Financial Aid

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The availability of federal student aid (i.e., student loans) can be a major factor in planning for law school. At the University of Louisville, all financial aid is administered centrally by the Student Financial Aid Office (SFAO). Neither Brandeis Law's Office of Admissions nor any other law school personnel have access to individual federal loan records.

For questions about financial aid processing, packaging or disbursement, or to arrange a student loan counseling appointment, please contact SFAO at 502-852-5511 or finaid@louisville.edu. For current policies, timelines, step‑by‑step instructions and other financial aid information, please refer to the SFAO website.

This webpage provides only a high‑level summary of federal student aid. For official, current requirements and instructions, always rely on information as published by SFAO.

Student Loans

Professional students, including those enrolled in JD programs, may be eligible for Direct Unsubsidized Loans from the U.S. Department of Education. In contrast to the subsidized federal aid available to undergraduate students, interest accrues on Direct Unsubsidized Loans during enrollment and any period of deferment, with rates and origination fees are set annually by the federal government.

For current interest rates, fees, annual limits, required Master Promissory Notes and entrance counseling, please consult the SFAO website. 

Applying for Federal Aid

To apply for federal aid, students submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year. Because FAFSA dates, forms and requirements can change, please follow the most up‑to‑date guidance on the FAFSA website.

  • Assemble your tax information, including your W-2 forms and 1040 income tax returns.
  • Create an Federal Student Aid ID if you do not already have one. Your FSA ID will be used to electronically sign your FAFSA.
  • Complete your FAFSA online. If eligible, you may import your tax data into your FAFSA by using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. Remember to select the University of Louisville as a recipient of your FAFSA, using School Code 001999.
  • Once your FAFSA has been processed by the U.S. Department of Education, you will be sent a FAFSA Submission Summary, including your Student Aid Index number. Review the Summary carefully and make changes or corrections to your FAFSA if necessary.
  • After SFAO receives your FAFSA from the U.S. Department of Education, you may be asked for documents or additional information to complete your financial aid application. Once your application is complete, SFAO will review your eligibility for all federal student aid programs then notify you of what you are being offered, which you may accept in full, accept in part or decline.
  • Remember that you will need to complete a Master Promissory Note and entrance counseling for each loan before it will be disbursed!

For the Fall semester of a given year, the priority deadline to file your FAFSA is June 30. A complete financial aid application includes your FAFSA and any documents or additional information requested by SFAO. If a student submits requested documents or additional information after the priority deadline, they might not be awarded their anticipated financial aid by the time their Fall semester balance is due, and they will need to settle your bill through other means while they await disbursement.

Disbursement & Refunds

Most financial aid is disbursed at the start of each semester once a student's eligibility, including enrollment status and satisfactory academic progress, has been confirmed. Students enrolled in a nonstandard course load should complete any required enrollment adjustment steps as outlined by SFAO to ensure timely disbursement.

If the total amount of financial aid disburse to a student exceeds their current student account balance, a "refund" will be issued following the University Bursar refund delivery process.

AccessLex Institute

To help educate students on the financial aspects of attending law school, Brandeis Law has partnered with the AccessLex Institute, a nonprofit organization that serves law students across the nation through its affiliations with ABA-approved and state-accredited law schools. In its own words, AccessLex is "dedicated to the betterment of legal education" and "steadfast in [its] commitment to inform students of the economic realities of law school without limiting their aspirations." AccessLex offers prospective and current law students a suite of free services for navigating law school and beyond, including but not limited to the following:

  • The Paying for Law School guide discusses financing your legal education as you determine the right path forward for yourself, offering tools to help you make informed financial decisions.
  • The Law School Scholarship Databank provides a comprehensive list of vetted external scholarship opportunities available to law students, making it easier for students to find additional opportunities to defray the costs of law school.
  • AccessConnex offers access to a team of Accredited Financial Counselors who can answer your questions about borrowing strategies, loan terms, repayment options, credit and more.
  • The Student Loan Calculator can help you project your student loan borrowing and monthly repayment obligations as well as learn more about the costs, benefits and drawbacks of private refinancing and federal consolidation loans.
  • The Student Aid Policy and Action Center is a go-to source for insights and updates on the changing landscape of law school borrowing and loan repayment.
  • The AccessLex Private Loan Exchange provides a centralized directory of private loan offerings available to law students, with the goal of helping those exploring private lending options make more informed borrowing decisions. AccessLex has also published a helpful guide to private student loans that explains their advantages and drawbacks in comparison to federal student loans.