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Class of 2029 Onward
For the Class of 2029 onward, LRAP will extend coverage to both federal and private loans. This enhancement is intended to support students who turn to private lending for additional funding once the $50,000 federal loan cap takes effect in July 2026.
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Eligible Loans
The following loans are eligible for consideration under the LRAP for the Class of 2029 onward:
- Federal Direct Subsidized Loans
- Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans
- Federal Grad PLUS Loans
- Federal Perkins Loans
- Private student loans (including bar study loans up to maximum principal amount of $10,000)
Calculation of Annual Awards
1. Award Basis
Participants will receive an annual LRAP award equal to:
- The total of their eligible annual payments calculated under Income-Based Repayment (IBR), PAYE, or RAP; plus
- The annual payment due on eligible private student loans.
2. Repayment Plan Assumption for Federal Loans
Participants are not required to:
- Borrow federal loans; or
- Enroll in IBR, PAYE, or RAP.
However, for purposes of calculating the LRAP award:
- The first $150,000 of total educational indebtedness will be treated as though it consists of federal loans; and
- Such loans will be assumed to be enrolled in IBR, PAYE, or RAP for calculation purposes.
3. Private Loan Calculation Methodology
Private student loans will be amortized for LRAP calculation purposes:
- Over a maximum term of ten (10) years;
- At a capped interest rate of eight percent (8%).
4. Annual Cap
The Law School reserves sole discretion to cap annual LRAP awards at $15,000 per participant.
5. Payment Determination
Awards will be based on the participant’s documented monthly loan payment obligations as of the date of application submission.
Subsequent changes in monthly payment amounts, including those resulting from loan servicer determinations, refinancing, consolidation, or other adjustments, will not result in modification of the awarded LRAP amount for that award year.
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Participants must be working domestically or internationally in jobs with federal, state, or local government entities, nonprofit organizations, labor unions, or public interest law firms. The job must either require a J.D. degree, or be law related, meaning that it substantially utilizes the legal training and skills learned in law school. A graduate will qualify on a deferred basis if she engages in a one-year post-graduate judicial clerkship, and subsequently engages in qualifying employment, meeting all requirements for LRAP eligibility. Note the definition of eligible employment under LRAP is more inclusive than the definition of eligible employment for purposes of federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness. See “Frequently Asked Questions” for details.
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Participants in the program with income of $120,000 or less can receive benefits covering 100% of their calculated loan payments. The program also allows benefits for salaries up to $150,000. For salaries above $120,000 up to $150,000, participants will incur a 10% student contribution deducted from their benefit. Only participant’s income as reported by their employer is counted as income for purposes of determining the LRAP award.
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Graduates may participate in the LRAP program for a maximum of 10 years. The 10 years need not be consecutive.
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Participants must apply on an annual basis, as award amounts are recalculated each year. All application materials are due December 1. Those approved for a LRAP award will receive a promissory note, which must be completed and returned to the Financial Aid Office within 30 days of receipt of notification.
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Required Materials
Nature of the Award
The LRAP award will be made in the form of a loan to the participant that is disbursed in two equal installments in January and July and forgiven at the end of the year. Assistance under this plan may be non-taxable under 26 U.S.C. 108 (F) for participants who work for government entities or 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit organizations.
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The Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) is administered by the Law School or its designated office. The Law School is responsible for reviewing applications, determining eligibility, calculating awards, and interpreting program guidelines.
Program Interpretation
The Law School reserves the right to interpret and apply LRAP policies and procedures. Questions regarding eligibility, qualifying loans, income calculations, repayment assumptions, or award amounts will be resolved by the Law School, and such determinations are final.
Annual Review and Funding
LRAP awards are approved on an annual basis. Participation in one year does not guarantee renewal in future years.
All awards are subject to the availability of program funding and annual budget approval.
Changes to the Program
The Law School may update, revise, or modify LRAP policies, eligibility criteria, repayment assumptions, award caps, or other program features from time to time. Any changes will apply as specified in the updated policy.
Documentation and Verification
Participants are required to provide documentation necessary to verify income, employment, loan balances, repayment status, and other relevant information. Failure to provide requested documentation may result in a delay, reduction, or denial of benefits.
