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Grad PLUS / Graduate Borrowing Changes
Elimination of Grad PLUS for new borrowers
As of July 1, 2026, the Grad PLUS program (which allows graduate/professional students to borrow up to the cost of attendance minus other aid) is eliminated for new borrowers.
New annual and lifetime caps on graduate/professional borrowing
Instead of unlimited (up to cost of attendance), graduate and professional students will face strict limits on how much they can borrow in federal student loans.
- For “regular” graduate (master’s or non‐professional) programs: $20,500 per year, aggregate (lifetime) cap of $100,000
- For professional degrees (e.g. law, medicine, dentistry): $50,000 per year, aggregate cap of $200,000
Grandfathering for existing students
Students already enrolled and borrowing under current rules (pre–July 2026) may be allowed to continue borrowing under the old rules for up to three additional academic years (or until program completion) depending on circumstances.
Contact Information
Steven Podeszwa
860.832.2206
PodeszwaA@ccsu.edu
Ashley Benner
860.832.2217
BennerA@ccsu.edu