Best Law School Loans of 2026

Student loans to pay for law school are either federal or private. Understanding each one will give you a better chance of selecting the right loan features based on your needs.

Federal loans are funded through the U.S. Department of Education, making them a reliable first choice for law students who need to borrow money to pay for school. Federal student loans for law school have fixed interest rates that are set based on the year they’re originated, and they don’t require a credit check to qualify.

Federal loans offer important benefits like income-driven repayment, in-school deferment and potential student loan forgiveness. Law school students can qualify for federal student loans regardless of income or credit score.

However, there are limits to how much students can borrow in federal student loans. For the 2025-26 academic year, law students can borrow up to $20,500 per year in unsubsidized loans and no more than $138,500 overall in subsidized and unsubsidized loans, which also includes undergraduate loans. Any amount beyond that can be covered by graduate PLUS loans, which have higher interest rates and fees but allow students to borrow up to the school’s cost of attendance minus other financial aid.

Note that changes are coming to federal student loans beginning July 1, 2026, as a result of President Donald Trump’s signature budget law. Annual borrowing caps will be set at $50,000 for professional students – including those attending law school. The aggregate cap limits total borrowing to $200,000, but that doesn’t include loans taken out to finance undergraduate studies.

Importantly, the law also eliminates grad PLUS loans. In other words, some law school students will be left with little choice but to borrow private student loans in addition to federal student loans.

Private loans are issued by private lenders rather than the federal government, so the terms vary depending on the lender. Some lenders offer student loans specifically tailored to law school students. Others may offer a generic graduate school loan. Private student loan interest rates and repayment terms can vary depending on the lender, but they usually don’t include loan fees like federal loans.

You can also expect a credit check to determine whether you qualify and what your interest rate will be. Consider private loans if you can qualify for a lower interest rate than what the federal loan programs offer and don’t think you’ll need federal loan benefits.

However, it’s impossible to predict the future, so getting federal loans first may be a safer bet, says Erika Kullberg, an attorney who paid off more than $225,000 in law school loans in less than two years.

“If you have the choice between private and federal student loans, I always recommend going for federal student loans,” Kullberg says.

Applying for student loans for law school is a relatively simple process, but take these steps seriously and early.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is required if you want federal student loans. However, filling out the FAFSA is a good idea, regardless of whether you want federal or private student loans. The FAFSA asks about you and your finances. It will be used to determine your eligibility for federal and other types of financial aid.

Depending on when you originate your loans – before or after the changes to federal student loans take effect in 2026 – you may not be able to cover the full cost of attendance with federal unsubsidized and PLUS loans. Review your financial aid award letter from your school after filling out the FAFSA to see how much you can borrow – and if you need to take out additional private student loans.

Depending on your financial situation, you may need private student loans to help pay for law school. Private student loan companies require you to formally apply to get a binding offer. But some also allow you to get rate quotes through a prequalification process. This process only requires a soft credit check, which won’t change your credit score.

The result will give you a good idea of the terms you’ll qualify for if you officially apply. With this information, you can compare private and federal student loan options.

“Be sure to evaluate the interest rate you actually qualify for and not the lowest rate they offer,” says Ashley Norwood-Struppa, program specialist for the U.S. Department of Education. “This can make a big difference in your overall payment amount. You should also consider the flexibility of the repayment options and how long the repayment options offered are.”

Depending on your school, you may be able to get a scholarship to help you pay your tuition. You can also search for scholarships from private organizations using U.S. News’ Scholarship Finder.

Some colleges offer grants to law students based on their financial need. Check with your school’s financial aid office to find out if grants are available. You may need to fill out the FAFSA to qualify.

Working while you’re in law school isn’t always the best decision.

“Many law schools will encourage students against working, especially during their first year of law school if attending full time,” Norwood-Struppa says. “Law students can work during the summer and breaks to help lower the amount needed to borrow to cover their cost of attending law school.”

You might explore work as a summer associate at a law firm or an internship. The work-study program is another option, but it is a need-based federal program and you will need to fill out the FAFSA to qualify.

Repaying law school loans works similarly to other types of student loans. If you get federal loans, payments are automatically deferred until you’re out of school. With private lenders, you may have to make partial payments while you’re still in school.

You could choose to defer your payments as with federal student loans or start to make full or interest-only payments while you’re in school. Once you graduate, you might also be able to refinance your loans.

How you should pay back your law school loans has no one-size-fits-all answer. Consider your finances and goals to make the best decision for you.

Kullberg also suggests preparing yourself now for when you’ll need to start making payments.

“Focusing on forming good money habits during law school will make it easier to pay off your student loans after you graduate,” she says. For instance, learn how to budget and track expenses. “Find a budgeting system that works well for you.”