Bar exam loan for law students

Get the money you need for expenses, fees, and living costs while you study for the bar exam.

Apply now

Fixed rates

7.01%

to 15.26% APR^{footnote 1}

Fixed means your interest rate never changes.

If you want a predictable monthly payment, this is the way to go.

Variable rates

7.13%

to 16.74% APR^{footnote 1}

Variable interest rates go up or down as the market changes.

This means your monthly payments may also change—they might be higher if interest rates rise and lower if they fall.

Lowest rates shown include the auto debit discount. Only the most creditworthy applicants who choose the interest repayment option may receive the lowest rate.

Bar exam student loan benefits

Borrow from $1,000 up to $15,000

You’re in control—the funds are sent directly to you.

No origination fees

There’s no fee to process a loan or if you pay it off early.^{footnote 2}

Save money

Get a 0.25 percentage point discount with auto debit.^{footnote 3}

Breaking down your payments

Deferred repayment

You won’t have to make payments while you’re enrolled at least half-time and during your grace period (3 years after you graduate or 9 months if you leave school or drop to less than half-time status).^{footnote 1} Want to help lower your total loan cost? If you can, make payments while you’re in school and grace.

Get budget flexibility

You can request to make lower, interest-only payments for the first 2 or 4 years of repayment.^{footnote 4} After that, you'll make full principal and interest payments.

Apply in
minutes

1. Tell us some basics

2. Choose 1 or 2 disbursements

3. Pick a date to get the money

Apply now

Need money for law school?

Our law school loan can help cover your costs.

FAQs

Have other questions? We’re here to help.
1-877-279-7172

What is a bar exam loan?

A bar exam loan is for students who are enrolled at least half-time in their final year of study at a participating ABA-accredited law school or have graduated from one within the last 12 months. Students should be scheduled to sit for the bar exam within 12 months of their graduation date.

This loan helps law school students pay for bar exam classes, cost of living, the bar exam itself, and other expenses accrued during your time spent studying for the bar. Bar study loans are different from federal and private student loans because they don’t have to be sent (disbursed) to your school.

What expenses does a bar exam loan typically cover?

A bar exam loan can be used for things like:

Bar review course fees
Bar exam fees
Living expenses while studying for the bar exam
Other expenses not included in the school’s cost of attendance (COA)

If you have extra money from your loan, consider getting a head start on paying back your loan. This could help you lower your interest payments over time.

What are the eligibility criteria for obtaining a bar exam loan?

To get a bar exam loan, the following students are eligible:

Students pursuing or have earned a Juris Doctor (JD) or Master of Laws (LLM) degree and are enrolled at least half-time in their final year of study at a participating ABA-accredited law school, or have graduated from one within the last 12 months.
A student should be scheduled to sit for the bar exam no later than 12 months after graduation.
U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents can apply with or without a cosigner.
All others must apply with a cosigner (who must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident), reside in the U.S., and provide an unexpired government-issued photo ID to verify identity.

What happens if I can’t pass the bar exam after taking out a bar exam loan?

If you don’t pass the bar exam, you’ll still be required to pay back your loan with interest. If you miss payments, your account may fall into delinquency or default.

Can international students or non-U.S. citizens qualify for a bar exam loan?

International students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents can qualify for a bar exam loan with a creditworthy, U.S. citizen/permanent resident cosigner. They may need to present U.S. Citizenship and Immigrations Service (USCIS) documents to verify their identity.

Do I already have to have a place at a law firm to take out a bar exam loan?

No, you don’t need to have a position at a law firm to be eligible for a bar exam loan. You must be in your final year of law school from an ABA-accredited institution or have graduated within the last 12 months to qualify.

footnote Borrow responsibly
We encourage students and families to start with savings, grants, scholarships, and federal student loans to pay for college. Evaluate all anticipated monthly loan payments, and how much the student expects to earn in the future, before considering a private student loan.

footnote Bar Study Loans are intended to cover expenses not included in your school's cost of attendance.

footnote Bar Study Loans are for students who are enrolled at least half-time in their final year of study at a participating ABA-accredited law school or have graduated from one within the last 12 months. Students should be sitting for the bar exam no later than 12 months after graduation. This loan is subject to credit approval, identity verification, signed loan documents, and enrollment verification. Student or cosigner must meet the age of majority in their state of residence. Students who are not U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents must reside in the U.S., graduate from, or attend school in the U.S., and apply with a creditworthy cosigner (who must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident). Requested loan amount must be at least $1,000.

footnote 1. Advertised APRs for Bar Study Loan assume a $15,000 loan disbursed at the time of the student's graduation from school. Interest rates for variable rate loans may increase or decrease over the life of the loan based on changes to the 30-day Average Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) rounded up to the nearest one-eighth of one percent. Advertised variable rates are the starting range of rates and may vary outside of that range over the life of the loan. Interest is charged starting when the funds are sent to you. Once principal and interest repayment begins, any Unpaid Interest will be added to Current Principal, increasing the Total Loan Cost. To receive a 0.25 percentage point interest rate discount, the borrower or cosigner must enroll in auto debit through Sallie Mae. The discount applies only during active repayment for as long as the Current Amount Due or Designated Amount is successfully withdrawn from the authorized bank account each month. It may be suspended during forbearance or deferment.

footnote 2. Although we do not charge you a penalty or fee if you prepay your loan, any prepayment will be applied as provided in your promissory note — first to Unpaid Fees and costs, then to Unpaid Interest, and then to Current Principal.

footnote 3. The borrower or cosigner must enroll in auto debit through Sallie Mae to receive a 0.25 percentage point interest rate reduction benefit. This benefit applies only during active repayment for as long as the Current Amount Due or Designated Amount is successfully withdrawn from the authorized bank account each month. It may be suspended during forbearance or deferment.

footnote 4. Must request interest payments in writing. Choosing this option does not extend the loan term but does increase the Total Loan Cost and the monthly payment amount following the interest-only period.

footnote Sallie Mae loans are made by Sallie Mae Bank.

footnote Information advertised valid as of 5/16/2025.

footnote SALLIE MAE RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY OR DISCONTINUE PRODUCTS, SERVICES, AND BENEFITS AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE. CHECK SALLIEMAE.COM FOR THE MOST UP-TO-DATE PRODUCT INFORMATION.