Appalachian School of Law wants you to attain your dream of being a lawyer. We understand that law school is costly, and we want to help you along the way by:
Every application is automatically reviewed for ASL’s generous merit scholarships. Once a student is admitted, they may apply for need-based aid.
Important changes to federal student loan programs are coming.
Legislation recently passed by Congress, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill (OB3) Act, will result in significant modifications to the Federal Direct Loan program beginning with the 2026–2027 academic year (effective July 1, 2026).
These changes primarily affect graduate/professional students and parents of undergraduate students. If you are planning to utilize federal loans to finance your education in 2026–27 or later, we encourage you to review these updates carefully to understand how they may impact your financing plan.
Federal Student Aid has published updates and FAQs. You can view the updates on their OB3 Updates website.
The most significant changes concern the Graduate PLUS Loan program and new lending limits for Direct Unsubsidized Loans.
Elimination of Grad PLUS for New Borrowers
Effective July 1, 2026, the Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan program will be eliminated for new borrowers. This means you will no longer be able to borrow up to the full Cost of Attendance (COA) minus other aid using federal loans alone, unless you qualify for the “Legacy Provision” (see below).
New Loan Limits
The legislation establishes new annual and aggregate (lifetime) limits for Direct Unsubsidized Loans, distinguishing between “Graduate” and “Professional” students.
Note: The Department of Education is currently finalizing the specific list of programs that qualify as “Professional.”
You may continue to borrow under the current rules (including Grad PLUS Loans up to the Cost of Attendance) for up to 3 additional years if you meet BOTH of the following criteria:
If you change programs or start a new degree after July 1, 2026, you will be subject to the new limits.
The legislation introduces a total aggregate lifetime limit of $257,500 for all federal student loans combined. This cap applies to the total outstanding principal balance of all your federal loans (Subsidized, Unsubsidized and Graduate PLUS loans).
Note: This aggregate limit excludes Parent PLUS loans.
We understand these changes may create uncertainty as you plan for future years. Here are steps you can take now:
We are here to help you. Please reach out to us if you have any questions.
The Office of Student Financial Aid is closely monitoring federal guidance. We will update this page as final regulations are published by the Department of Education.
Last updated: June 3, 2026
There are multiple options when it comes to financing your education:
To apply for financial aid, follow these steps:
Step One
Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application online. ASL’s Title IV federal code number for FAFSA is G35593. Returning second- and third-year students need only file a condensed Renewal FAFSA.
Step Two
Review the award package sent to you by ASL’s Financial Aid Office
Step Three
If you need to borrow funds for your education, visit the Federal Direct Loan website and/or consult private lenders.
The Department of Education typically disburses federal student loans to ASL at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters each academic year.
When it is time to repay your student loans, several options are available to keep the process as stress-free as possible. You can select a repayment plan that’s right for your financial situation. Generally, you’ll have from 10 to 25 years to repay your loan, depending on which repayment plan you choose.
Click here to view the slides from the Federal Student Loan Repayment presentation sponsored by the ASL Financial Aid Department and the Student Bar Association.
Repayment Options
To find out which one of these repayment plans works best for you, visit the Federal Student Loan website.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness
The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program was created to encourage individuals to fill public service jobs. Under this program, you may qualify for forgiveness of the remaining balance due on your eligible federal student loans after you have made 120 payments on loans under certain repayment plans while employed full time by certain public service employers. More information is also available here.
Postponing Repayment
Federal student loan programs offer deferment, forbearance, or other forms of payment relief in limited circumstances. If you have trouble making loan payments, immediately contact the organization that services your loan to see if you qualify for relief. It’s important to take action before you are charged late fees. For Federal Perkins Loans, contact your loan servicer or the school that made you the loan. For Direct and FFEL Stafford Loans, contact your loan servicer. If you do not know who your servicer is, look it up in the federal National Student Loan Data System.
Click here to learn more about our available scholarships.
