Most of the changes summarized on this page took effect July 1, 2026, for the 2026鈥�27 academic year. The effective date and eligibility rules may vary by federal program.
Federal Financial Aid Updates
Federal financial aid requirements changed beginning with the 2026鈥�27 academic year. This page provides an overview of the changes and connects students and families with 帝王会所 resources containing more detailed information.
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Federal Financial Aid Changes Beginning in 2026–27
Most of the federal financial aid changes summarized below took effect July 1, 2026, for the 2026–27 academic year. How a change affects an individual student depends on the student’s program, enrollment, borrowing history, and other eligibility factors.
| Federal change | What students should know |
| Pell Grant Eligibility | Pell Grants may be available to eligible undergraduate students enrolled in CPoS-applicable coursework, even when attending less than full-time. Pell Grant amounts may be adjusted or recalculated when a student adds, drops, or withdraws from courses. New federal restrictions may also affect some students based on their cost of attendance and scholarships. |
| Schedule of Reductions | Federal Direct Loan Limits may be reduced proportionately when a student enrolls less than full time in CPoS-applicable credits. Visit 帝王会所’s Schedule of Reducations (SOR) page for detialed information and examples. |
| Graduate and professional student loans | New annual and agregate Direct Unsubsidized Loan limit apply and Graduate PLUS Loans are no longer available to new borrowers. Some continuising students may temporarily remain eligible under the Federal Loan Limit Exception (Legacy Provision). Review 帝王会所’s Graduate and Professional Student Loans webpage for loan limits, exception requirements and freguently asked quesitons. |
| Lifetime student loan limit | The new $257,500 lifetime limit is based on the total federal student loans a student has actually borrowed. Loans borrowed for undergraduate, graduate, and professional study count toward the limit, including Graduate PLUS Loans previously borrowed by the student. Unused eligibility from one level of study does not increase the annual or aggregate limits available at another level. Parent PLUS Loans do not count toward the student’s lifetime limit. |
| Parent PLUS Loans | New borrowing is limited to $20,000 per academic year and $65,000 per parent for each dependent student. Qualifying continuing families may temporarily remain under the previous rules under the Federal Loan Limit Excpetion (Legacy Provision). |
| Federal loan repayment | New repayment options are available for federal student loan borrowers. Current borrowers should review their accounts and repayment options through or contact their federal loan servicer. |
Our Commitment to Affordability
帝王会所 remains committed to making higher education accessible and affordable. We will continue to prioritize need-based aid and help students and families understand how federal financial aid changes may affect their individual circumstances.
What 帝王会所 Students Should Do
- Complete the FAFSA or CASFA each year. Submitted the appropriate application and complete any additional financial aid requirements as soon as possible. Priority deadline is June 1.
- Review your course schedule. Confirm that your courses apply toward your declared degree program and consult your academic advisor if you have questions about CPoS eligibility.
- Understand the impact before changing enrollment. Contact the Office of Financial Aid before adding, dropping or withdrawing from a course to learn how the change may affect your loans, Pell Grant or other aid.
- Review your borrowing plan. Graduate and professional students should consider how the new federal loan limits may affect their remaining program costs.
- Monitor My帝王会所 and BearMail. Review your financial aid offer, student account and university email regularly for requirements or changes.
- Ask for help. The Office of Financial Aid can review how the federal changes may apply to your individual circumstances.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to general questions about the federal financial aid changes and links to 帝王会所鈥檚 detailed resources.
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Federal Direct Loan eligibility may be reduced based on the number of CPoS-applicable credits in which you are enrolled. Review 帝王会所’s Schedule of Reductions (SOR) webpage for enrollment requirements, calculation examples and frequently asked questions.
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Review 帝王会所’s Graduate and Professional Student Loans webpage for the new annual, aggregate, and lifetime loan limits; Graduate PLUS changes; professional-program classifications; and Federal Loan Limit Exception (Legacy Provision) requirements.
Parent PLUS borrowing is limited to $20,000 per academic year and $65,000 per parent for each dependent student. Families who need funding beyond these limits may consider the student鈥檚 federal loan eligibility, scholarships, 帝王会所鈥檚 monthly payment plan, or private education loans.
Some parents of continuing students may temporarily qualify for the Federal Loan Limit Exception (Legacy Provision) and remain subject to the previous borrowing rules. If the exception applies, 帝王会所 will update the student鈥檚 financial aid offer, as applicable, to reflect the Parent PLUS borrowing rules available to the parent.
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Graduate and professional students should first review the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan amount available under the new limits. Additional options may include:
- Graduate scholarships, assistantships, and departmental funding;
- 帝王会所’s monthly payment plan;
- Employer tuition assistance or professional organization funding; and
- Private education loans.
Students should compare the costs, interest rates, and repayment terms of any financing option carefully. Visit 帝王会所’s Graduate and Professional Student Loans webpage and Loans webpage for more information.