Compare the Best Law School Student Loans for August 2025 in Minutes

The right loan for law school depends on your credit, career plans, and need for flexible repayment options. Before borrowing, it's important to understand how federal and private loans compare. Each offers its own advantages and trade-offs, from interest rate structures to repayment flexibility. Here's how they stack up for the 2025-26 academic year:

1. Get prequalified law school loan rates

With Credible, you can compare law school student loan rates from multiple private lenders with no impact on your credit score. Simply enter your basic personal and academic information to instantly view prequalified rates and estimated terms from top lenders matched to your profile.

2. Compare top law school student loan lenders

Review the best private law school loans side-by-side to find the right fit. Pay attention to interest rate options (fixed vs. variable), repayment flexibility, fees, borrower perks like rate reductions or forbearance options, and the lender's overall reputation.

3. Choose the best law school loan for your needs

Once you've compared lenders, pick the private law school loan that best suits your budget and goals. Consider applying with a cosigner. Doing so could help you qualify for a lower interest rate. If you decide to use a cosigner, be ready to provide their financial and contact details when you apply.

4. Complete your law school loan application

To apply for a law school loan, gather the necessary documentation, including a government-issued ID, income verification (like tax returns or recent pay stubs), and proof of law school enrollment. Then, fill out the student loan application with your chosen lender, upload your documents, and submit for approval.

For the 2025-26 school year, federal student loan limits for law school students depend on the type of loan you take out. With Direct Unsubsidized Loans, you can borrow as much as $20,500 per year, with a $138,500 lifetime cap, including any undergraduate federal loans you've also taken out. If your total cost of attendance exceeds that amount, which may be the case for many law students, grad PLUS loans, which allow you to borrow up to 100% of your school's certified cost of attendance, could help make up the difference.

Private lenders typically allow you to borrow up to the full cost of attendance at your school, and some offer lifetime loan limits that can reach $500,000 or more, depending on the lender and your credit profile. These loans can be helpful for covering gaps left by federal limits, but they come with different eligibility requirements and repayment terms.

To qualify for a private law school loan, lenders typically require:

• A good credit score (usually mid- to high-600s or above)
• Verifiable income or a cosigner with income
• A relatively low debt-to-income (DTI) ratio (varies by lender)
• Enrollment in an eligible law degree program

If you don't meet these requirements on your own, applying for a law school loan with a cosigner can improve your chances of approval and help you secure a lower interest rate.

Interest on most law school loans begins accruing once the funds are disbursed, even while you're still attending school. Federal loans come with fixed rates, while private lenders may offer fixed or variable rates depending on your credit profile.

• Federal loans: Fixed rates set annually by Congress, unaffected by your credit
• Private loans: Credit-based rates, which may be fixed (stable) or variable (fluctuate with the market)

Some private lenders offer in-school deferment, letting you postpone full repayment during law school or bar prep. Making interest-only payments during this time can reduce your total cost over time.

While federal student loans are usually the best first choice to pay for law school, private law school loans can play an important role if you've hit federal borrowing limits or qualify for a lower interest rate based on your credit. Before taking out a private loan, it's important to weigh the potential advantages against the limitations. Here's a closer look at the pros and cons:

Law school can be expensive, but careful planning can help reduce how much you need to borrow. Consider these cost-saving strategies:

• Apply for scholarships and grants for law students
• Work part-time or find paid legal internships
• Explore loan repayment assistance programs (LRAPs) available through your state or employer
• Live modestly to reduce day-to-day costs
• Consider attending a lower-cost or in-state law school

To determine the best student loan lenders, Credible collected more than 1,000 points of data on two dozen companies and evaluated them on several different categories: repayment options, eligibility, interest rates, loan terms, and customer support. We assigned a score out of five stars to each lender based on our findings. Below are the weightings assigned to the general categories for the best student loan companies — which comprise individual criteria that are also weighted.

• Repayment options: 30%
• Eligibility: 25%
• Interest rates: 20%
• Loan terms: 15%
• Customer support: 10%

While the best lender for you will depend on your unique needs and financial circumstances, these findings should help answer your questions and assist you in your search for the best student loan.

Learn more about our methodology.