Financing Your Legal Education
The Office of Student Financial Services works with students to identify sources of financial support and develop realistic budgets to meet their goals. In addition to managing the delivery of all types of financial aid funds, the office offers law students financial services in the form of loan counseling, advice on maintaining financial aid eligibility, debt management workshops, web-based tools to manage an education loan portfolio, and Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP).
Financial Aid Counseling
The Office of Student Financial Services, led by Director Nasreen Zia and Assistant Director Jennifer Terrazas, offers personalized support with loan counseling, aid eligibility, debt management workshops, and online tools. Please schedule a one-on-one appointment with Nasreen or Jennifer for any questions. This is an excellent opportunity to discuss questions regarding obtaining California residency, loans, housing, debt management, budgeting, and Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP).
Key Federal Aid Update
The recent changes introduced by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act have created uncertainty for many students planning their legal education. With federal loan limits tightening and Graduate PLUS Loans being phased out, we understand you may be feeling anxious about how you will finance law school. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed July 4, 2025, introduces major changes:
- Graduate PLUS Loans will be eliminated starting July 1, 2026.
- Direct Loan Limits: Beginning July 1, 2026, annual Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan limits for law students will be $50,000, with a lifetime cap of $200,000.
What Does This Mean for You?
If you need to borrow more than the $50,000 federal direct loan, you can consider a private loan. Since these are credit-based, we encourage you to take time now to review your credit reports (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion) early and correct any errors. Check the insert in your admitted student packet for AccessLex resources, including Foundations of Credit for detailed information. If you have concerns about qualifying for a private loan, you can contact our office at finaid@law.uci.edu or use AccessConnex—a free one-on-one financial counseling service from AccessLex.
Financing Your Legal Education
Your Cost of Attendance (COA) at UC Irvine Law includes tuition, fees, and estimated living expenses and sets the maximum financial aid you can receive. COA varies based on factors like living arrangements. Students can cover costs through several options, including:
- Institutional Scholarship Aid: Details about your UC Irvine Law Merit Scholarship and/or Need-Based Grant were included in your admission offer. Need-Based Grants are for students with exceptional financial hardship who submitted the FAFSA or California Dream Application (UC Irvine FAFSA School code: 001314). If you haven’t applied, submit the application promptly.
- Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans: To apply for the annual Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan of $50,000, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Aid (FAFSA). Full aid offer letters that include institutional aid, federal loan, and private loan eligibility will be sent to you in late March/early April.
- Private Loans: If you need to cover remaining tuition or living expenses, private loans may be an option. Use federal loans first, they typically offer better terms, forgiveness programs, and protections. Find details on private loan options, including those for UC Irvine students, on UCI’s Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships website.
- Outside Scholarships: To assist you in your search for free money, we have provided a list of scholarship opportunities awarded by outside agencies. All outside agency scholarships have specific application procedures, criteria, and deadlines.
Scholarship Reconsideration
If you are seeking reconsideration of your current UCI Law Scholarship from the Scholarship Committee, please submit your request through the Scholarship Reconsideration portal by April 14, 2026 for a response before the first deposit deadline (April 20, 2026). You will be able to log in using the email account entered with your original School of Law application. The password is your 9-character LSAC account #. Please ensure to include the “L” when typing the account number (e.g., L12345678). Decisions will not be made before Admitted Students Weekend (April 10–11). Need-Based Grant reconsideration is not available.Loan Repayment Assistance
Part of our law school’s mission is to encourage and support J.D. students and graduates who are dedicated to a career in public service law. To help achieve this goal, the Law School has a Loan Repayment Assistance Program intended to expand the career options of UC Irvine Law graduates by removing the financial burden created by federal education loans.