FAQs

Financial aid covers the academic year only, typically a nine-month period that begins in August and ends in May.

You must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application each year before the university is able to consider you for financial aid. Upon receipt of your FAFSA application information, the university will send you a Financial Aid Award notice. Law students begin receiving award notices in early April.

Any aid that you are awarded is listed on your Financial Aid Award notice. You must accept the aid via your USF Connect Account. If you are a first time William D. Ford Direct Loan borrower at USF, you must also submit a Master Promissory Note (MPN) and complete an online Debt Management Counseling Session. You only need to submit a MPN and complete the Debt Management Counseling Session once during your entire attendance at law school. Information on the requirements for the William D. Ford Direct Loan Program.

Once you accept the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan and complete the disbursement requirements associated with this aid, the University Financial Aid Office will update your financial aid file to indicate that you are receiving "authorized financial aid." Unsubsidized Loans require completion of a Master Promissory Note and an online Entrance Counseling exam for new borrowers. The Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan will appear as credit on your USF student account and noted as authorized financial aid until the funds actually disburse to USF.

***Beginning 2026-27 Award Year, Federal Grad PLUS loan will be eliminated.

Loan funds are disbursed directly to the university by your lender one week before classes begin. Funds are credited to your USF student account to pay tuition and fees first. Any excess loan funds are then refunded to you. You can choose to have your refund sent to your bank account electronically or have a paper check refund sent to you. Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) or direct deposit, is the quickest way to receive a loan refund. Direct deposit refunds take two to six business days to be received in your bank account after loan funds disburse to the University, while a paper check refund takes five to 10 business days to be received after funds are disbursed. Information on direct deposit refund processing can be found online.

The university does provide a four-month payment plan each semester that allows you to pay your tuition balance in four equal installments, on the first of each month (August through November for the fall semester and January through April for the spring semester). There is a $50 enrollment fee. The four-month payment plan enrollment information can be obtained online.

There are additional scholarships available through private organizations and bar associations. A partial list of Scholarships is available online. Federal Work Study is a need based program available only to continuing law students. Federal Work Study funds can only be used during the normal fall and spring academic year. Please contact the law school's Office of Financial Aid regarding the requirements and limitations of using Federal Work Study funds.

Yes. Law students can access their most up to date financial aid and billing information via MyUSF.

Yes. Law students should submit a FAFSA application (or a FAFSA renewal application) by March 1 to ensure maximum financial aid consideration for all federal programs, including the Federal Work Study program. In addition to completing a FAFSA application, law students must reapply each year for a private or Federal Direct Graduate PLUS loan.

No. Once you earn a bachelor's degree, you are no longer eligible for federal grant funding.

Institutional merit-based scholarships are awarded through the Law Admissions Office and are typically evaluated concurrently with your admissions application. This process applies to all applicants, regardless of residency status. If you have specific questions regarding your scholarship terms or eligibility, we encourage you to contact the Law Admissions Office directly for further assistance.

Students are also encouraged to explore external scholarship opportunities offered by private organizations, foundations, and community groups. These scholarships may provide additional financial support to assist with educational expenses and can be researched through various scholarship search resources and databases. You can find more information on scholarships on myUSF and through AccessLex scholarship database.

If you do not have personal funds available to cover the remaining balance, you may consider applying for a private educational loan. Private loan is a credit-based and require a credit review as part of the application process.

***Beginning 2026-27 Award Year, Federal Grad PLUS loan will be eliminated. Any new borrowers after July 1, 2026 can borrow credit-based Private Loan to cover the gap. Beginning Fall 2026, new admit law students who are U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents are eligible for a federal loan of $50,000 for each year of Law studies. Students can access additional loans to cover additional tuition and living expenses by applying for private loans. You can search for private loans here.

Your undergraduate loans do not count toward the $200,000 aggregate limit for graduate and professional borrowing. However, all federal loans combined, including undergraduate and graduate/professional loans, count toward the $257,500 lifetime borrowing cap, even if some or all of your prior loans have been repaid or cancelled.

Students may apply directly with a private lender online or by phone. Loan decisions are often provided shortly after submission; however, approval is subject to lender review and your individual credit history and eligibility.

The maximum private loan amount that you can apply for is the total cost of attendance for the academic year (this includes tuition, fees, and cost of living) minus any aid that you have been awarded and have accepted. The normal academic year is a nine-month period from August through May. Your total financial aid (federal loans, grants or scholarships, other financial assistance, and private loans) cannot exceed your total cost of attendance.

