Compare Bar Study Loans of January 2026
Bar loans are private loans for bar study courses, bar exam fees and living expenses while you’re studying for the bar.
Skip bar loans if possible — they have high interest rates compared with student loans and typically cannot be included in student loan refinancing. If you take one, plan to pay it off as quickly as you can.
You can apply for bar loans starting in your final semester of law school or up to a year after graduating.
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.
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.
Compare Bar Study Loans
Lender | NerdWallet editorial rating | Min. credit score | Fixed APR | Variable APR | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Best for payment flexibility 5.0 /5 | Mid-600s | 2.74-17.99% | 3.89-17.99% | Read Review on NerdWallet | |
4.5 /5 | Mid-600's | 7.01-15.26% | 6.63-16.25% | Read Review on NerdWallet | |
4.0 /5 | 660 | N/A | N/A | Read Review on NerdWallet |
Our pick for
Bar loans
- Typical credit score of approved borrowers: Mid-700s.
- Minimum income: $35,000 per year.
- Loan amounts: $1,000 up to cost of attendance.
- You can see if you’ll qualify and what rate you’ll get without a hard credit check.
- More flexible repayment options than other lenders.
- Six-month grace period extension is available.
- You must be at least halfway through your repayment term before you can request a co-signer release.
- Loan amounts: $1,000 up to 100% of the school-certified expenses.
- Application deadline: 12 months after graduation.
- Grace period: 9 months.
- Option to make interest-only payments for the first two or four years.
- Nine-month grace period is longer than the six-year standard.
- Generous co-signer release program: Drop your co-signer after 12 consecutive on-time payments.
- No fixed interest rates — only variable.
This product is not rated. Rating displayed is for Sallie Mae's private student loan. Sallie Mae is the only lender whose bar loans don’t have fixed rates — rates are variable, meaning they’re subject to change as economic conditions fluctuate. Sallie Mae also has a generous co-signer release program that allows co-signers to get off the hook after the borrower makes on-time payments for 12 consecutive months.
- Loan amounts: $1,000 to $15,000.
- Application deadline: 6 months after graduation.
- Grace period: 6 months.
- Shortest repayment periods among bar loans on the market.
- Co-signer release available after 48 consecutive on-time payments
This product not rated. Rating displayed is for PNC's private student loan. You can apply to release the co-signer on your PNC bar loan after you make 48 consecutive on-time payments.
How to shop for a bar study loan
Compare your bar loan options. Look for the lender that offers the lowest interest rate you qualify for. Bar loans are credit-based, meaning the higher your credit score, the lower the rate you’ll get.
Be aware of the fine print. Generally, lenders require that you apply for a bar loan in your last semester of law school or up to 12 months after graduation, and that you sit for the bar within 12 months of graduation.
Budget your bar loan disbursement. Unlike student loans, which are first disbursed to schools to be applied to tuition and fees, a bar loan will be disbursed directly to you.
Plan to pay off the loan relatively quickly. Bar loan terms range from one to 20 years, depending on the lender. Pay it off as soon as possible to save on interest — the major bar loan lenders don’t charge prepayment penalties. Repayment typically begins after a six- to nine-month grace period.
Refinance your law school loans if it makes sense for you. While you can’t typically refinance bar loans, refinancing your law school loans may free up cash to pay off the bar loan more quickly. Refinancing isn’t for you if you plan to use federal income-driven repayment plans or loan forgiveness programs.
» MORE: How to pay for law school
Bar loan alternatives to consider first
Ask your employer for support. If you’ve landed your first job as a lawyer, consider that many law firms — especially those in Big Law — reimburse bar exam fees and prep courses. They may also offer bar stipends, starting bonuses or salary advances or a combination of those perks.
Apply for bar preparation scholarships. Search for scholarships based on your location, legal field and minority status.
Use leftover federal student loans. If you’ve already graduated, you can’t take out new student loans. However, you can use money remaining from your law school loans.
Borrow federal direct unsubsidized loans. If you’re still in school, contact the financial aid office and ask about your federal student loan eligibility. Law students can borrow up to $20,500 of unsubsidized direct loans per year and $138,500 total, including undergraduate federal loans.
Borrow federal Grad PLUS loans. PLUS loans have higher interest rates and fees compared with unsubsidized direct loans, but they also generally have higher borrowing limits — you can borrow up to the total cost of attendance, minus other financial aid. Your school may be able to increase your PLUS loan eligibility by increasing its estimated cost of attendance to include bar exam fees.
» NEWS: How Trump's budget bill impacts grad PLUS student loans
What to do if you're denied a bar exam loan
If you’re denied for a bar loan because you have bad credit and no co-signer, avoid unsecured personal loans and credit cards, which have high interest rates. Instead, try these alternatives:
Review the bar loan alternatives. You may not need a bar loan — scholarships, employer reimbursements and federal student loans are better options if you can get them.
Work while you’re studying for the bar. Sure, it would be great to have a few months of dedicated bar study time, but that’s not realistic for many people. A side hustle may be just what you need.
Get a secured personal loan. Also known as a collateral loan, secured personal loans generally have lower rates than unsecured personal loans. To get one, you need to pledge an asset like your car or savings account.
Last updated on January 12, 2026
Frequently asked questions
What is a bar loan?
A bar loan can help you cover living costs while you study for the bar exam after law school.
Can I refinance a bar study loan?
No, you typically cannot refinance bar study loans. They are different than regular student loans.
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.
19
Lenders reviewed
19
Lenders reviewed
We reviewed 19 banks, credit unions, and online lenders — including the top 10 by market share and search volume — plus lenders serving niche and nontraditional borrowers.
40
Features assessed
40
Features assessed
Each lender is evaluated across five weighted categories, covering dozens of features related to affordability, eligibility, consumer experience, flexibility, and application process.
50+
Data points analyzed
50+
Data points analyzed
Our team tracks and reassesses more than 50 data points annually, including APR ranges, fees, credit requirements, and borrower tools, ensuring up to date, accurate comparisons.
Star rating categories
We evaluate more categories than competitors and carefully weigh how each factor impacts your experience.
5.0
Overall score
NerdWallet reviewed 19 banks, credit unions and online lenders offering student loans and student loan refinancing. We included the top 10 lenders by market share and the top 10 lenders by 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.
We consider 40 features and more than 50 data points for each financial institution. Depending on the category, these include the availability of biweekly 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 Compare Bar Study Loans of January 2026
- College Ave Private Student Loan: Best for Bar loans, Fixed APR: 2.74-17.99%
- Sallie Mae Bar Study Loan: Best for Bar loans, Fixed APR: 7.01-15.26%
- PNC Bar Study Loan: Best for Bar loans, Fixed APR: undisclosed