One Big Beautiful Bill

One Big Beautiful Bill Act

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed into law on July 4, 2025, introduces significant changes to rules related to the federal aid (Title IV) programs. Beginning July 1, 2026, the legislation will implement changes to:

Some rules for determining Pell Granteligibility
Changed borrowing limits for Federal Direct Student Loans
Modifies the Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loanprogram
Eliminates the Federal Direct Grad PLUS Loanprogram for new borrowers

For direct updates from the Department of Education visit: https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/big-updates

Loan Limits

	*Subsidized and Unsubsidized**	*Subsidized and Unsubsidized**	Parent PLUS Loan
	Dependent Student	Independent Student Dependent Student (if parents denied the Parent PLUS Loan)	All New Parent Borrowers (Dependent Students for loans disbursed after July 1, 2026)
First Year Student Annual Limit (0 to 29 credit hours)	$5500 (no more than $3500 can be subsidized)	$9500 (no more than $3500 can be subsidized)	$20,000 (per dependent student)
Second Year Student Annual Limit (30 to 59 credit hours)	$6500 (no more than $4500 can be subsidized)	$10,500 (no more than $4500 can be subsidized)	$20,000 (per dependent student)
Third Year Student Annual Limit (60+ credit hours)	$7500 (no more than $5500 can be subsidized)	$12,500 (no more than $5500 can be subsidized)	$20,000 (per dependent student)
Fourth Year Student Annual Limit (90+ credit hours)	$7500 (no more than $5500 can be subsidized)	$12,500 (no more than $5500 can be subsidized)	$5000 (per dependent student if borrowed $20,000 each of the previous three years)
Aggregate (Lifetime) Loan Limits	$31,000 (no more than $23,000 can be subsidized)	$57,500 (no more than $23,000 can be subsidized)	$65,000**

*Subsidized loans are based on financial need as determined by information provided on the student’s FAFSA.

**The lifetime and annual borrowing limits apply to new PLUS Loan borrowers for loans disbursed after July 1, 2026. Note that the limits apply to the dependent student. For example, if both the student’s mother and father apply, they may borrow a combined annual limit of $20,000 for that student (not $20,000 each parent for a combined $40,000).

Frequently Asked Questions

The new limits apply to periods of enrollment that begin on or after July 1, 2026.

You are considered a new borrower if your first federal direct loan (including Parent PLUS Loan) is disbursed on or after July 1, 2026.

You may be considered a continuing (legacy) borrower if:

You received a federal student loan before July 1, 2026, and
You remain continuously enrolled in the same program of study at the same institution. Undergraduate borrowers may change majors and still be considered a legacy borrower as long as they do not change their degree type.

Legacy borrowers may be able to continue borrowing under previous limits for up to 3 academic years or until completion of the program of study, whichever is less. Health Professions students also have legacy provisions for the increased direct unsubsidized limits.

For new Parent PLUS Loan borrowers who borrow their first Parent PLUS Loan on or after July 1, 2026:

The annual borrowing limit is $20,000 per student from all Parent PLUS Loans received. For example, if one parent borrows $20,000 in Parent PLUS Loan funds for a student, the student cannot receive additional Parent PLUS Loan fund from another parent.
The lifetime borrowing limit is $65,000 per student

For new graduate borrowers:

The Graduate PLUS Loan program is no longer available
Graduate students may borrow Direct Unsubsidized Loans only, up to:
- $20,500 per year
- $100,000 total for graduate study

Yes. There is a new lifetime federal student loan limit of $257,500.

This total includes:

Undergraduate loans
Graduate loans
Professional student loans

Parent PLUS Loans are not included in this lifetime student cap.

Beginning July 1, 2026, federal loan eligibility may be reduced based on enrollment. This applies to all undergraduate, graduate, and professional student Direct Loan borrowers—Direct Subsidized Loans, Direct Unsubsidized Loans, and graduate PLUS Loans. This includes students borrowing under the pre-July 1, 2026, legacy provisions (limited exceptions) and new borrowers on or after July 1, 2026. Loan disbursements will be adjusted based upon the number of credit hours enrolled as compared to the number of credit hours considered full-time for that student's program. For example, if an undergraduate student is enrolled in 6 credit hours for a semester, and 12 credit hours is considered full-time for that student's program of study, they would receive 50% of their loan disbursement for that semester.

If you reach federal loan limits, you may want to:

Review your personal budget
Consider the University's payment plan options
Explore private educational loans

The financial aid office can help you understand your options so that you can make an informed decision.

Students whose Cost of Attendance (COA) is fully covered by non-federal aid will no longer be eligible for a Federal Pell Grant.

Ends the previous allowance for Pell Grants to exceed COA when combined with other aid.

Example: A Pell-eligible student with a scholarship covering the full Cost of Attendance will no longer receive both the scholarship and the Pell Grant.

Students with an SAI greater than twice the maximum Pell Grant amount will be ineligible for any Pell Grant.

Example: If the max Pell Grant is $7,395, students with an SAI over $14,790 will not qualify.

If you have questions about how these changes affect you, please contact the Financial Aid Office. We are here to help you understand your eligibility and provide options for upcoming terms.