Student Loans

Applying for Financial Aid and/or Federal Work-Study

To apply for federal student loans and/or federal work-study, you must complete the following item EACH YEAR:

  • Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Mercer’s school code is 001580. Use “Mercer”—not “Mercer Law.” Do not include your parents’ information.

You may not borrow money to cover non-educational expenses such as credit card debt and vehicle loans. Find answers to more Frequently Asked Questions on our Financial Aid Resources page.

 

Direct Graduate PLUS Loans and alternative (private) loans are based on credit worthiness. Please unlock or unfreeze your credit because we cannot process Grad PLUS or private student loans if your credit is locked or frozen. We strongly recommend that you obtain a copy of your credit report and verify all items are correct. You can obtain a FREE copy of your credit report once every 12 months from each of the three national consumer-reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) at www.AnnualCreditReport.com because of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions (FACT) Act of 2003.

Federal student loan changes connected to the implementation of the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act will roll out over time, with several key changes expected to begin for periods of enrollment starting on or after July 1, 2026.

Graduate PLUS Loans have been eliminated for new borrowers. Existing Mercer borrowers may retain eligibility for up to three academic years or the remainder of their program, whichever is less.

New borrowers may be eligible for up to $50,000 per year in Direct Unsubsidized loans, with an aggregate limit of $200,000 and a total lifetime aggregate cap of $257,500 for all Direct loans (including undergraduate and graduate/professional federal district loans).

Due to the elimination of the Grad PLUS loan program for new borrowers and the recently enacted federal student loan cap of $50,000 per year, some students may need to seek alternative options, such as private student loans, to help cover their costs.

Many private lending institutions offer credit-based educational loans to students. Students should carefully consider the interest rates and terms of the program before making a selection. You are free to choose any lender. Please be aware that private loans do not qualify for federal loan forgiveness programs such as the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

A student may borrow a private loan equal to the annual student budget (Cost of Attendance) minus any other financial aid (including scholarships and federal student loans). Private lenders use a borrower’s credit score to evaluate eligibility and applicants with a limited credit history or a below average credit score may need a cosigner to be approved.

AccessLex offers a list of private lender options for Law students. While this is not an entire list of potential lenders, we hope you will find this list helpful in finding the best lender for you: AccessLex Private Lender List

After you receive your Financial Aid Notification email (usually in June), all first-time Direct Stafford Unsubsidized Loan and Direct Graduate PLUS Loan borrowers must complete the following at https://studentaid.gov/ before loan funds may be credited to your student account.

  • Master Promissory Notes (MPNs), and
  • Entrance Loan Counseling

Tuition is due on the first day of class of each semester. Please contact the Bursar’s Office at (478) 301-1001 if you need to make payment arrangements.

Please check with the Office of Financial Aid before withdrawing from a class.  If you enroll for fewer hours than indicated on your financial aid application, your financial aid may be affected.

 

Accepting Your Financial Aid Notification

Accept your Financial Aid Notification through your MyMercer portal.

For instructions on how to accept or reject your awards, click here.