Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP)

For graduates in public interest and public service employment

The Notre Dame Law School’s Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) is designed to ensure that J.D. graduates with law school loans are financially able to work in the nonprofit sector, government, policy advocacy, human rights, and other fields where lawyers make valuable contributions but are often paid lower salaries. LRAP directly supports the University’s Catholic mission to “create a sense of human solidarity and concern for the common good that will bear fruit as learning becomes service to justice.”  Since 2024, LRAP works in tandem with the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness program to allow graduates to earn total forgiveness of their federal student loans, both graduate and undergraduate, with only minimal out-of-pocket payments.

Click here to read the Program Description for 2027 

LRAP is a robust program that helps many graduates in public interest and government employment:

LRAP 2026 is covering 100% of monthly loan payments for 79 of 86 participants and an average of 86% of monthly loan payment for the remaining 7.

Participating graduates will enroll in an income-driven federal loan repayment plan that qualifies for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. That income-driven repayment plan will require graduates to make modest monthly payments. LRAP will then provide participants with funds to help cover those monthly payments, up to a pre-announced annual cap. After 10 years in public interest or public service employment, graduates can qualify for full forgiveness of their outstanding federal student loan balances.

Parameters of the 2027 program

Full program details are provided in the Program Description for 2027. Highlights include:

Reduced LRAP Loan Forgiveness Periods
Graduates need to complete only 9 months in qualifying employment to earn full LRAP loan forgiveness (previously 12 months). Graduates whose qualifying employment is a judicial clerkship need to complete only 6 months.

Salaries up to $110,000
Law School graduates with salaries up to $110,000 qualify for LRAP 2027. The salary cap will be adjusted upward for graduates with dependents.

Dependent Deduction increased to $6,000
The salary deduction for each person who would qualify as a dependent under the Internal Revenue Code has been increased from $5,000 to $6,000.

Extensive Loan Eligibility
All undergraduate, graduate, and law school loans are eligible for LRAP, both federal and private.

10 Years of Eligibility
Graduates who qualify for LRAP may receive loan repayment assistance for a full 10 calendar years after beginning qualifying employment, even if they do not begin their public interest work immediately after graduation.

All Eligible Graduates Receive Benefits
All graduates who meet the LRAP criteria set forth in the Program Description will receive benefits.

Applying for LRAP Benefits: NOV 1st IS A STRICT DEADLINE

LRAP benefits are provided on a calendar year basis. Graduates must apply each year by November 1 and provide up-to-date information on their employment and loan repayment plans in order to receive benefits for the following year. The LRAP application is posted on or about October 1. Graduates who wish to receive an application can click on the button below and register themselves. They will be automatically sent an application on or about October 1.

Click here to register for LRAP notifications

Free resource for loan financing advice, AccessConnex

AccessConnex by AccessLex℠ is a free resource for loan financing advice for NDLS students and alumni.  Notre Dame Law School has partnered with AccessLex Institute®, a nonprofit organization committed to helping talented, purpose-driven students find their path from aspiring lawyer to fulfilled professional.  AccessLex offers financial education tools and resources to students and alumni – free! Alumni with questions on loan financing are encouraged to contact AccessConnex, a free student loan helpline.

     Schedule an appointment: AccessConnex Financial Coaching

     Email:  AccessConnex@accesslex.org 

The LRAP 2026 Program Description, effective until 12/31/2026, is available here

For additional information:

Cathy Kustner
LRAP Coordinator
ckustner@nd.edu
574-631-9301