Applying for Financial Aid
Federal financial aid rules are changing for the 2026-2027 academic year. Under new guidance from the Department of Education, transferring to a different law school will be treated as starting a new academic program. As a result, students who transfer in Fall 2026 will no longer retain legacy access to Grad PLUS loans. However, they may be eligible to borrow up to $50,000 per academic year through the Direct Unsubsidized Loan.
In addition, recently released guidance suggests any Grad PLUS loans previously borrowed for another program will count toward the $257,500 federal lifetime borrowing limit. Further information about the federal changes can be found here.
There is no financial aid deadline for entering transfer students. Transfer students are only eligible for loans.
To apply for Direct Unsubsidized Loans, complete steps one through three as described below.
To apply for a private loan, complete step four.
- Complete and submit a 2026-2027 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.studentaid.gov. Your and your spouse’s (if applicable) information must be recorded on the FAFSA.
Request that the FAFSA be released to the University of Michigan Law School, by including our federal code #E00506. (Note that other schools and colleges at the University of Michigan use different numbers.) Be sure to retain a copy of the completed form for your records.
The Financial Aid Office will begin processing federal loan eligibility in July after tuition rates have been finalized. Financial aid notices are made available within two weeks of admission and the receipt of your FAFSAstarting in July. FAFSA
FAFSA - Complete entrance counseling for federal loans on StudentAid.gov.
Complete Entrance Counseling
- Complete the Direct Unsubsidized Loan Master Promissory Note on StudentAid.gov.
Complete Promissory Note
- Apply for a private loan.
If you need to borrow a private loan, a separate application is required. Please be sure to apply for a pre-approval in April or May to ensure you will qualify. Final private loan applications should not be submitted until after you receive an official financial aid package in July.
Student Loans