The Fordham Edge in a Changing World

At Fordham Law, we recognize that these developments require us to prepare our students differently—and better—to ensure they remain at the pinnacle of their fields. We don’t view these shifts as just a series of questions to respond to; we see them as a call to make a difference, to lead, and to serve.

While we navigate these professional evolutions, we are also addressing new practical challenges. Recent federal policy changes under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) have altered the financial aid landscape. Currently, students are able to utilize Federal GradPLUS loans to fund cost of attendance and tuition expenses for their degrees. The OBBBA caps their borrowing significantly: It increases Federal Direct Loan eligibility to $50,000 while eliminating the GradPLUS program. As a result, many students now face a sizable gap that must be filled by private lending.

While this shift will directly affect students of modest means, it also creates new hurdles for those called to public service. Unlike federal loans, which qualify for income-driven repayment and forgiveness programs, private loans typically do not. This poses a challenge for those pursuing careers in government or the nonprofit sector, both areas of historic strength for Fordham, where our graduates have served with dedication and distinction.

But Fordham does not stand still. Because of the incredible generosity of our alumni, we have already expanded our need-based financial aid program this year. Furthermore, we are taking a close look at our own Loan Repayment Assistance Program to ensure that those who serve the public good are not sidelined by these changes in federal policy. Finally, we are currently working with other leaders across the country to advocate for state-sponsored lending models—drawing on proven programs that exist in other states—to ensure that a premier legal education remains accessible to the best and brightest, regardless of their background.

This proactive spirit extends beyond financial aid and into the very heart of our curriculum. We are currently investing in new initiatives to ensure that students are ready for the demands of the profession the moment they graduate. By expanding our clinical programs and deepening our focus on the lawyering skills of the future, including technological fluency, professionalism, and strategic leadership, we are ensuring that Fordham lawyers are well prepared to contribute meaningfully from the start of their careers.

One of our key strengths comes from a constant, vibrant dialogue between our faculty and our alumni. As the profession changes, our alumni provide insights that allow us to pivot with precision, ensuring our students graduate not just with a degree, but with the specific resilience and adaptability that the modern market demands. This synergy is why our graduates remain among the most sought-after talent in the New York legal community and beyond. The data support this momentum. Fordham Law is:

The #1 law school in the nation for alumni promoted from associate to partner in New York City offices

The #3 law school for graduates employed at the nation’s top 100 firms in New York City

Home to the #3-ranked part-time JD program in the country

Ranked #20 nationally in scholarly impact by the Sisk-Leiter rankings

The #15 law school for return on investment as ranked by Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce

A national leader in public service, with our class of 2026 devoting 110,000+ hours to pro bono work during their time at Fordham

Fordham Law’s preeminence has never been an accident. It is built on the strength of our mission and the unwavering commitment of our people. We are incredibly fortunate to have such a strong community of alumni who give back and lift one another up in such important ways.

The challenges facing our profession are real, but they are matched by extraordinary possibilities. I am confident that the next generation of Fordham lawyers will meet this moment with the same integrity and spirit of service that define the generations of graduates who have come before them.

In shared purpose,