Financial Aid

The availability of federal student aid can be a major factor in planning for law school. At the University of Louisville, all 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 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.

Please note that this page 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

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.

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.

1. Assemble your tax information, including your W-2 forms and 1040 income tax returns.
2. Create an Federal Student Aid ID if you do not already have one. Your FSA ID will be used to electronically sign your FAFSA.
3. Complete your FAFSAonline. 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.
4. Once your FAFSA has been processed by the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), you will be sent a FAFSA Submission Summary, including your Student Aid Index (SAI) number. Review the Summary carefully and make changes or corrections to your FAFSA if necessary.
5. After SFAO receives your FAFSA from the DOE, you may also be asked for additional information to complete your financial aid application. Once your application is complete, SFAO will review your eligibility for all federal student aid programs. You will then receive an award notification that will direct you to your ULink account to accept, reduce or decline your financial aid award.
6. Remember that you will need to complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) and entrance counseling for each loan before it will be disbursed!

For the Fall semester, the priority deadline to complete your application is June 30. A complete application includes your official DOE-processed FAFSA, all requested documents and notice of any other financial aid resources not listed with SFAO. If you submit requested documents after the priority deadline, you might not be awarded your anticipated aid by the time your Fall semester balance is due, and you will need to settle your bill through other means while you await disbursement.

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.

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. It addresses questions you should be asking before, during and after law school and offers tools to help you make informed financial decisions.
• 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.
• New for 2025, 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, especially in light of recent Congressional action.