J-HELPS Loan Program

Through a partnership with KU Endowment, the University of Kansas School of Law offers a loan program that ensures no KU Law student will need to resort to private bank loans to finance their legal education. 

Under recently passed federal legislation, students may borrow up to $50,000 per year and $200,000 total over three years of law school from the Federal Direct Loan Program.

With the Jayhawk Endowment Law Program for Students (J-HELPS), any KU Law student whose borrowing exceeds these caps will be able to finance the remaining amount with a low interest, no co-signer loan from KU Endowment.

Benefits

A J-HELPS loan through KU Endowment includes the following benefits: 

• No co-signer 
• No private banks
• 5% fixed interest rate
• No payments while in law school
• Five month forbearance after graduation
• 10-year loan term
• 2% loan origination fees apply

Eligibility

Eligibility requirements to access a J-HELPS loan:

• Full-time KU Law student with a minimum 2.0 GPA.
• U.S. citizens and permanent residents whose costs exceed federal borrowing caps.
• Students may borrow up to $12,000 per year with an aggregate of $24,000 over three years. Due to our low cost of attendance, we do not anticipate any KU Law students exceeding those limits annually or in the aggregate.

Application

Application for the J-HELPS loan program will open during the summer after loan packages have been finalized. Please check back for more information.

Current Law Students

Under the new federal student loan rules, if you are a law student who received federal Grad Plus loans prior to July 1, 2026, you are not subject to the new federal student loan caps. You will continue to be eligible for Grad Plus loans as in past years provided you maintain your full-time status. Further, nearly all current KU Law students have a Cost of Attendance below the new federal loan limits, so it is unlikely a KU Law student would exceed the $50,000 annual loan limit even if it applied to them. Note that recently the rules have been changing frequently so please check with the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships for updates and information.