Applying for Financial Aid

FAFSA and ISIR Information

Now Available:
The 2025–2026 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is open. Students planning to attend Summer 2025, Fall 2025, or Spring 2026 should complete this application as soon as possible.

Coming Soon:
The 2026–2027 FAFSA will be available starting October 1, 2025. This application will cover the Summer 2026, Fall 2026, and Spring 2027 semesters.

Institutional Student Information Records (ISIRs):

  • ISIRs for 2025–2026 are actively being processed and sent to institutions.
  • ISIRs for 2026–2027 are expected to begin arriving at institutions by the end of January 2026.

FAFSA Guide – learn about all things FAFSA

Financial Aid To-Do List

December

  • #1

    Request an FSA ID from the Department of Education

    You can electronically fill out and sign your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

  • #2

    Complete your 2026 – 2027 FAFSA using the Future Act Direct Data Exchange (FA – DDX)

    To apply for financial aid for the academic year 2026-2027, complete your FAFSA and use the Future Act Direct Data Exchange. It will help streamline the application process and ensure your information is accurate.

  • #3

    Review your FAFSA Submission Summary carefully

    It is essential that you thoroughly review your FAFSA Submission Summary to ensure that there are no errors or discrepancies. Please take the time to carefully examine the document and make any necessary corrections or updates. Our school code is G31913.

January

  • #4

    Request an estimated award letter from the Law School

    We will send estimated award letters to all future students who completed a FAFSA after January 1, 2026.
    Final award letters are in CUNYfirst after enrollment.

After Matriculation

  • #5

    Set up your CUNYfirst Account. *

    Students admitted to the Fall 1L class will get CUNYfirst access and an award letter in early July.

  • #6

    Requesting Federal Aid (Federal Student Loans)

    Once students are enrolled in at least 6 credits for a given semester, they will automatically be offered a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan through their CUNYfirst account.

    Students have the following options:

    • Accept the full amount offered
    • Reduce the amount (within eligible limits) and accept the revised loan
    • Decline the loan entirely

    To learn more about how federal student loans work, including terms, eligibility, and interest rates, visit:

    Upcoming changes to federal student loans (2026–2027)

    Federal student loan policies may change for the 2026–2027 academic year. We will post updates on this page as more information becomes available. In the meantime, you can review NASFAA overview of federal student aid changes.

  • #7

    Complete Entrance Counseling and a Master Promissory Note

    If you accept federal student loans, you may be required to complete Entrance Counseling and a Master Promissory Note (MPN) online.

    Check your CUNYfirst “To-Do List Items” to see whether any action is required.

  • #8

    Sign up for Direct Deposit to receive your refund faster

    To receive any refund from your financial aid or loan funds as quickly as possible, sign up for Direct Deposit through CUNYfirst.

  • #9

    Questions about financial aid

    If you have questions or need additional information about financial aid, email the CUNY Law Financial Aid Office at financialaidoffice@law.cuny.edu

CUNYfirst Financial Aid Tools

If you are receiving Financial Aid you will be able to use CUNYfirst Financial Aid Tools to view all of your information.

CUNYfirst announcements are sent to you via your law school email address, so be sure to check your law school email often for updates and instructions on using CUNYfirst Financial Aid Tools.

In CUNYfirst, you can check your “To-Do List Items” to see if any additional documentation is required to finalize your award package. You can learn more about CUNYfirst and Student Self-Service here.

  • In CUNYfirst, click the link that provides information on viewing, accepting, and declining your awards.
  • If you don’t see an award notification, check the “To-Do List” for instructions.
    • If action is required, respond promptly to avoid packaging and disbursement delays.
  • Accept or decline all financial aid offered and review award against semester charges.
  • Review your billing statement to make sure that it reflects all of the Tuition and Fee charges for your current semester enrollment status.

CUNY Student Forms

CUNY Student Forms is our new student portal that allows students to sign and upload documents electronically! This new technology means that you can securely submit your financial aid documents without entering the campus Financial Aid Office. As you and our financial aid staff work through the forms, the CUNY Student Forms software will send you updates in real-time with documentation based on your answers. Once you have submitted all your forms to resolve outstanding financial aid tasks, the integration with our other CUNY applications will update CUNYfirst in real-time.