Resources for Loan Borrowers
Federal Direct Loans are usually the best choice for students. Loans are funds that must be repaid, unless students meet conditions for loan forgiveness. Learn more about Federal Direct Loans and the process of applying for them.
The following links are provided to assist with financial planning for both federal and private borrowing.
- Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan Program Info
- Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan Info
- The Grad PLUS Loan application is found on studentloans.gov
- StudentLoans.gov - Students borrowing Federal Direct Loans must complete the following:
- Entrance Counseling
- Master Promissory Note (MPN) specific to each loan program (Unsub and PLUS)
- Financing your Legal Education - By AccessLex, a non-profit offering free information and financial planning services to law students
- MAX by AccessLex online financial literacy programming – Free self-paced online courses and other materials developed for the specific needs of law students
- Various helpful calculators on FinAid.org
- Your Money Matters and CashCourse – UConn main campus’ financial literacy initiative with programming developed by the National Endowment for Financial Education
- Studentloans.gov
- Prior to graduation, use the Repayment Estimator to estimate loan payments within available repayment plans
- Exit Counseling is required for all graduating students as well as students dropping to a less-than-half-time enrollment status. Review cumulative federal loan borrowing history, repayment options, and servicer information.
- National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS)
- Another source to review federal loan borrowing history (cumulative and detail) and servicer information.
- U.S. Department of Education/ Federal Student Aid
- How to Repay Your Loans – Various repayment plans, how to make payments, consolidation processes, forgiveness and cancellation information, steps to take if you cannot afford your payments, etc.
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) – Eligibility rules, forms, and application process
- PSLF Help tool – approx. 10 minute process
- 8 Common Public Service Loan Forgiveness Mistakes
- IBRinfo – a non-profit service affiliated with the Project on Student Debt
- Equal Justice Works - a non-profit dedicated to promoting public service
UConn maintains a list of suggested private loans for Law students through ELMSelect. Note: Your private loan lender is your choice; UConn will certify a loan from any lender.
- From ELMSelect, select either “Law” or “Bar” to view loan products. Applications are made directly with individual lenders.
It is important to compare fees, interest rates, and repayment terms between private and federal loans.
- See the main campus’ Borrowing for Your Education page for more information.
Private loan application processes vary. Apply by June to ensure payment by the fall payment deadline.
