Federal Student Loan Limits for Graduate Students Revised, Graduate PLUS Program Largely Eliminated

New federal student loan regulations for graduate students are set to take effect on July 1, 2026. These changes, part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, will introduce borrowing caps and largely discontinue the Graduate PLUS loan program. However, specific guidance may offer temporary higher borrowing limits for some students in fields like physical therapy, physician assistant studies, and nursing. This represents a significant shift in federal aid for advanced degrees.