7 Best Law School Loans of August 2026
Law school loans can be federal loans or through a private lender. Here's what to know to choose the best option for you.
To find the best law school loans, compare interest rates, fees and repayment options — and only borrow after exhausting grants and scholarships.
Federal student loans are generally a safer choice than private options to pay for law school and should be maxed out first. That's because federal loans offer repayment protections and benefits that private loans don't, for example Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) if you work in the public sector. If federal loans don't cover the full cost of your law program, private student loans can be the next step to fill that gap.
Our picks for the best private law school loans are below, as well as some additional information on choosing between federal and private options. Note that the ratings, interest rates and qualifications shown are for each lender's standard graduate school loan. Some lenders may have different rates, qualifications and terms for law school loans.
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- 19 student loans lenders reviewed and rated by our team of experts.
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Why trust NerdWallet
- 19 student loans lenders reviewed and rated by our team of experts.
- 10+ years of combined experience covering higher education and consumer lending.
- Objective, comprehensive star-rating system assessing 40 categories and more than 50 data points across student loan origination and student loan refinance.
- Governed by NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
Best Law School Loans
Lender | NerdWallet editorial rating | Min. credit score | Fixed APR | Variable APR | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4.5 /5 | Mid-600's | 2.29-14.99% | 3.62-14.35% | Check Rate on Sallie Mae's website | |
5.0 /5 | Mid-600s | 2.39-15.99% | 3.89-15.99% | Check Rate on College Ave's website | |
4.5 /5 | Mid-600's | 4.45-14.90% | 4.99-15.30% | Check Rate on Earnest's website | |
5.0 /5 | Mid-600s | 2.45-14.83% | 4.39-15.86% | Check Rate on SoFi®'s website | |
5.0 /5 | Low-Mid 600s | 2.69-17.01% | 3.64-16.05% | Check Rate on Ascent's website | |
3.5 /5 | None | 10.24-16.65% | N/A | Check Rate on MPOWER's website |
Our pick for
Private law school loans
- One of the few lenders to provide loans to part-time students.
- You can see if you’ll qualify and what rate you’ll get without a hard credit check.
- Non-U.S. citizens, including DACA students, who live in the U.S. and attend school in the U.S. can apply with a qualified co-signer who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
- Does not offer bi-weekly payments via autopay.
Rating and details displayed are for Sallie Mae's private student loan. Sallie Mae's law school loan is available to students enrolled less than half-time, making this a good option if you're studying for your JD at night or part-time. The loan also offers 48 months of deferment during a clerkship or fellowship.
- Typical credit score of approved borrowers: Mid-700s.
- Minimum income: $35,000 per year.
- Loan amounts: $1,000 up to the total cost of attendance.
- You can see if you’ll qualify and what rate you’ll get without a hard credit check.
- Nine-month grace period is longer than other lenders offer.
- You can defer payments up to an additional 12 months during clerkship after your grace period.
- You must be at least halfway through your repayment term before you can request a co-signer release.
- Typical credit score of approved borrowers: 758.
- Minimum income: $35,000.
- Loan amounts: $1,000 up to your total cost of attendance.
- Option to skip one payment every 12 months.
- No late fees.
- Nine-month grace period is longer than most lenders offer.
- Loans aren't available in Nevada.
Rating and details displayed are for Earnest's private student loan. Earnest offers a specific law school loan, but it has the same underlying terms as the lender's other products.
- You can see if you’ll qualify and what rate you’ll get without a hard credit check.
- Multiple in-school repayment options available, including interest-only and flat-fee, and deferred for undergrad and grad students.
- Does not offer bi-weekly payments via autopay.
- Typical credit score of approved borrowers or co-signers: Not available.
- Minimum income: Not available.
- Loan amounts: up to $400,000.
- Among the best for payment flexibility.
- Grace period of 9 months is longer than many lenders offer.
- You can see if you’ll qualify and what rate you’ll get without a hard credit check.
- Stands out for features that enable faster loan repayment.
- You must be enrolled at least half-time to qualify.
- Typical credit score of approved borrowers or co-signers: Does not disclose.
- Minimum income: Does not disclose.
- Loan amounts: From $1,000 to the cost of attendance minus other financial aid the borrower receives.
- Offers academic deferment for borrowers who return to school.
- Borrowers do not have to have a certain GPA to qualify for a loan.
- Offers undergraduate, graduate and parent loans.
- Loans discharged if the borrower dies or becomes permanently disabled.
- Does not offer flexible or nontraditional credit requirements such as on-time rent payments.
- Charges a late fee of 5% of the payment amount for payments not made within 15 days of the due date.
