Loan Deferral and Forgiveness Program

Loan Deferral and Forgiveness Program

Northeastern University School of Law has a longstanding commitment to encouraging its graduates to pursue law careers in the public interest.

The Loan Deferral and Forgiveness Program(LD/F) is designed to provide limited loan relief to graduates who pursue public interest law practice. It was established in recognition that increasingly high educational debt burdens accrued by law students strains the ability of our graduates to choose public interest law careers.

The School of Law also encourages public interest graduates to take advantage of the provisions of the College Cost Reduction and Access Act (CCRAA), which provides for income-based repayment and for full public service loan forgiveness on federal student loan debt after 10 years of qualifying payments and eligible employment.

LD/F Overview

• NUSL contributes toward the repayment of your educational loan each year you are selected for participation in the program.
• As a program participant, you are awarded an interest-free loan and agree to repay program loans on a deferred basis. If you remain eligible after the second year, you become eligible for loan forgiveness. After two full years of participation, 50% of the loans received in Year 1 (and Year 2, if applicable) will be forgiven. If you remain in the program for a full three years, any loans received in Years 1 and 2 will be forgiven at 100%.
• You may receive awards through the program for a maximum of 10 years, or until your Adjusted Net Income exceeds or is equal to the Income Threshold or if you fail to meet the program's other eligibility guidelines.
• Award amounts are calculated based on a formula that takes into account your income as it relates to program-eligible debt. In the last award cycle, awards ranged up to $3,072.

Who is Eligible?

Graduates of NUSL:

• who have qualified indebtedness
• are engaged in full-time or part-time, law-related public interest or government work
• whose annual Adjusted Net Income (ANI) does not equal or exceed the Program Cap (currently set at $82,000)

Please read the Program Guidelines for full eligibility information.

How to Apply:

• Review the Program Guidelines for a full overview of the program.
• Submit your application by the deadlines outlined below. Applications can be emailed to lawfinaid@northeastern.edu or sent by mail to: Financial Aid Office, 416 Huntington Ave, Suite 101 Knowles, Boston, MA 02115.
• Reapply for acceptance into the program each year.

The round one deadline is November 15, 2023. The round two deadline (for those applicants who obtain employment after the round one deadline) is May 29, 2024.

If you have questions concerning the LD/F Program, please contact the Office of Financial Aid at lawfinaid@northeastern.edu.