Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) - JD
USC Gould School of Law

To aid students interested in pursuing careers in public service and public interest law, USC Gould created the Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) in 1987. Since then, we have:

• sought to ensure that post-graduation employment options are not dictated by student loan obligations
• recognized the legal community's responsibility to provide services to people who cannot otherwise afford representation
• encouraged our graduates to pursue public interest or public service careers

If you accept employment with low-paying public interest organizations and government agencies, or hold a judicial clerkship position, LRAP can provide you with assistance in repaying your student loans. You will be expected to apply a specified percentage of your earnings toward your educational loan repayments, with USC Gould making an LRAP loan for the remainder.

The amount of LRAP assistance will depend upon your income and total student loan payment obligations. For married couples, income is calculated by using the graduate's income or averaging the amounts earned by both spouses, whichever is higher. In addition, we consider whether you have dependent children in determining your eligibility.

If your total annual income is $70,000 or less, you will not be expected to make any contributions toward your loan repayment. The LRAP loan will cover the full amount of minimum monthly loan payments.

If you remain eligible and participate in LRAP for four years, your entire LRAP loan may be forgiven. If you participate for fewer than four years, your LRAP loan may be partially forgiven. The partial-forgiveness schedule can be found on the LRAP guidelines and application.

The LRAP year runs from October 1 to September 30 and a new application for assistance is required annually.

Other resources to help pay off your student loans

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

• Who Qualifies: Public service workers with Federal Direct Unsubsidized (Stafford), Grad PLUS, or consolidation loans in the Direct Loan program.
• What Could You Get: Full loan forgiveness after 10 years of income sensitive on-time payments.
• More Information

Equal Justice Works (EJW) Student Debt Resources

The EJW Educational Debt Relief program Equal Justice Works is devoted to advocating for student debt relief and spreading the word to make sure those who need relief are taking the right steps to qualify. EJW detailed and user-friendly resources are available to help prospective students, current students and graduates.