Following is an overview of the financial aid available to UDC Law students. For details, consult our annual Financing Your Legal Education Handbook.
Scholarships
UDC Law offers generous merit- and need-based scholarship programs. For details, see Scholarships & Grants.
Scholarships for Entering Students
Incoming Merit Scholarships
Named Scholarships
Need-Based Scholarships
Scholarships for Continuing Students
Institutional Merit Scholarships
Named Scholarships
Need-based Scholarships
Students are also encouraged to investigate Outside Scholarship Resources.
Loans
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans are federal, non-credit-based loans available to graduate and professional students. For loans first disbursed between July 1, 2026, and June 30, 2027, the fixed interest rate is 8.07%, with a 1.057% loan origination fee.
- Students who entered law school before July 1, 2026: May borrow up to $20,500 per academic year.
- Students who entered law school on or after July 1, 2026: Under the Working Families Tax Cut Act, may borrow up to $50,000 per academic year through the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan program.
Federal Graduate PLUS Loans
Graduate PLUS Loans are federal, credit-based, unsubsidized loans available to eligible graduate and professional students who need additional funding beyond their other financial aid. For loans first disbursed between July 1, 2026, and June 30, 2027, the fixed interest rate is 9.04%, with a 4.228% loan origination fee.
Eligible students may borrow up to the difference between the Cost of Attendance and the total amount of other financial aid received. Graduate PLUS Loans are federal loans and may be consolidated with other eligible federal student loans during repayment.
Students who enter law school on or after July 1, 2026, are not eligible to receive Graduate PLUS Loans.
Part-time Enrollment Will Result in Reduced Loan Eligibility
Effective July 1, 2026, Federal Direct Loan Eligibility will be prorated based on how many credits you are taking:
- Full-time students receive the full annual loan amount.
- Part-time students receive a prorated (reduced) amount based on their enrollment level.
Please note that the actual loan amount you are eligible to receive each semester will depend on your enrollment after the official drop/add period.
Private Education Loans
Private education loans are offered by a variety of private lenders to creditworthy borrowers and are not based on financial need. Because loan terms, interest rates, fees, and borrower benefits vary by lender, students are encouraged to carefully research and compare their options before borrowing.
Students considering a private loan may find the AccessLex Private Loan Exchange to be a valuable resource. The Private Loan Exchange is a nonprofit-curated platform designed specifically for law students, allowing borrowers to review and compare private education loan options from participating lenders in one convenient location.
Work-Study
The work study program provides part-time employment for students based on financial need. Individual work study awards are determined upon request. In addition, awards are determined according to the student’s unmet need after all other aid has been subtracted from his/her net financial need, and by availability of funds.
On-Campus Institutional Work-Study (IWS): IWS students work on-campus in the law library, administrative and clinic offices, and for law school faculty. They are paid hourly and may work up to 20 hours per week. First-year students may apply for on-campus work-study positions only.
Teaching and Research Assistants
Assistantships provide part-time employment for upper level students selected by faculty. Teaching Assistants conduct workshops to review course materials with students; assist students in developing skills by providing and reviewing models, strategies, hypotheticals, and practice exams; provide oral and written feedback on students’ written work; and provide one-on-one tutoring as necessary. Research Assistants may be assigned a specific topic to research and assist faculty in drafting articles and papers. Assistants are paid on an hourly basis and may work up to 20 hours per week.
Veteran Education Benefits
The UDC Law Office of Financial Aid is committed to, and has experience with, assisting veterans and their families to evaluate and utilize the educational benefits and programs available to them.