Adjustments and Corrections
If an administrative or calculation error occurs, the Law School reserves the right to correct the error. In cases of overpayment, recipients may be required to return excess funds.
No Guarantee of Benefits
The LRAP is intended to support graduates pursuing qualifying employment, but it does not constitute a contractual guarantee of benefits or continued funding. All awards are subject to program guidelines and institutional approval.
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Q: How do I apply for LRAP assistance?
A: Complete the LRAP application and return it to the Admissions and Financial Aid Office of the law school along with the required supporting documents. The application and supporting documents should be returned via email to lrap@cornell.edu.
Q: What is the application deadline?
A: Applications, and supporting documents, are due by December 1st to receive LRAP benefits for the following calendar year. Even if you begin your public service early in the year, the application deadline remains the same.
Q: How do you determine if my job qualifies as eligible employment? How do you determine if my job is law-related?
A: The Financial Aid Office and the Public Service Committee will review LRAP applications and determine eligibility. They will review your job description to confirm that the work is law related, and that you are working at an eligible organization.
Q: Do I need to be employed full time?
A: No. LRAP covers half-time employment on a pro-rata basis. Be advised that any time spent in less than full-time employment does not count for purposes of federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
Q: I am on a one-year fellowship. Am I eligible?
A: Yes, so long as the substance of the fellowship otherwise falls within the definition of eligible employment. Graduates receiving funding through the Law School’s Graduate Fellowship Grant program are eligible for LRAP assistance. Any graduate awarded a Frank H.T. Rhodes Public Interest Fellowship through the Law School is eligible for LRAP assistance.
Q: Do judicial clerkships qualify?
A: If a student completes a post-graduate judicial clerkship, the Law School will include the clerkship year(s) under the Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP). Eligibility for LRAP benefits requires that all program criteria be met during the clerkship, including employment with a qualifying public interest employer and compliance with income eligibility limits. Students requesting LRAP benefits for their clerkship must submit all required documentation in accordance with the program’s application and review procedures.
Q: Do jobs with private law firms qualify?
A: No, jobs with private law firms are not considered qualifying employment.
Q: Is there an income cap?
A: Yes. Participants in the program with income of $120,000 or less can receive benefits covering 100% of their calculated loan payments. The program also allows benefits for salaries up to $150,000. For salaries above $120,000 up to $150,000, participants will incur a 10% student contribution deducted from their benefit. Only participant’s income as reported by their employer is counted as income for purposes of determining the LRAP award.
Q: How do you calculate my income?
A: The income used for eligibility is your salary as reported by your employer, not the Adjusted Gross Income reported on your federal tax return.
Q: If I am married, is my spouse’s income considered?
A: Spousal income is not considered for the income cap as it relates to LRAP eligibility. However, spousal income is typically considered by your federal loan servicer when calculating your IBR, SAVE, or PAYE payments.
Q: Can I receive LRAP assistance for all of my federal student loans?
A: Yes. All subsidized, unsubsidized, Grad Plus, and Perkins loans are eligible for LRAP assistance.
Q: Must I enroll in IBR, SAVE, or PAYE to receive LRAP assistance?
A: No, but we strongly recommend that you do so. IBR, SAVE, or PAYE can help make your monthly loan payments more affordable by basing them on your income and family size. Which plan pertains to you depends upon the year you took out your first federal loan. Whether or not you enroll in IBR, SAVE, or PAYE, your LRAP award will be calculated based on the payments you would owe in IBR, SAVE, or PAYE. Thus, if you choose not to enroll in IBR, SAVE, or PAYE, you will be responsible, out of pocket, for the difference between your monthly payment plan and the calculated IBR, SAVE, or PAYE monthly payment amount.
Q: Where can I find out more about my federal student loans, IBR, SAVE, and PAYE?
A: Your loan servicer can determine your monthly IBR, SAVE, or PAYE loan payment amount. If you are unsure who your loan servicer is, you can find this information at https://studentaid.gov/, or you can call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-900-4-FED-AID. To enroll in IBR, SAVE, or PAYE, you must submit an Income-Driven Repayment Plan Request at https://studentaid.gov/. Consult the Law School’s Admissions and Financial Aid Counselor for assistance.