You should only borrow what you think you may need for the academic year. If you have any personal funds such as savings or if you anticipate any work income, you should factor those funds into your budget. If you initially borrow less than the maximum allowed, you can apply for the remaining amount later in the academic year if you decide that you need additional funds. You must apply for any remaining private loan funds before the end of the spring semester but no later than April 1. Please be aware that no exception to this deadline will be made.

Your additional loan funds are disbursed directly to the university by your lender one week before classes begin. Funds are disbursed in two equal installments, once for the fall and once for the spring semester.

***Beginning 2026-27 Award Year, Federal Grad PLUS loan will be eliminated.

Approval for private educational loans is primarily based on your credit history and financial profile. To improve your chances of qualifying, you may consider the following:

• Review your credit report and address any errors or outstanding issues.
• Make on-time payments on existing debts to establish a positive credit history.
• Reduce outstanding debt when possible, as lenders often consider your debt-to-income ratio.
• Apply with a creditworthy co-signer, if needed, which can significantly increase approval chances and may result in better interest rates.
• Avoid submitting multiple loan applications at the same time, as each application typically requires a hard credit check.

Each lender sets its own credit and eligibility criteria, so approval terms, interest rates, and requirements may vary.

You can obtain your credit score through several sources. Many banks and credit card companies provide free access to your credit score through their online banking or mobile apps. You may also request a free copy of your credit report annually from AnnualCreditReport.com, the official site authorized by federal law.

Generally, a good credit score is in the high 600s, while an excellent credit score is in the 700 or higher range. If you identify any errors on your credit report, you should work directly with the credit reporting agencies to have those errors corrected.  

If you have limited or less-than-ideal credit, you still have options. Many students apply for a private educational loan with a creditworthy co-signer, such as a parent or trusted family member, which can improve approval chances and may result in better loan terms.

If you do not have established credit, you may want to begin building credit by opening a starter or secured credit card, making small purchases, and paying the balance on time each month. Making timely payments on any existing financial obligations can also help strengthen your credit profile over time. Because private lenders set their own credit requirements, approval criteria and interest rates vary by lender, so you may wish to compare options before applying.

Your William D. Ford Direct Loan(s) is disbursed directly to the university one week before classes begin. Funds are disbursed in two equal installments, once each semester. Scholarships and grants are listed as aid provided by the university and show up as credit toward your tuition payment on your USF student account.

Once you are approved for a private loan and you accept the loan and return a promissory note to your lender, the lender notifies USF of your approved loan. The university financial aid receives information from the lender regarding your approved loan. The financial aid administrator then certifies that the loan amount you were approved for is appropriate for your educational expenses. Once the loan is certified, your USF financial aid file is updated to indicate that private loan funds are expected to be received on your behalf and that these funds will be used to help pay your tuition bill. The private loan funds appear as credit on your USF student account and are noted as estimated aid until the funds actually disburse to USF.

***Beginning 2026-27 Award Year, Federal Grad PLUS loan will be eliminated.

Continuing borrowers who are eligible under the Legacy Provision: Once you are approved for a Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan and you complete all disbursement requirements for the PLUS Loan from the prior year, the University Financial Aid Office will update your financial aid file to indicate that you are receiving "authorized financial aid" in the form of a PLUS Loan. The Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan funds appear as credit on your USF student account and are noted as authorized financial aid until the funds actually disburse to USF. New Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan borrowers must submit a PLUS loan Master Promissory Note and complete the PLUS Loan Entrance Counseling exam before funds disburse.

The date to receive a full tuition and fee refund is BEFORE the first day of classes. Information about the university refund policy is available through the Student Accounts Office. If withdrawing from school, a forfeiture of all non-refundable admission deposits will be assessed for new first-year students. The final date to receive a full tuition refund is also listed on the academic calendar.

Once expected funds are received and applied to student’s account, any remaining credits will be processed as a refund. Once a refund is processed, it takes 3-5 business days to reach a student’s designated bank account if enrolled in direct deposit.

Yes. Summer financial aid is available to continuing students through unused federal student loan or private loans.

***Beginning 2026-27 Award Year, Federal Grad PLUS loan will be eliminated. Continuing borrowers who are eligible under the Legacy Provision will continue to be eligible for the Federal Grad PLUS Loan.

All USF scholarship aid, including your merit-based Scholarship, is only applicable for the regular Fall/Spring academic year.