What has changed?

• Federal loans are now treated as annual loans based on your total enrollment for the academic year (24 credits).
• Schools must reduce loan amounts based on the percentage of credits you are enrolled in.
• Effective for loans disbursed starting in the 2026–2027 academic year.

What does this mean?

• Full-time enrollment is 12 or more credits per semester.  If you take fewer than 12 credits, your federal loan amount will be reduced.
• If your enrollment changes during the year, your remaining loan funds may be adjusted in the next semester.
  • Students who are enrolled in less than 24 credits Fall/Spring combined will see a reduced loan amount in their second semester.

What has changed?

• Students who receive grants or scholarships from non-federal sources that covers their full cost of attendance are ineligible to receive a Pell Grant.
• Students are no longer eligible for Pell Grant when a student’s SAI equals or exceeds twice the maximum Pell award.

What does this mean?

• The maximum Pell grant for the 2026-2027 academic year is currently set at $7,395.
• Students with an SAI greater than or equal to 14,790 are ineligible.

What has changed?

• Eligible parents may borrow a maximum of $20,000 per aid year per dependent student.
• Per student aggregate loan limit of $65,000.

What has changed?

• Borrowers who borrow new loans on or after July 1, 2026, will have 2 repayment plan options:
  • The Standard Repayment Plan or the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP).
  • If no plan is chosen, borrowers will be placed in the Standard Repayment Plan automatically.

What does this mean?

• All loans must be repaid under the same repayment plan.
• Borrowers with loans borrowed prior to July 1, 2026, who borrow again after that date, will be limited to the new Standard Repayment Plan or RAP.
• Standard Repayment Plans have fixed payments that can span 10-25 years.
• RAP is income-based.

What has changed?

• Borrowers who do not take out new loans on or after July 1, 2026, may continue using current repayment plans.
• Students may remain in or switch between existing income-driven plans through July 1, 2028.

What does this mean?

• Borrowers currently enrolled in the Income Contingent Repayment (ICR), Pay As You Earn (PAYE), or Savings on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan must choose a new repayment plan (either Standard or RAP) by July 1, 2028.
• If no choice is made, borrowers will automatically be placed in RAP.

What has changed?

• Economic hardships and unemployment deferments will no longer be available.
• Effective July 1, 2027.

What does this mean?

• Borrowers with loans borrowed on or before July 1, 2027, may continue to use these deferment options under the current rules.
• Once those loans are paid off, these deferments will no longer be available.