A quick overview of federal loan options. 
For more detailed information, please click here to link to the Federal Student Aid site.

• Schedule of Reduction for Loans: Beginning the 2026-2027 academic year, all unsubsidized annual loan amounts will be reduced based on enrollment status for those less than full time.
  • Reduced Annual Loan Limit Percentage =

                             (Number of Credit Hours Enrolled for the Term)             X100
                             (Number of Credit Hours Considered Full Time
                                     for that Term for the Program of Study)         

• • Federal Direct loans will be reduced based on enrollment intensity. For a full-time example, a graduate student enrolled full time, or 9 credit hours, will be able to borrow $10,250 per semester if attending two-semesters of the academic year, or $6,833 per semester if attending three semesters in an academic year. For a part-time example, a graduate student enrolled in 6 credit hours, which is 67% of full-time hours, will only be able to borrow 67% of the loan limit for the semester, which is $6,867 per semester if attending two-semesters of the academic year, or $4,578 per semester if attending three semesters in an academic year.

Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan

Offers are available to graduate students enrolled at least half-time in a degree-seeking program. Additional eligibility requirements apply.

Interest rate: 8.07% fixed for loans disbursed 7/1/26 - 6/30/27 
Annual award, depending on program of study: up to $20,500

Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan

The Graduate PLUS loan is no longer available beginning on July 1, 2026 except to students falling under the legacy provision.

Many students currently enrolled in Spring and Summer 2026, who have previously borrowed Federal Direct loans, will fall under the legacy provisions. 

• Legacy Provisions: Allows for continuing students to temporarily continue to borrow under the prior federal loan rules. This means that students who qualify for legacy provisions may continue using Graduate PLUS loans and the prior federal loan limits.
• Legacy eligibility is determined by federal law and is automatically applied if a student qualifies. It cannot be waived or declined.
• Legacy Provision Qualifications:
  • A Federal Direct Loan is disbursed on or before June 30, 2026.
  • The student must remain in the same program at the same school.
  • There is no withdrawal or break in enrollment.
  • For semester students, the summer term is not mandatory. But if you attend summer and withdraw, it will be considered a drop in enrollment. This will result in a loss of the legacy provisions.
  • The student must be within their expected time to complete the program (the shorter of three academic years or the remaining program length).

Interest rate: 9.07% fixed for loans disbursed 7/1/26 - 6/30/27 
Annual award award: up to Cost of Attendance (less any other aid)

Note: Federal Direct Subsidized Loan are no longer available to graduate students after July 1, 2012.