Q: Are any other loans covered?
A: Private student loans (including bar study loans up to $10,000) are covered.
Q: How much of my yearly loan payment will be covered by the Law School?
A: Each year that you work full-time in a qualifying position, and earn an income less than the salary cap, LRAP will cover the full amount of your IBR, SAVE, or PAYE payment. Additionally, your annual payment due on private student and a bar study loan of up to $10,000 will be included in your LRAP award.
Q: How long can I be enrolled in LRAP?
A: The Law School will assist you for up to a total of 10 years. The 10 years do not need to be consecutive. You do not need to enter the LRAP program immediately following graduation, and you may exit and re-enter the program.
Q: How will I know if I am receiving a LRAP award?
A: You will receive an email from the Financial Aid Office by December 28 containing your award letter and a promissory note. Your signed and notarized promissory note must be returned to the financial aid office within 30 days of your award notification in order to receive your LRAP funds for the year. Please note that changes to your monthly loan payments, as determined by the loan servicer, after submission of your LRAP application will not result in an adjustment to your LRAP award.
Q: When will I receive my award?
A: Your award will be made in the form of a loan disbursed in two equal installments in January and July. The loan is then forgiven at the end of the calendar year, upon receipt of proof of monthly loan payments made for the previous 12 months.
Q: Who should I contact if I have questions about my LRAP application or award?
A: Cornell Law School’s Admissions and Financial Aid Office, at 607-255-5141 or law.financialaid@cornell.edu.
Q: What is Public Service Loan Forgiveness?
A: Through the U.S. Department of Education, borrowers who make 120 qualifying loan payments based on income, while working in qualifying public service, are eligible for forgiveness for any remaining balance-Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). To be eligible for PSLF, you must make 120 loan payments on loans that are eligible for IBR, SAVE, or PAYE. Additionally, you must be working in eligible employment. The definition of “eligible employment” for PSLF is more restrictive than that for receiving a LRAP grant. The PSLF definition excludes “labor unions, partisan political organizations, non-profit organizations engaged in religious instruction, worship services or any form of proselytizing.” Additionally, work overseas must be for a U.S. nonprofit organization or a U.S. government employer. For more information about Income-Driven Repayment Plans and Public Service Loan Forgiveness, see https://studentaid.gov/articles/category/loan-repayment/.
Q: What if I need to take time off from public interest work?
A: LRAP allows you to enter and exit the program at any time during your ten years of eligibility.
Q: What if I am taking parental leave?
A: A parental leave includes the birth of a child and/or care for the newborn child within one year of birth, the placement with the participant of a child for adoption or foster care, and to care for the newly placed child within one year of placement. LRAP provides two options for parental leave, a) If you take 12 weeks of parental leave in a calendar year, you may receive LRAP benefits for that year; or, b) If you take more than 12 weeks of parental leave in a calendar year, you are ineligible for LRAP benefits that year. However, you will be granted an additional year of LRAP eligibility.
Q: What if I elect to discontinue my career in public service?
A: You will no longer be eligible to receive LRAP payments, and you may have to repay funds provided to you during a time you were no longer engaged in qualifying employment. If you are enrolled in PSLF and leave public service before the completion of the 120 payments, your debt will not be forgiven. Further, interest accrual can be substantial depending on how long you carry the debt.
Q: If I change jobs, what do I do?
A: Any changes to your employment or loan situation must be reported to the Financial Aid Office, in writing, within 15 days. Send a written notice to law.financialaid@cornell.edu.
Q: If I am receiving LRAP benefits and the government ends IBR, what will happen to my LRAP Award?
A: Both PSFL and IBR are subject to periodic federal review. Should there be changes in federal policy, the Law School’s LRAP program will be adjusted accordingly.
Q: Are any other loans covered?
A: Private student loans (including bar study loans up to $10,000) are covered.
Q: How much of my yearly loan payment will be covered by the Law School?
A: Each year that you work full-time in a qualifying position, and earn an income less than the salary cap, LRAP will cover the full amount of your IBR, SAVE, or PAYE payment. Additionally, your annual payment due on private student and a bar study loan of up to $10,000 will be included in your LRAP award.