Frequently Asked Questions

I first enrolled at HLS prior to the fall of 2008. Will I receive a smaller benefit?

Yes, students who enrolled in September 2006 or earlier will be able to receive PSI grants of $5,000 as 3Ls. Students who enrolled in September 2007 will be able to receive $10,000 PSI grants as 3Ls. Transfer students are grouped with the class they joined with respect to PSI benefits. Students receiving $5,000 or $10,000 benefits have reduced requirements to qualify for the PSI grant, and are obligated to remain in public service for a shorter time. Details are described on the Benefits page. 

Can I receive LIPP in addition to the PSI?

Yes, you can still receive LIPP assistance on your LIPP-eligible loans even if you take advantage of the PSI.

If I take the PSI, doesn’t that mean I qualify for less LIPP assistance in the future?

Yes, you will receive less LIPP assistance because you will have less debt. With the PSI, your out-of-pocket monthly loan expense will always be the same or less than it would be with LIPP.

How does the PSI differ from LIPP?

If you borrow instead of taking the PSI, it will take you at least 10 years in LIPP to retire that portion of your debt. With the PSI, you discharge any requirement to repay when you complete the public service commitment. Furthermore, unlike LIPP, you don’t have to meet income guidelines to discharge your PSI, your assets are not a factor, and your spouse’s income and assets are not a factor. However, the PSI does require an up-front public service commitment.

I’m not sure I want to work in public service for that long; should I take the PSI anyway?

You will be required to make your commitment to public service at the beginning of your 3L year, when you accept the PSI grant and sign a promissory note. If you aren’t sure you want to commit to the required years of continuous public service work at that time, you should decline to receive the PSI grant. You can still apply for need-based financial aid and take advantage of LIPP to help repay your loans, and in LIPP you are under no obligation to remain in a specific job for a specific length of time.

Is there any penalty if I leave public service before completing the work requirement?

Yes, there is a modest penalty (similar to the cost of interest that would have accrued on a loan), and you will have to repay the PSI at a slightly above-market interest rate. Once converted to a loan, the PSI cannot be converted back to a grant, but it will be treated like any other education loan if you apply for LIPP assistance in the future.

If I receive need-based grant aid, will I receive a full-tuition PSI grant in addition to that?

HLS will not award grant aid in excess of tuition. If you have a need-based grant, the PSI grant can supplement your need-based grant up to, but not beyond, that year’s tuition figure. You might still need to borrow to cover other fees and living expenses in your student budget.

So if I already get need-based grant aid, I get less from the PSI?

Yes, because a need-based grant is preferable to the PSI. You never have to repay a need-based grant, and there’s no post-graduate commitment. Since the PSI only covers the gap between your need-based grant and tuition, you will only have to repay the PSI portion of your grant aid if you don’t meet the public service work commitment. You must meet the full required work commitment even if you receive a PSI grant of less than full tuition because of need based aid.