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).

Spring 2026 Financial Aid Disbursement and Refund

The Disbursement date is the earliest possible date that funds from both federal and private sources can be sent to the University each semester.  Funds are sent electronically by each provider in two equal installments, once each semester. Federal regulations require that aid be disbursed no earlier than approximately one week before the start of each term. Scholarship funds are also disbursed at the same time federal and private loan funds are disbursed.

The earliest scheduled disbursement date for both federal and private sources for the Spring 2026 is Monday, January 5, 2026.

Once funds disbursed, your spring semester bill is paid off and any remaining funds left over after your bill is paid, is refunded to you.   Refund processing will begin on Monday, January 12 and continue the following week. Any direct deposit refunds can be expected in your designated bank account 2-5 business days AFTER refund processing begins. For students not enrolled in direct deposit, paper check refunds can be expected 7-10 business days AFTER refund processing begins. Information on enrolling in direct deposit can be found online at: https://myusf.usfca.edu/billing-tuition/refunds. 

***Please note that the earliest that a student can expect to receive a direct deposit aid refund in their bank account may not be until the week of January 12. Be sure to plan your finances accordingly for the beginning of the semester as aid refunds may not be available until the first two-week of classes.
 

Applying for Financial/FAFSA for Fall 2026/Spring 2027

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA, for the Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 academic year has been available online since October 1.  The FAFSA can be filed at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa. Our Title IV code is 001325 and must be included in your FAFSA application.  

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   

Investor Fraud Awareness Scholarship
Our attorneys understand that paying for college can be difficult. Especially if you are a first-generation student. This is why The Law Offices of Robert Pearce have created the Investor Fraud Awareness Scholarship.  Our hope is that this scholarship will not only help financially but educate younger generations about the dangers of investor fraud so they can invest with confidence.
Deadline: December 1, 2025
Amount: $2,500

Robert Wayne Pearce Investor Fraud Awareness Scholarship
The Robert Wayne Pearce Investor Fraud Awareness Scholarship is an annual scholarship program established to help raise awareness of securities fraud and to support the education of future leaders in the field of financial regulation and consumer protection. Our securities lawyers understand that paying for college can be difficult. Especially if you are a first-generation student.
Deadline: December 1, 2025
Amount: Up to $1,000

Wells Call Injury Lawyers Law School Scholarship
At Wells Call Injury Lawyers, we believe that everyone deserves a chance at pursuing higher education, regardless of background. In order to help more students who are passionate about the law and helping others in the industry, Wells Call is sponsoring a law school scholarship, where students who are pursuing law degrees are able to win a $2,500 scholarship to put towards their law school education.
Deadline: December 2, 2025
Amount: Up to $2,500

Lucas Law Legal Leaders Spring Scholarship
Lucas Law established the Legal Leaders Scholarship with the purpose of lightening the burden of costly tuition, books, and room and board for students pursuing careers in various fields of law. Our firm is honored to assist college students with their educational expenses. The Lucas Law Legal Leaders Scholarship gives $1,000 each semester to one student who aspires to excel within the legal community.
Deadline: December 1, 2025
Amount: Up to $1,000

Hutchinson & Foreman Scholarship
The Texas law firm of Hutchison & Foreman is proud to offer financial assistance to students who are pursuing law degrees. Attorneys Susan Hutchison and S. Rafe Foreman have dedicated a substantial amount of time and effort during their careers to advancing the legal profession and providing resources to aspiring and training lawyers. This passion for building a strong future for the legal community has led to this excellent legal team offering a $1,500 award each semester to a law student through the Hutchison & Foreman Committing to Justice Scholarship.
Deadline: December 10, 2025
Amount: Up to $1,000

Talkov Law's Future of the Law Scholarship
Talkov Law is awarding a $1,000 scholarship to a deserving law student who authors a winning essay in our Annual Future of the Law Scholarship Essay Contest. America has an incredible justice system, but it could use more exceptional advocates with a passion for innovation in the future of the law. For our Annual Scholarship Contest, we are pleased to support a future lawyer who demonstrates through past, current and expected future deeds a genuine commitment to provide innovation and a new perspective to the legal system. As Partition Attorneys, Talkov Law’s attorneys specialize in representing all parties involved in these co-ownership disputes by providing innovative solutions that help forge the future of the law.
Deadline: December 14, 2025
Amount: Up to $1,000

The Dominguez Firm Legal Scholarship
This scholarship recognizes that individual's academic achievements and unique goals despite their struggles, or challenges, and looking to make a difference in his or her community and the future.
Deadline: December 31, 2025
Amount: $2,500

Corey, Luzaich, de Ghetaldi & Riddle Legacy Scholarship
CLD&R’s partners believe that the continuing strength of the legal profession lies in its future members. They know that engaging with other lawyers who bring varying perspectives benefits the collective pursuit for justice. The goal of this scholarship is to foster the advancement of diversity in the legal profession for generations to come. 
Deadline: January 5, 2026
Amount: TBD

Schiffmann Injury Lawyers Scholarship
Education is the cornerstone of a full and rewarding life. Unfortunately, many families have to make a difficult choice after an accident: Pay expensive medical bills or fund a child’s college fund. We help deserving scholars keep education within reach, no matter what curveballs life throws at them.  Our experienced team of personal injury attorneys couldn’t hold the people and organizations that cause injuries accountable without a high-quality university education. The financial strain of an accident shouldn’t mean that you have to struggle to attain a quality education that sets you up for a successful life. We encourage you to apply for our Toronto Personal Injury Scholarship. Review the prompt below and submit your application by the deadline to be considered. We look forward to reading your submission.
Deadline: January 15, 2026
Amount: $1,000

Harter Secrest & Emery Llp Diversity Scholarship
The Harter Secrest & Emery LLP Diversity Scholarship Program was established in 2005. The firm awards two 1L law students with (1) a $7,500 scholarship to be applied to the student’s second year tuition and (2) a paid summer associate position in the firm’s Rochester or Buffalo, NY office between the student’s first and second year of law school.
Amount: $7,500
Deadline: January 23, 2026

MPOWER Global Citizen Scholarship (DACA/International Students)
We’re looking to fund students with high potential as a leader and advocate. In recognition of the extraordinary potential of these students, we’ve created the MPOWER Global Citizen Scholarship. We’ve intentionally designed this scholarship program to be as broad as possible to match the broad, diverse experiences of international students. There’s no requirement to be an MPOWER borrower to apply!
Deadline: January 31, 2026
Amount: $2,000 - $10,000

National Society Daughters of the American Revolution Scholarship
Each year the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) awards multiple scholarships to students showing dedication to the pursuit of higher education in diverse areas of study including history, economics, law, political science, medicine, nursing, occupational and physical therapy, elementary and secondary education, chemistry, math, science and English. 
Amount: $1,000
Deadline: January 31, 2026