Financial Aid
There is a general distinction between financial programs managed through the University’s Office of Student Financial Aid and those managed through the College of Law.
University Office of Student Financial Aid
All loans are administered through the Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA). The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign participates in the Federal Direct Student Loan Program. Instead of borrowing from private lending institutions, students borrow through the University from the U.S. Department of Education (USDE). The University approves the loan, receives the funds from the USDE, and credits the loan proceeds directly to the student’s University account. Loan amounts cannot exceed the cost of attendance minus other financial aid the student may receive, such as scholarships.
If there is an excess of funds after University charges are paid in full for the semester, a refund will be issued to the student. All federal loans are administered through the OSFA.
For more information, refer to the USDE website. Borrowers are responsible for all interest charges, including those accruing while the student is in school.
Unsubsidized Stafford Loans
Most students qualify for unsubsidized Stafford Loans upon completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Loan amounts cannot exceed the cost of attendance minus other financial aid the student may receive, such as scholarships. New unsubsidized graduate loan limits effective July 1, 2026 (excluding undergraduate loan limits):
| Student Type | Annual (Academic Year) Limit | Aggregate (Lifetime) Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Graduate Student | $20,500 | $100,000 |
| Professional Student* | $50,000 | $200,000 |
*University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign professional programs include the Carle Illinois College of Medicine, College of Law, and College of Veterinary Medicine.
GradPLUS Loans
Beginning with the 2026-2027 academic year, new graduate and professional students will no longer be eligible to borrow Federal Direct Graduate PLUS loans. This change takes effect on July 1, 2026, signed into law through the Big Beautiful Bill. You should review additional loan eligibility information through the Office of Student Financial Aid .
Federal Loan Repayment and Forgiveness
The USDE offers several different repayment plans. The plans have 10-, 20-, and 25- year repayment terms and vary regarding (a) the consideration of income in repayment; (b) terms of eligibility; and (c) terms of forgiveness. Students are encouraged to learn more about repaying their federal student loan debt via the Federal Student Aid website.
Because the study of law is so demanding of time and energy, students are strongly discouraged from seeking employment during the first year.
College of Law Financial Aid
Long-term Loan Program
Applications for these loans are available from the director of Admissions and Financial Aid. This loan program is designed for students who face an emergency situation while in law school. Students must exhaust all other loan resources before applying for a long-term loan.
Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP)
The University of Illinois College of Law is committed to encouraging its graduates to pursue public interest careers. The burden of law school debt can hinder students from choosing meaningful, low-paying careers in public service, government, and nonprofit organizations, and LRAP gives graduates more flexibility in career selection by offering partial loan forgiveness to qualifying applicants. Learn more.
Scholarships
Consistent with its mission as a public, land-grant institution, the College of Law is committed to accessibility and affordability. The College offers an extensive number of scholarships—including full-tuition and half-tuition scholarships—for JD students who show particular promise for success in the study and practice of law.
The College of Law has a variety of named scholarships available for incoming as well as current students. These represent just some of the scholarship support that is available for students. All students are automatically considered for College of Law scholarships. The College also provides assistance and information for students wishing to apply for outside scholarship support.
The Illinois Scholarship Guarantee
Heightened transparency concerning the terms of scholarship awards has become a significant focus of student and media attention.
To address these concerns, foster educational accessibility, reward individual merit, and permit students to concentrate on their legal studies without undue anxiety, the College will guarantee its scholarship to any student receiving one, so long as the recipient remains enrolled at the College.
Scholarship Retention Data
Per the Illinois Scholarship Guarantee, College of Law scholarships are not conditional upon maintaining a minimum grade point average or class standing and are guaranteed as long as the recipient remains enrolled. Therefore, we do not post the ABA Scholarship Retention Data Worksheet.
Dean’s Scholarship Program
Established in 2018, the Dean’s Scholarship provides full tuition and additional benefits for students who have achieved an LSAT score and undergraduate GPA above the target medians for the incoming class.
Benefits
In addition to a full tuition scholarship, Dean’s Scholars will also enjoy the following:
- Dean’s Library Fund stipend for first-year textbooks.
- Special programming for Dean’s Scholars.
- Personalized Illinois Law business cards for networking and special events.