Our pick for
International law students
Many lenders let international students take out loans with an eligible co-signer; MPOWER is one of few that waives this requirement.
- Typical credit score of approved borrowers: Not available. MPOWER does not require a credit score, but for those with a credit score the minimum is 600.
- Minimum income: Not available. MPOWER does not require a minimum income.
- Loan amounts: Minimum is $2,001. Maximum is $100,000, limited to $50,000 per academic period.
- Non-co-signed loan option designed for U.S. graduate students.
- Has a 0.25-percentage-point rate discount with automatic payments.
- Allows borrowers to pre-qualify with a soft credit check.
- Provides pre-approval within 30 minutes of application submission.
- Borrowers can request forbearance of up to 24 months, which is longer than many lenders offer.
- Charges an origination fee of 0% to 5% for U.S students. (How the amount is determined wasn’t provided.)
- Requires interest-only payment while the student is in school.
- Has a 6-month grace period (which is short compared to other lenders).
- Doesn’t allow co-signers for borrowers who want one.
- Has only one loan term.
What types of law school loans are available?
In 2026, law school students have fewer federal student loan options than they had in the past, with the elimination of the grad PLUS loan for new borrowers. Direct Unsubsidized Loans are the remaining federal loan type for new law school borrowers. Under a grandfathering provision, borrowers with existing federal loans who remain at the same school in the same degree program may still be able to access grad PLUS loans, but only for up to three years.
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans
As part of recent federal student loan changes, annual borrowing limits changed for law school. Juris Doctor (JD) students (classified as professional by the U.S. Department of Education) can borrow up to $50,000 annually and up to $200,000 aggregate. A new overall lifetime cap across all federal loans is $257,500. Grad PLUS loans allowed students to borrow up to their full cost of attendance.
Average law school costs can vary based on the type of school and residency status. For public resident and nonresident students, annual law school tuition averaged $32,051 and $45,673, respectively, in 2025. For private law school students, average annual tuition was $59,759.
Private student loans
You can also use any private graduate student loan for law school. If you have good credit, you may find a private student loan with a lower interest rate than a federal loan. Take time to shop lenders and compare rates and features to find the least expensive option for a private loan.
Some private lenders, such as Sallie Mae, offer branded “law school loans” or loans for bar exam expenses. These may have features that cater to law students’ specific needs — like deferring payments during a clerkship or fellowship.
Which law school student loan is right for you?
While it's typically best to exhaust federal student loans before getting a private loan, there could be instances when borrowing from a private lender first makes sense. Here are some considerations to help you decide.
Federal loans for law students
These law loans may be the better choice in these situations.
You have bad credit. Direct Unsubsidized Loans are not credit-dependent. With most private lenders, you will need to meet credit requirements. If you have bad credit, you may still get approved for a private loan, but the interest rate will be much higher.
You want income-driven repayment. LawHub projects that an incoming 2026 non-resident law student's full cost-of-attendance (with interest, assuming no scholarships) ranges from about $125,000 at the lowest-cost school to more than $500,000 at the most expensive private school. These figures don’t include undergraduate debt. Federal loans offer income-driven repayment which may help handle this debt load.
You want federal loan protections. Federal loans are discharged upon a borrower’s death. Not all private loans offer this.
Private loans for law students
Loans from private lenders could make sense and save you money in certain circumstances:
You have excellent credit. With strong credit, you may qualify for a private loan with a lower rate and no origination fee.
You won't need federal student loan benefits. If you're certain you won't need federal options, such as PSLF or discharge upon death, a lower-cost private loan could make sense.
A comparison of federal and private loans for law school
Here's an example of repaying $200,000 in student debt using federal versus private loans.
Feature | Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan | Private Loan |
|---|---|---|
Interest rate | 8.07% | 6.50% (fixed rate; estimate for good credit borrower) |
Origination fee | 1.057% | Typically none |
Loan amount student receives | $197,886 (after fee deducted) | $200,000 (no fee) |
Total repayment cost | $292,080 over 10 years | $272,520 over 10 years |
Monthly payment | $2,434 | $2,271 |
Other considerations | Has federal protections, but more costly. Student receives less. | Lower cost, but has fewer protections. More money goes toward school. |
Federal loan APR and origination fee are accurate for 2026-2027 school year. The origination fee is typically deducted from each monthly disbursement. For comparison purposes our example deducts the fee amount from the balance upfront. | ||
How federal loan protections can affect law school affordability
Either federal or private loan payments might be unaffordable if you choose to be a legal services attorney or public defender whose median starting salaries are $64,200 and $69,600, respectively, according to the National Association for Law Placement (NALP).
