Graduate Federal Student Loans
The Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan is being eliminated beginning July 1, 2026.
Under the legacy provision, graduate or professional students who borrowed a Federal Direct Loan, including parent and graduate PLUS loans, that were disbursed before July 1, 2026 may still be able to apply for and/or to continue borrowing a graduate PLUS loan with no changes in eligibility of their graduate PLUS annual loan limits.
Federal Direct Loan
To apply for a Federal Direct loan(s), you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), be enrolling in a minimum of 5 credit hours in degree pursuant courses and be meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress.
Federal Stafford loans are the most common – and among the lowest-cost – way that graduate and professional students finance their education. As of July 1, 2012, only unsubsidized Federal Stafford loans are available to graduate students.
- Legacy graduate borrowers have a total aggregate limit of $138,500 with up to $65,500 in subsidized loans (includes loans borrowed as an undergraduate)
- The new aggregate limit is $100,000 in graduate loans only with a lifetime limit of $257,500 (combined ug, grad, and professional)
- Both legacy graduate borrowers and new graduate borrowers can borrow up to $20,500 per year.
Under the legacy provision, graduate students who received a Federal Direct Loan disbursement prior to July 1, 2026, and who remain continuously enrolled in the same academic program, may continue borrowing under the previous eligibility rules. This includes no changes to their annual Unsubsidized Loan limits.
Legacy eligibility is limited to a maximum of three academic years or until the student completes their current program, whichever comes first.
The aggregate loan limit for these legacy students remains $138,500, inclusive of any undergraduate borrowing.
Students may not opt into or out of the legacy provision; eligibility is determined solely based on the disbursement date and continuous enrollment in the same program.
