Law students will be notified of their Unsubsidized Loan eligibility in their financial aid notification letter.
Syracuse University College of Law
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan Eligibility
Graduate & Professional Students — Current vs. New Borrowers
Full-Time Enrollment Loan Limits Following One Big Beautiful Bill Act:
| Borrower Type | Enrollment Start | Annual Limit | Aggregate Limit | Lifetime Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate & Professional (e.g., J.D., LL.M.) |
On or Before 06/30/2026 | $20,500 | $138,500 | $257,500 | Continues under prior eligibility rules. PLUS loan access retained. |
| Professional (e.g., J.D.) |
on or After 07/01/2026 | $50,000 | $200,000 | $257,500 | Higher annual & aggregate limits for new professional degree students. |
| Graduate (e.g., LL.M.) |
on or After 7/01/2026 | $20,500 | $100,000 | $257,500 | LL.M. (Master of Laws) classified as a graduate degree; lower aggregate than professional. |
Part-Time Enrollment Loan Limits Following One Big Beautiful Bill Act:
| Borrower Type | Enrollment Start | Annual Limit | Aggregate Limit | Lifetime Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate & Professional (Current Borrowers) |
On or Before 06/30/2026 | $20,500 * | Subject to proration — limits may vary | Retains PLUS loan access. Annual amount prorated based on enrollment intensity each semester. | |
| Graduate & Professional (New Borrowers) |
On or After 07/01/2026 | Up to $50,000 * | Subject to proration — limits may vary | No PLUS loan access. Annual amount prorated based on enrollment intensity each semester. | |
* Part-time loan amounts are subject to a proration percentage based on enrollment each semester; actual amounts borrowed may be less than the stated annual maximum.
† “Current borrowers” refers to students who began their program of study on or before June 30, 2026 and maintain continuous enrollment. “New borrowers” refers to students entering a program on or after July 1, 2026.
‡ Lifetime limit of $257,500 includes all federal direct loans (undergraduate + graduate/professional).
- Interest Rate: adjusts annually on July 1st and is fixed for the life of the loan. For loans disbursed between 7/1/24 and 6/30/25, the rate is 8.08%. For loans disbursed between 7/1/25 and 6/30/26, the rate is 7.94%.
- Origination Fee: 1.057% for loans disbursed on or after 10/1/20 and before 09/30/26 .
- Eligibility: US Citizens or Permanent Residents who file the FAFSA, and are enrolled at least half time (6 credits in fall/spring or 4 credits in summer).
- Credit Requirements: none
- Repayment Terms: Repayment begins 6 months after borrower ceases to be enrolled half-time. While enrolled, borrowers may elect to make interest-only or full payments. See the Loan Repayment section of our website for complete information on repayment options.
- Accept/Decline/Reduce: Students must login to MySlice, select the ‘Financial Aid’ button, click on the relevant aid year, and then select the Accept/Decline tab. Students will then have the option to Accept, Reduce, or Decline the Federal student loan amounts in MySlice. To finalize the Unsubsidized Loan, students should complete any required items on their “To Do List” on MySlice, including the Master Promissory Note (MPN) and Entrance Counseling. These can also be completed at studentaid.gov.