But with federal loans, you would have access to income-driven repayment. Those salaries on the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) with no dependents would be about $320 and $350 a month. Additionally, PSLF could still erase the remaining balance after 10 years of qualifying payments.
Projected starting salaries are higher if you plan to practice in the private sector, with a median of $200,000 according to the NALP. Wages rise even more if you join a Big Law firm. Still, opting for federal loans can protect you if you don’t land the job or salary you expect. And if you do, you can always refinance law school loans after graduating to possibly recoup some savings.
How to take out loans for law school
Taking out loans for law school requires only a few steps. If you applied for financial aid as an undergrad, you’ll likely know what to do — though there are a couple of differences.
1. Fill out the FAFSA
You must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, to receive all types of federal financial aid, including work-study and student loans. Many private scholarships and grants require the FAFSA as well.
When completing the FAFSA, indicate that you’re going to be or already are a graduate student. This means you don’t have to include your parents’ information on the form; it also increases your borrowing limits.
2. Complete other required applications
In addition to the FAFSA, some law schools may make you submit the CSS Profile to receive nonfederal financial aid. Alternatively, your school might require an aid application that’s unique to its program.
Unlike on the FAFSA, you may need to provide your parents’ financial information on these forms to receive institutional scholarships or grants. Double-check the application process with the school’s financial aid office — including when its priority filing deadline is — so you don’t miss out on free money.
3. Work directly with private lenders
You don't need to complete the FAFSA for private student loans. If you've decided a private student loan makes sense for you, apply directly with the lender. The lender will likely require proof of your identity, income and law school you're attending, among other information.
Each lender has its own underwriting standards. Be sure to shop around and compare interest rates. Consider using a co-signer to get the best possible deal.
Last updated on August 3, 2026
Frequently asked questions
What law school loans are available?
You can take out unsubsidized federal student loans and private student loans to pay for law school. Grad PLUS loans are no longer available to new borrowers, but if you had existing federal loans prior to July 1, 2026, and you stay at the same school in the same degree program, you can still access grad PLUS loans for up to three years. Typically, it's better to max out federal loans before getting private loans.
Can law school loans cover living expenses?
Yes, you can, but federal loans no longer cover the total cost of attendance. Your total cost, including living expenses, would need to fall within the borrowing caps for federal loans. For law school, that's $50,000 a year and up to $200,000 lifetime for the program. Many private lenders do cover the full cost of attendance, which typically includes money for living expenses such as off-campus housing and transportation.
Are bar study loans the same as student loans?
Loans for bar exam expenses are more like personal loans than student loans. Bar loans have higher interest rates than student loans, and you usually cannot refinance them with your student loans.
What is the average law school debt?
Among law students who took out loans, the median amount of student debt at graduation — including undergraduate debt — was $137,500, according to the 2024 American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division survey (the most recent available as of 2026). For individual law students, the total debt varies by school and can end up being much more.
How we chose the best student loans
Our team of student loan experts follows an objective and robust methodology to rate lenders and pick the best.
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We reviewed 20 banks, credit unions and online lenders — including the top by market share and search volume — plus lenders serving niche and nontraditional borrowers.
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NerdWallet reviewed 20 banks, credit unions and online lenders offering student loans and student loan refinancing. We included the top lenders by market share and online search volume, as well as lenders that serve specialty or nontraditional markets. Some lenders are NerdWallet partners, but this did not influence our selection of the winner.
Within weighted categories, we consider dozens of features and more than 60 data points for each financial institution. Depending on the category, these may include the availability of bi-weekly payments through autopay, minimum credit score and income requirement disclosures, availability to a wide range of borrowers in all states, extended grace periods and in-house customer service.
The stars represent ratings from poor (one star) to excellent (five stars). Ratings are rounded to the nearest half-star. Read more about our ratings methodologies for student loans and our editorial guidelines.
NerdWallet's Best Law School Loans of August 2026
- Sallie Mae: Best for Private law school loans, Fixed APR: 2.29-14.99%
- College Ave: Best for Private law school loans, Fixed APR: 2.39-15.99%
- Earnest: Best for Private law school loans, Fixed APR: 4.45-14.90%
- SoFi®: Best for Private law school loans, Fixed APR: 2.45-14.83%
- Ascent: Best for Private law school loans, Fixed APR: 2.69-17.01%
- MPOWER: Best for International law students, Fixed APR: 10.24-16.65%
- Citizens: Best for Private law school loans, Fixed APR: 3.24-15.49%