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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.

a Financial Aid for Law School Students
Tuition & Fees Types of Aid Financial Planning NY State Residency

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.

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