Due to changes in regulations, law students have new loan limits and eligibility requirements depending on their status as current (legacy) or first-time (non-legacy) borrowers.
Non-legacy students are students beginning their graduate program on or after July 1, 2026. Current students who have borrowed a federal direct Loan which was disbursed before July 1, 2026, and continue to be enrolled at Quinnipiac in the same program may continue borrowing at their current levels. If you are unsure which rules you fall under, please contact your Financial Aid office.
Who is Eligible (Legacy)*
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Students who remain continuously enrolled in the same program of study and the same degree level at Quinnipiac as they were enrolled as of June 30, 2026, AND
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Students had received a direct loan for the same program before July 1, 2026.
Maximum loan limits
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Law students: $20,500 per award year/period
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Aggregate (net total) loan limits for combined graduate and undergraduate federal subsidized/unsubsidized loans: $138,500
*Legacy eligibility would continue for the lesser of three academic years or the student’s expected time to credential. The legacy will be broken if a student elects to take any form of leave of absence, withdraws from all classes in a semester or withdraws from the University.
Who is Eligible (Non-Legacy)*
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Students who are enrolled in a School of Law, degree-granting program, AND
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Students who have filed and met the FAFSA eligibility criteria, AND
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Students who meet the minimum enrollment required for each semester they are seeking assistance (6 or more credits)
Maximum loan limits
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Law students: $50,000 per award year/period
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Aggregate (net total) loan limits for combined graduate and undergraduate federal subsidized/unsubsidized loans: $200,000*
*Lifetime limit $257,500 (Applies to combined undergraduate and graduate federal student loan borrowing, not including Parent PLUS and Graduate PLUS loans)
Borrowers who are both graduate and professional students at some point in their educational careers may only borrow up to $200,000 in total for graduate and professional school
Interest begins to accrue immediately after the loan is disbursed. The borrower is responsible for all accrued interest and can choose to either pay or defer the interest while in school. Deferred interest will be added to the principal balance of the loan at repayment.
Determination of actual amount offered is based on the student’s cost of attendance which includes enrollment and housing plans
