Law Financial Aid

The Office of Law Financial Aid is committed to providing all law students financial aid assistance to keep you informed and explore all funding opportunities and resources.  

USF ID Number

In order to better assist law students and reply to your financial aid inquiries in a timely manner, please be sure to include your USF ID Number in any email inquiries to the Law Financial Aid Office.  In addition, any requests to update your financial aid record should come directly from your USF email account. We cannot process any requests for assistance sent from your personal email accounts.

Law Financial Aid Walk-in, Appointments (In-Person, Virtual)

The Law School’s Financial Aid Office is taking the necessary measures to implement and improve our customer service strategies. We want you to have the best experience with our office so we would like to provide information on new changes to our customer service support methods. 

Our office will be available for in-person visits and appointments as well as virtual appointments. Getting in-person assistance is easy.

You can schedule an appointment on the following methods below:

1.    Text USFDonsLAW to 415-914-9982 then text the code for the type of service you wish to receive help with.
2.    Day-to-day appointment. Make an appointment online through the Home Kiosk.   Enter your Name and phone number.
3.    Future virtual appointments (24 hours and later).

Fall 2025 Financial Aid Disbursement and Refund

Fall 2025 financial aid disbursements from federal, private, and scholarship sources began on Friday, August 15, 2025. Funds are sent in two equal installments (one per semester) and cannot be disbursed earlier than about a week before the term starts. Once disbursed, aid is applied to your bill, and any remaining balance is refunded. Disbursements continue throughout the semester as student files are completed or new aid is approved.

As an FYI, the earliest disbursement date for the Spring 2026 semester will be Tuesday, January 2, 2026.

If your total financial aid is more than your tuition and fees, the extra amount, called a refund, will be returned to you after your aid is disbursed and your tuition bill is paid in full. These funds are intended to help you cover essential living expenses such as rent, food, books, and transportation during the semester.

The refund process usually begins the day after disbursement. If you've signed up for direct deposit, the refund will be sent electronically to your bank account, typically within 3–5 business days, depending on your bank. If you have not enrolled in direct deposit, a paper check will be issued instead, which may take 10–15 business days to become available. Refunds resulting from personal check overpayments may also take up to 15 business days to process.

Important: The disbursement date is not the same as the date you receive your refund. For Fall 2025, the earliest students may receive direct deposit refunds in their bank accounts is the week of August 25, so it's essential to budget accordingly for the start of the semester.

If you're already enrolled in direct deposit, there’s no need to re-enroll, but be sure your bank account information is up to date via your myUSF portal to avoid delays.

The USF Student Accounts Office works to process refunds as quickly as possible, but please understand that high volume at the start of the term may cause some delays.

Fall 2025 Semester Loan Deferment Information

All USF students who borrow funds from the federal government are eligible to receive loan repayment deferments while enrolled in law school at least half-time.  The University Registrar will send class registration confirmation to the National Student Loan Clearinghouse in mid-September AFTER our law school census date (last date to withdraw with partial tuition refund).  This Clearinghouse is used by all lenders to confirm your registration for the academic year.  No additional forms are needed for you to complete to receive loan repayment deferments for the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan and Graduate PLUS Loan.

Health Insurance Waiver

All USF students are required to have insurance. To insure this mandate, USF will automatically bill and enroll all students in University sponsored health insurance. If you are currently on a comparable plan or plan to be on one during the upcoming academic year, you can apply for a waiver of the USF health insurance. The waiver period for the Fall 2025 is from June 30 through September 1.  There are no exceptions to the wavier period.  Information and an online application to waive the University sponsored health insurance fee can be found on the USF Health Promotions Services web site.  Please note that if you apply for a waiver during the Fall 2025 waiver period and are approved, you do not need to do it again for the Spring 2026 as a waiver approved during the Fall waiver period will also apply for the Spring.

Applying for Financial Aid/FAFSA Application for Fall 2025/Spring 2026

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA, for the Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 academic year is now available online at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa.  All students who seek to receive federal financial aid for the 2025-26 academic year are required to complete the new 2025-26 FAFSA at www.studentaid.gov.  Our Title IV code is 001325 and must be included in your FAFSA application.  

Financial Aid award notification for the Fall 2025/Spring 2026 will begin in early April for current students who have completed a 2025-26 FAFSA as long as the 2025-26 FAFSA is completed and USF receives your FAFSA information by the priority date March 1, 2025. Award information will be available to view online via your myUSF student portal. You will be sent an email notification at that time by the Law Financial Aid Office indicating that you can review your financial aid award online via your myUSF online student portal.

IMPORTANT: The 2025-26 FAFSA can be completed after March 1 priority deadline, and you will still be able to receive federal educational loan aid for this year. However, delaying completing your FAFSA will affect when you receive your award notice.  The FAFSA should be completed as soon as possible in order to receive the maximum financial aid consideration for 2025-26.

The FAFSA should be completed as soon as possible but no later than the priority date was March 1, 2025 in order to receive the maximum financial aid consideration for 2025-26 (this date is especially important for those continuing students who wish to be considered for the Federal Work Study award).

