Oregon Public Universities Anticipate Negative Impact on Graduate Enrollment from New Federal Student Loan Caps

Oregon public universities are expressing concerns that new federal rules, passed last summer, which cap the amount of federal student loans graduate students can borrow, will negatively affect enrollment. The changes, which took effect July 1, 2026, impose annual borrowing limits of $20,500 (with a $100,000 total cap) for most programs, and higher caps for specific 'professional' programs, excluding many high-demand fields like nursing and social work. This development significantly impacts higher education financing and enrollment.