Financial Aid

The availability of federal student aid can be a major factor in planning for law school. At UofL, all aid is administered centrally by the Student Financial Aid Office (SFAO). Brandeis Law’s Office of Admissions and other law school personnel do not have access to individual federal loan records.

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

Completing the FAFSA

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 SFAO “Applying for Aid” pages.

The University of Louisville's FAFSA school code is 001999.

1. Assemble your tax information, including your W-2 and 1040 tax forms.
2. Create an FSA ID if you do not already have one. Your FSA ID will be used to electronically sign your FAFSA.
3. Visit the FAFSA website to complete your FAFSA. If eligible, you may import your tax data into your FAFSA by using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.
4. Once your FAFSA has been processed, you will be sent a Student Aid Report (SAR), either by email (if you filed electronically and provided an email address) or else by post. Review the SAR, and if you find any errors, you can make corrections to your FAFSA online or return the paper SAR with corrections.
5. Remember that you will need to complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) and entrance counseling for each loan before it will be disbursed.

Student Loans

Prior to July 1, 2026, eligible JD students may borrow federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans and, subject to credit approval, Direct PLUS Loans. Starting July 1, 2026, Direct PLUS Loans will no longer be available. Unlike for subsidized undergraduate loans, interest accrues during enrollment any period of deferment. Rates and origination fees are set annually by the federal government and are listed on the SFAO website.

• Direct Unsubsidized Loans: Up to annual federal limits; no demonstration of financial need required.
• Direct PLUS Loans: May cover remaining cost of attendance after other aid; credit check required.

For current interest rates, fees, annual limits, required Master Promissory Notes and entrance counseling, consult the SFAO loan information pages. 

Disbursement & Refunds

Most aid is disbursed at the start of each semester once eligibility (including enrollment status and satisfactory academic progress) is confirmed. If aid exceeds university charges, refunds are issued following the University Bursar refund delivery process. Students enrolled on a part-time basis in a given semester should complete any required enrollment adjustment steps outlined by SFAO to ensure timely disbursement.

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