NOTE: It is not too late to apply for federal loan aid for the 2025-26 academic year.  The priority deadline to apply for a 2025-26 FAFSA is April 1, 2026.   

Bar Loan Information 

Spring 2025 graduating students can apply for private bar loans to help with living expenses during the July 2025 bar preparation period. These loans are private lender loans subject to credit approval. Information is available at the Law Financial Aid Office or online.

USF does not recommend or promote any of these lenders. The list simply represents lenders who provided the bar examination loan to students attending the University of San Francisco School of Law. It is up to you to decide which lender to use to obtain your bar examination loan

See lender websites for complete, and up-to-date details. Common Lenders Offer Bar Examination Loans are as follows:

Important: Compare lenders carefully to evaluate interest rates, fees, and repayment options.  

Upcoming Private Scholarship Deadlines   

Lemon Law Experts Scholarship
The Lemon Law Experts have represented thousands of consumers throughout the State of California for over a decade.  Our firm has a strong connection to our community and is committed to helping the next generation of attorneys.  Founding Partner, Jessica Anvar is a strong supporter of higher education and believes students should be able to follow their dream career paths. This is why the Lemon Law Experts is proud to offer a scholarship award to two deserving current or prospective law school students to help pay a portion of the winners’ upcoming college or law school costs.
Deadline: August 31, 2025
Amount: $1,000

Pound Civil Justice Scholarship
The Civil Justice Scholarship Award, bestowed periodically to published legal academics, recognizes current, scholarly legal research and writing focused on topics in civil justice, including access to justice and the benefits of the U.S. civil justice system, as well as the right to trial by jury in civil cases.
Deadline: September 8, 2025
Amount: $10,000

Andrew Cores Family Law Group
Andrew Cores Family Law Group provides extensive trial experience and thoughtful legal counsel to our clients. The attorneys at our Illinois firm believe in investing resources and time into the legal community for the betterment of future generations of lawyers and the profession as a whole. Having dedicated our lives to the legal profession, the attorneys with Andrew Cores Family Law Group are excited to assist law students with expenses related to their college education. Each semester, the firm is offering an aspiring or current law student the opportunity to win $2,000 through the Andrew Cores Family Law Group Future Lawyers Scholarship.
Deadline: September 15, 2025
Amount: $2,000

Skadden Foundation Fellowship (rising 2L, LLM)
The foundation will award two-year fellowships for 2023 law school graduates, outgoing judicial law clerks, and LL.M. candidates who want to work in the public interest. The FAQs provide general information about the Skadden Fellowship and our application process. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have additional questions or would like to discuss your specific project proposal.
Deadline: September 19, 2025
Amount: TBA

The Monument Legal Pillars of Justice Scholarship
This scholarship aims to support promising college students or law students passionate about pursuing careers in social justice-related law. We seek students who demonstrate a profound commitment to advocating for equality, fairness, and the rights of marginalized communities. The recipient(s) will be selected based on the strength and impact of their essay, demonstrating their understanding of social justice issues and their aspirations for using legal skills to effect positive change.
Deadline: October 1, 2025
Amount: $500

Independence Foundation Legal Fellowship Program
The Independence Foundation is a private, not-for-profit philanthropic organization located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, serving Philadelphia and its surrounding counties.  The Foundation is specifically interested in addressing the need for legal aid and assistance to the disadvantaged.  In order to help to meet this need, in 1996 the Foundation established the Independence Foundation Public Interest Law Fellowship Program.  Independence Foundation Public Interest Law Fellowships provide support for law school graduates, outgoing judicial law clerks and attorneys who are currently employed and who want to work in the public interest for a legal services organization that qualifies as a 501(c)(3) organization and provides legal services to individuals who are disadvantaged, including the elderly, the disabled, the homeless or those deprived of their civil or human rights.
Deadline: October 6, 2025
Amount: varies

Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. Law School Diversity Scholarship and Application (Diversity)
Applicant is a member of an ethnic, racial, or other minority or any individual who demonstrates a defined commitment to issues of diversity within their community; Applicant is a U.S. citizen currently attending an accredited law school within the U.S.; Academic achievement as reflected by a minimum 3.0 GPA and at least on semester of classes completed at an accredited law school.
Deadline: October 1, 2025
Amount: $2,000

San Francisco Future Legal Leaders Scholarship
We want to lift future legal professionals who study near our San Francisco office.
Deadline: October 1, 2025
Amount: $2,000

Eksew Law School Scholarship
As attorneys helping those in the state of Indiana it is our duty to give back to our community and help those with quality legal representation.  Therefore, our attorneys all chose to become lawyers for certain reasons.  Now, we want to hear from you and ask you the question – why do you want to become a lawyer and what do you plan to achieve with your legal career? We are asking students to write an essay in which they answer the simple question: Why do you want to study law? We are looking for the best-written and most compelling answer writing at least 350 words about the question above.
Deadline: October 31, 2025
Amount: Up to $1,500

Emery Reddy, PLLC scholarships
Each year we offer financial assistance to student with an interest in pursuing careers in the legal field.
Deadline: November 30, 2025
Amount: $2,500