. Prospective students will then be instructed to complete additional information about their candidacy.
Scholarship decisions will be released after the admissions deadline of the term the student is applying for.
PUBLIC INTEREST PROGRAMS
Honoring ֱ’s commitment to the virtue of Caritas and working for the common good of all, the Graduate Tax Program strives to serve the public interest through increasing access to our academic offerings. This desire serves as the foundation for our public interest programs and our continued effort to build up the tax community and equip practitioners to support those in need.
Tax law is a highly specialized field and advanced training beyond the Juris Doctorate is often required to truly understand the nuances of the United States Tax Code and the application of statutes and regulations. This added barrier to entry results in many prospective students forgoing additional education and relying solely on continuing education and on-the-job training. We are committed to breaking down these barriers through two initiatives.
Low Income Tax Clinics, non-profit organizations, and government agencies play a vital role in supporting disadvantaged communities when it comes to tax assistance and advice. We are proud to offer a scholarship of 50% off tuition for students working in public interest roles. By reducing tuition and lowering the financial burden of additional education, we can ensure more dedicated professionals have access to advanced training to better serve their constituents and those in need. Those interested in applying for the Caritas Scholarship should contact the Graduate Tax Program.
In partnership with ֱ Law’s Federal Tax Clinic, we are offering one student each year the opportunity to participate in a graduate assistantship. Recipients are able to pursue a Master of Laws in Taxation with full tuition remission and receive a stipend from the Federal Tax Clinic. In exchange, graduate assistants agree to work 20 hours per week in the clinic. The hands-on learning environment provides students with invaluable experience and prepares them for continued contribution to the public interest throughout their careers. Those interested in applying should contact Christine Speidel, associate professor of law and director of the Federal Tax Clinic.
Text Us:
610-995-6519
Monday–Friday: 9 AM–5 PM
(Closed Fridays in the summer)
IMPORTANT NOTICES
FOR PROSPECTIVE AND CURRENT STUDENTS ENROLLING IN ONLINE COURSES OR PROGRAMS
The following includes important information for students participating in online courses, online programs and/or on-ground clinicals or practicums while physically located outside of Pennsylvania.