Graduate PLUS Loan Updates
Graduate PLUS Loans are for students enrolled in a graduate or professional degree program.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R.1), signed into law by President Trump on July 4, 2025, changes some rules related to Federal Aid (Title IV) programs. Some of those changes impact Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans available to graduate students. As of the development of this webpage, these changes are scheduled to go into effect with the 2026鈥�27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
| Loan Component | Current Limits (Prior to the 2026鈥�27 Academic Year) | Changes Effective for 2026鈥�27 Academic Year |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Limit | Determined by the formula of 鈥淐ost of Attendance 鈥� Other Aid (i.e., grants, scholarships, other loans)鈥� | Program Elimination: This program is to be eliminated for new borrowers or those who do not qualify for the Legacy Provision. |
| Aggregate Limit | No limit | Legacy Provision: Students who took out a Direct Loan (Unsubsidized or Grad PLUS) for their current degree in 2025鈥�26 may continue borrowing under previous rules for up to three years or for the remainder of their expected time to complete the program (within the published length of time), whichever is less. |
| Eligibility Requirements | Eligibility is based on student enrollment and a minimal credit check of the applicant. | Prior eligibility requirements will continue to apply strictly to legacy borrowers. |
Institutional Discretion
Schools have the ability to set lower annual loan limits by program. Limits must apply uniformly to all students in the program. At HCU we have limited all Graduate Programs to $20,500 per year.
Planning Ahead
For families that may still need additional funds beyond the new OB3 limits, consider investigating the following options:
Information included in this publication is subject to change. Contact the Office of Financial Aid with any questions you may have about this information.
Please see Institutional Discretion regarding our Master of Divinity degree program specific rules.