How Federal Policy Changes Affect Higher Education:
Loans, Research, and Immigration at 吃瓜大本营
This page will be updated as new guidance is released by the federal government. We are committed to keeping students, families, faculty, and staff informed. Updates will be coordinated with the Office of Financial Aid and other campus partners.听
Last Updated: 1/12/2026
Undergraduate Loans
Individual student loan borrowing options for an undergraduate degree remain unchanged under the new law.
For parent borrowers, the Parent PLUS Loan program remains unchanged until July 1, 2026. Parents who have borrowed a Parent PLUS Loan prior to July 1, 2026, on behalf of a dependent student enrolled in a credentialed program may continue to borrow under current loan program rules for up to three more academic years or the remainder of that program鈥檚 published program length at 吃瓜大本营, whichever is shorter.
Please note this exception only applies so long as the dependent student continues in their current program of study.
For parent borrowers, Effective July 1, 2026, new Parent PLUS Loan borrowing by all parents on behalf of each dependent student will be limited to $20,000 per year and a total maximum aggregate of $65,000 per dependent student.
Undergraduate students and families should contact the Office of Financial Aid at finaid@du.edu or 303-871-4020 to discuss how these changes may affect their borrowing.听
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My student came in as exploratory or wants to change their major鈥攚ill that affect the amount of federal loans I can borrow as a parent?
No. Provided the student remains continuously enrolled in the same type of degree program (i.e., bachelor's degree), changing majors will not affect the legacy provision, which will continue to apply for the remainder of the student's expected time to credential or three academic years, whichever is shorter.
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I am an undergraduate borrower and will become a graduate student after July 1, 2026. Can I borrow a Graduate PLUS Loan?
No, graduate-level loans, including Graduate PLUS, must be borrowed and disbursed prior to July 1, 2026 to be eligible for the legacy provision which allows the student to continue 听to borrow from the program for 3 academic years or the remainder of their expected time to credential, whichever is less.听
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Are the new Parent PLUS Loan limits applied per child or per family?
Parent PLUS loan limits ($20,000 per year, $65,000 aggregate amount) are per dependent student, not per family.
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What is the legacy provision for the Parent PLUS Loan program?
If the student or parent borrower has a Federal Direct Loan (subsidized/unsubsidized/Parent PLUS) made before July 1, 2026, while the dependent student is enrolled in a program of study, the parent can continue to borrow under current loan limits for 3 academic years or the remainder of their dependent student鈥檚 expected time to credential, whichever is less.
In other words, the legacy provision is applies to undergraduate students or parent borrowers who have a Direct Loan, of any type, disbursed and applied to the 吃瓜大本营 student鈥檚 tuition account before July 1, 2026. Provided that the student remains enrolled at 吃瓜大本营 in an undergraduate, degree-seeking program, parents may continue borrowing under the current loan limits for up to three additional academic years, or for the remainder of the student鈥檚 published program length鈥攚hichever is shorter.
Graduate Student & Professional Student Loans
Graduate students who borrow Federal Direct Loans or Grad PLUS Loans prior to July 1, 2026, for a graduate or professional degree program will be eligible to continue borrowing for that program for up to three more academic years or the remainder of that program鈥檚 published program length at 吃瓜大本营, whichever is shorter.
Please note this exception applies so long as a student continues in that degree program.
Effective July 1, 2026, new graduate student loan borrowers will be limited to $20,500 per year and a total maximum aggregate of $100,000 (not including undergraduate loan debt). The new law will also limit new professional student loan borrowers to $50,000 per year and a total maximum aggregate of $200,000 (not including undergraduate loan debt).
Graduate and professional students should contact the Office of Financial Aid directly for program-specific guidance at gradfinaid@du.edu or 303-871-4020.听
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What does 鈥減rogram of study鈥 mean?
鈥淧rogram of study鈥 refers to an degree program that leads to a degree, such as an MA in International Studies.
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What programs have been identified as professional degrees programs?
Professional degree programs:
- Clinical Counseling, and Applied Psychology
- Chiropractic
- Dentistry
- Law
- Medicine
- Optometry
- Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Theological and Ministerial Studies
- Veterinary Medicine
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What is the legacy provision for the Graduate PLUS Loan program?
f a borrower has received a Federal Direct Loan prior to July 1, 2026, while enrolled in their program of study, the borrower can continue to borrow Graduate PLUS Loans for 3 academic years or the remainder of their expected time to credential, whichever is less.
In other words, the legacy provision applies to graduate students who borrow a Direct Loan of any type and have it disbursed to their 吃瓜大本营 tuition account before July 1, 2026. As long as the student remains enrolled in the same program of study at 吃瓜大本营, they may continue borrowing for up to three additional academic years, or for the remainder of the program鈥檚 published length鈥攚hichever is shorter.