Federal Policy Updates

Key Changes to Federal Student Loan Programs

Elimination of Graduate PLUS Loans

• Beginning July 1, 2026, Graduate PLUS Loans are no longer available to new borrowers who do not qualify for the limited exception.
• Eligible continuing graduate students may qualify to borrow Graduate PLUS Loans under transition provisions for the shorter of three academic years or the remaining time needed to complete their current program.
• Eligibility depends on specific federal requirements, including prior enrollment, prior borrowing, and continuous enrollment in the same program at the same school.

Direct Unsubsidized Loan Limits for Graduate Students

• Graduate students may borrow up to $20,500 per year in Direct Unsubsidized Loans, subject to applicable eligibility requirements.
• The aggregate limit for graduate study is generally $100,000 for students who have never been professional students. Different limits apply to students who have previously enrolled in professional programs.
• Eligible continuing borrowers may qualify for transition provisions that preserve prior loan limits for a limited period.

Lifetime Federal Student Loan Limit

• A new lifetime federal student loan limit of $257,500 applies to applicable undergraduate, graduate, and professional Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans, as well as qualifying prior Graduate PLUS borrowing.
• This limit is subject to federal rules and applicable exceptions.

Loan Proration Based on Enrollment

• Beginning July 1, 2026, federal student loan limits are adjusted for eligible students enrolled less than full-time. This means the maximum amount you may borrow in federal student loans may be reduced based on your enrollment level.

How is your loan limit calculated?

• Your enrollment level is compared with the full-time enrollment requirement for your specific program to determine the applicable reduction to your annual federal student loan limit.
• Because full-time enrollment requirements vary by program, the amount you may borrow will depend on your program and enrollment level. Federal exceptions may apply to certain programs or enrollment structures.

What should you do?

• Before changing your enrollment, review your program's enrollment requirements and consider how a change in units could affect your federal student loan eligibility and financial plans. 

Repayment Plan Changes

• The One Big Beautiful Bill Act also changes federal student loan repayment options.
• Borrowers with eligible federal loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2026, generally must repay under the new Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) or Tiered Standard Plan.
• The repayment options available to you may depend on when your loans were first disbursed and the types of federal loans you have. For the latest information, visit Federal Student Aid: Big Updates.

How to Stay Updated

• We will continue to update this page as additional guidance becomes available.
• For official information about federal student loan changes, visit Federal Student Aid: Big Updates.

A Note to Our Students

We understand that changes to federal financial aid policies can bring questions and uncertainty as you plan for your education. Thank you for your patience as we navigate these changes and work to understand their impact on our students. We are committed to sharing updates as additional guidance becomes available and are dedicated to assisting you navigate these new policies.