To receive an LRAP loan, you must submit an LRAP application. Then, at the end of each LRAP contract, you must submit an application for forgiveness. We encourage you to use the LRAP eligibility calculator prior to applying. The LRAP Handbooks describe the application and forgiveness processes in detail, including the specific formulas we use to make our determinations.
Use our Printable Account Information Guide to find key info about your student loans
Timing and instructions
Visit our Forms page for updated application forms.
To participate in LRAP, there are two applications you’ll need to submit each LRAP cycle:
- Application for an LRAP loan: Typically awarded in a contract period of approximately 12 months. Due each time you want a new LRAP award.
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- New applicants: the application cycle is rolling, but to receive a timely LRAP award, we recommend submitting an LRAP application about a month before your first loan payment.
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- Continuing applicants: the application cycle is rolling, but to receive a timely LRAP award, we recommend submitting an application in the month your current LRAP contract ends.
- Application for LRAP loan forgiveness: Due at the end of every LRAP contract period.
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- Within 30 days of the end of your previous LRAP contract period. (E.g., if your contract ends April 30, your forgiveness application will be due at the end of May).
Worried about meeting the 3.5 year LRAP deadline? You can apply to pre-qualify for 120 months of LRAP funding without having to submit an LRAP application.
To pre-qualify, you need to be 1) in greater-than-half time and paid law-related, public interest work making under $120,000; 2) be in repayment (not in school or in a grace period); 3) be enrolled in an income-driven repayment plan; and 4) have a $0 monthly payment or a payment that is too small to receive LRAP funding in accordance with our out-of-pocket contribution rules.
View and submit the pre-qualification form here.
To access the pre-qualification form, you will need to sign into a Google account. You may be prompted to sign in using your CalNet ID, but this can present a problem if you no longer maintain a Berkeley account. Try opening the form in a private browsing window or incognito window to sign in with your personal account. Please reach out if you encounter technical difficulties.
Before submitting your application for LRAP support, all participants must choose a “track.” The Standard track is only available for graduating classes through 2012. Graduates on the Standard track have the option of switching to the Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) track at a later date. Please note that if you select the IDR track, you must follow that track for the remainder of your participation in LRAP.
☐ Meet with an LRAP Advisor, preferably sometime in your 3L year. An LRAP appointment is a requirement to enter the program.
☐ Securely upload your application documents via our DocuSign PowerForm:
- First-time applicants must submit a copy of their total loan indebtedness and a personal statement.
- Loan indebtedness documents details your loan types, balances, and interest rates. You can find this information on your loan servicer’s website (Printable Account Information) or studentaid.gov (View Loan Breakdown).
- Your personal statement should describe what brought you to public service and what you see yourself doing over the next five years (approx. 1 page). Although required, the personal statement is not used to determine eligibility.
- All applicants must submit a new LRAP Employer Verification Form recently signed by your employer that includes your salary, job title and duties, and start date. Please do not send us a PSLF Employment Certificate Form or verification of your employment that does not include this information.
- IDR applicants must submit IDR plan details. This documentation should include: 1) the name of your repayment plan, 2) your monthly payment amount, and 3) when your plan starts and ends. Please please submit your Printable Account Information AND IDR approval letter and/or repayment schedule.
☐ First-time applicants must complete the UC Berkeley Controller’s Office vendor registration process, which is required before you can receive an LRAP loan disbursement. You may begin the process only after you 1) submit a first-time LRAP application, and 2) receive your personalized vendor registration link via email. If you sign up for EFT, a voided check and/or bank verification letter is required.
☐ Securely upload your application documents via our DocuSign PowerForm:
- All applicants must submit a new LRAP Employer Verification Form recently signed by your employer that includes your salary, job title and duties, and start date. Please do not send us a PSLF Employment Certificate Form or verification of your employment that does not include this information.
- IDR applicants must submit IDR plan details. This documentation should include: 1) the name of your repayment plan, 2) your monthly payment amount, and 3) when your plan starts and ends. Please please submit your Printable Account Information AND IDR approval letter and/or repayment schedule.
- Standard track applicants should upload a billing statement.
- Classes of 2012 and earlier should upload any private loan statements that include the current balance, interest rate, and monthly payment amount.
- We process applications on a rolling basis in the order received and recommend that you upload all required documents to avoid delays. Incomplete applications will take longer to process.
- LRAP coverage will not be granted retroactively, but starts within the month in which the application was received or later.
- If you are eligible for an award, you will receive two emails: 1) an email from the Financial Aid Office containing a DocuSign Access Code, and 2) an email from DocuSign containing a link to view and sign your LRAP award documents.
- Once you sign your LRAP award documents, we will submit a payment request to the main campus’ Disbursements Office.
- The main campus will disburse funds within approximately 10-14 days. If you do not have EFT set up, this may take 2-3 days longer.
You must submit an LRAP forgiveness application to fully or partially forgive each LRAP loan within 30 days of your contract ending. If you have a salary increase, job change, or don’t use all of your LRAP funds, you may owe some of your LRAP funding back.
To plan for potential repayment, we advise informing us of any job, salary, or family changes immediately by email. You can read more about our forgiveness process in our LRAP Handbooks on pages 14-18.
If your LRAP loan is not fully forgiven, you will owe LRAP funds back to the University. We will create a loan for you with the University of California’s loan servicer, Heartland ECSI. You’ll have at least a 4 month grace period where you will not be required to pay anything back. After your grace period ends, you’ll make payments to Heartland ECSI directly. You can either pay according to LRAP’s quarterly, 3-year repayment schedule; or you can pay everything you owe in one lump sum online or via check.
☐ Submit a forgiveness application
☐ Upload a new employer verification form signed by your employer (signed no more than 40 days before form submission). Switching jobs soon? You should get the form signed by whoever is your employer at the end of the LRAP contract you’re trying to get forgiven.
☐ Upload your payment history or redacted bank statement documenting payments for each month of your LRAP contract. We want to verify that you’ve make your required student loan payments each month of your LRAP contract.
Last updated November 13, 2025