Graduate students will still be able to borrow federal student loans after July 1, 2026 - but not in the same way they have for years.

The OBBBA ends Grad PLUS loans for new borrowers beginning with the 2026-27 academic year. For nearly two decades, Grad PLUS allowed graduate and professional students to borrow up to the full school-published cost of attendance, effectively removing any borrowing caps. That option is going away.

In its place, federal borrowing for graduate education will be limited to Direct Loans with annual and lifetime caps. The change does not eliminate federal loans for graduate school, but it does impose limits that many students have never faced before. This could force more graduate students to private student loans, but there's also a big risk that private lenders may not fill the gap left behind.

New Graduate Student Loan Limits

Under the system that's ending, graduate and professional students can borrow up to the full cost of attendance through a combination of Direct Unsubsidized Loans and Grad PLUS loans. Those limits are set by schools, not Congress, which has allowed borrowing to rise alongside tuition.

This structure ends June 30, 2026.

Starting July 1, 2026, graduate students will no longer be eligible for Grad PLUS loans. Federal borrowing for graduate education will be limited to Direct Loans, with caps written directly into statute.

Under the new law, borrowing limits are set as follows:

• Graduate students (master’s and most doctoral programs):
  $20,500 per year, with a lifetime limit of $100,000
• Professional students (including law, medical, dental, and similar programs):
  $50,000 per year, with a lifetime limit of $200,000

These limits apply only to graduate-level borrowing. Federal loans taken out during undergraduate study do not count toward these caps.

The distinction between graduate and professional programs is based on federal program classifications. Law and medical degrees generally fall under professional limits, while most master’s and Ph.D. programs are treated as graduate programs.

Grandfathering Clause For Current Grad PLUS Borrowers

The law includes a grandfathering clause designed to protect students who are already using Grad PLUS loans.

Borrowers who currently have at least one Grad PLUS loan before June 30, 2026, may continue borrowing through the Grad PLUS program under current rules. That protection lasts until the borrower completes their existing program or for three additional academic years, whichever comes first.

The grandfathering provision applies only to borrowers with an active Grad PLUS loan before the cutoff date. Students who delay borrowing until after June 30, 2026, even if already enrolled, will be subject to the new Direct Loan limits.

It's important to note that the grandfathering clause only applies to borrowing limits - not repayment plan changes. If you borrow a student loan after July 1, 2026, you'll only be offered the new Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) or the new Standard Repayment Plan.

How The New Limits Will Impact Students And Schools

The new borrowing caps fundamentally change how graduate education is paid for.

Students facing costs above federal limits may need to rely on personal savings, employer tuition benefits, institutional scholarships, or graduate school private loans. Some may reconsider program choice, enrollment timing, or whether part-time study makes financial sense.

Programs with tuition far above federal borrowing limits may face pressure to expand institutional aid or justify costs to students who no longer have unlimited federal financing.

How To Plan For Graduate School After July 2026

Students planning graduate education after 2026 have a clearer framework for decision-making. it's not necessarily ideal, but it's known.

Comparing total program costs and understanding the long-term repayment implications of private borrowing may play a larger role in enrollment decisions.

For current students, confirming whether they qualify for the Grad PLUS grandfathering provision could significantly affect remaining borrowing options.

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