Financing Your Education
With a degree from the only law school in the State University of New York system, you don’t have to compromise between the right school for your legal career and financial well-being. Wise decisions and careful debt management will reduce your future debt and broaden your legal employment options.
A cost-benefit analysis makes the point clear. Our students graduate to work at the same law firms and earn the same starting salaries as those who attend costly law schools. However, free from overwhelming debt, our graduates don’t have to choose their career path based on salary alone. Consistent with the School of Law's commitment to non-profit work and government service, they enjoy great flexibility to follow their passion for the law wherever it may take them.
Types of Aid
Important Note (Updated September 2025)
Beginning July 1, 2026, federal borrowing rules for law students will change under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB). Key highlights:
- Graduate PLUS Loans will end for new borrowers, with some exceptions for current students.
- Loan limits will change: $50,000 JD annual, $200,000 lifetime; $20,500 LLM annual, $100,000 lifetime.
- PSLF remains available, but new borrowers must use RAP to qualify.
Full details of the One Big Beautiful Bills impact on Federal Student Aid have not yet been published by the U.S. Department of Education. Students should monitor Federal Student Aid for official updates as they become available.
See the dropdowns below for full program-specific details.
Applying for Aid
If you wish to be considered for federal financial aid, file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1 or as soon as possible. The FAFSA determines a student’s eligibility for Federal Loans, Federal Work-Study, and other aid . A U.S. Department of Education FSA ID is required. The University at Buffalo School of Law federal code is 002837. Learn more about the process on UB’s Financial Aid page.
Note: International students are not eligible to receive federal financial aid but are considered for merit scholarships at the point of admission.
To open the items below, click on the "+".
A loan is a sum of money that you borrow which must be repaid, typically with interest.
- Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans are low-interest federal loans offering a maximum of $20,500 per academic year. More information can be found on UB’s Financial Aid – Loans webpage.
- Federal Direct PLUS Loans are credit-based federal loans that graduate and professional students can borrow to help pay educational expenses. If you still have financial need after borrowing the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan, consider the Federal Direct PLUS Loan. More information can be found on UB’s Financial Aid – Loans webpage. (Note: see the July 2026 updates below for important changes.)
- Important Federal Loan Updates (Effective July 1, 2026)
Federal borrowing rules will change for new borrowers beginning July 1, 2026. Federal loans disbursed before this date will be grandfathered in (including access to the Direct PLUS loan and PSLF eligibility, subject to program rules). Federal loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2026 will follow the new federal lending programs and loan limits outlined in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
| Program | Annual Limit | Aggregate Limit |
| JD (Professional) | $50,000 | $200,000 |
| LLM (Graduate, Non-Professional) | $20,000 | $100,000 |
Note: For students who borrow federal loans for the first time on or after July 1, 2026, graduate and professional borrowing share a combined lifetime cap of $257,500 across all federal loans.
Note for current UB Law students:
If you are a continuing law student who received a Federal Direct loan disbursement before July 1, 2026 and remain enrolled in the same program, you may continue borrowing for up to three total academic years or until your expected graduation date, whichever comes first. If you did not receive a Graduate PLUS loan disbursement for the program you are currently enrolled in prior to July 1, 2026, the Graduate PLUS will no longer be an option.
Understanding the One Big Beautiful Bill Act
Learn how recent federal legislation may impact your law school borrowing and repayment options. Explore plain-language explanations, tools, and resources from AccessLex Institute’s Student Aid Policy and Action Center.
The Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program is a need-based financial aid program which provides funding for qualified part-time student employment to help meet educational expenses. The program is funded by the federal government. As funding levels and the number of positions are limited, positions are not guaranteed from one year to the next. Learn more about the Federal Work-Study Program.
As SUNY’s only law school, our mission is to create an inclusive environment where everyone has the opportunity to pursue a legal education and contribute to the legal profession. We take immense pride in our commitment to accessibility and affordability, assuring that a law degree is within reach for all successful applicants, regardless of their financial circumstances.
- Merit Scholarships
Eighty-nine percent (89%) of the fall 2023 entering class received merit scholarship assistance, ranging from $2,000 to full in-state tuition. The School of Law does not award conditional scholarships*. All annual awards are renewable provided you remain in good academic standing. Read our Merit Scholarship Policy.
* The school does not award scholarships that may be reduced or eliminated based on law school academic performance other than failure to maintain good academic standing. - Other Law School Scholarships and Awards
The scholarships below are renewed on an annual basis and are dependent on donor funding. The UB Scholarship Portal contains all named UB School of Law scholarships, as well as scholarships administered by the University at Buffalo. Learn more about the application process for Other Law School Scholarship and Awards. - External Scholarships and Awards
These private scholarships are offered by law firms and community organizations. Scholarships are available to incoming and continuing students. More information and eligibility requirements.
The School of Law’s James Kent Faculty Research Scholars Program provides students with excellent academic credentials to serve as research assistants for members of the law school faculty. The Kent Scholars Program allows for an award of up to $2,500, payable at an hourly rate, for up to 200 hours of paid research work. Kent Scholars may assist faculty in their academic scholarship after the completion of their first year of law school. All admitted students are considered for the Kent Scholars Program, and successful candidates are notified by email during the admissions process.
The Economically Disadvantaged First Professional Study (EDPS) Program is a partial tuition waiver program funded by New York State in conjunction with participating educational institutions. EDPS provides partial tuition waivers to full time Medical, Dental, Pharmacy and Law students who are pursuing graduate or first professional degrees, and who are determined to have exceptional need by the Financial Aid Office. Visit UB’s Economically Disadvantaged First Professional Study (EDPS) Program page for additional information.
Whether you’re still serving or have been out for several years, navigating your military education benefit options can be confusing. The School of Law thanks you for the tremendous sacrifice you have made and offers its support throughout the process.
- Learn about financial aid for veterans
- View in-state tuition guidelines for active duty, veterans and eligible dependents and about receiving your VA benefits.
- Certify Your Enrollment