Federal Student Loan Changes

• Eliminated for new borrowers beginning July 1, 2026
• Legacy (grandfathered) provision – You may continue borrowing Grad PLUS loans under current rules if you:
  • • Borrowed a Direct Loan in your current program before July 1, 2026, and
    • Maintain continuous enrollment

  Eligible students may continue under existing rules for:

  • • Up to three academic years of the Federal Direct Loan Program
      • • 2026-2027
        • 2027-2028
        • 2028-2029, or
      • Until program completion (whichever comes first)

New Graduate and Professional Borrowing Limits (Effective July 1, 2026)

• Unsubsidized Loan:
  • Doctor of Chiropractic Program: $20,000 per term
  • Other Graduate Programs: $10,250 per term
• Grad PLUS Loan: Not available
• Aggregate Limit (Graduate Only): $200,000
• Lifetime Federal Loan Limit: $257,500 (excludes Parent PLUS)

You may be considered a legacy borrower if you:

• Were enrolled in the Doctor of Chiropractic program on or before June 30, 2026,
• Received at least one Direct Loan disbursement on or before June 30, 2026, and
• Maintain continuous enrollment without interruption

If eligible, you may continue with current federal limits:

• Unsubsidized Loan: $16,500 per term
• Grad PLUS Loan: Available
• Aggregate Loan Limit (Subsidized/Unsubsidized combined): $224,000

These provisions allow continuing students to maintain their current borrowing structure during the transition period.

Federal rules limit the timeframe for legacy borrowing. Your eligibility extends for the shorter of:

• • Up to three academic years of the Federal Direct Loan Program
    • 2026-2027
    • 2027-2028
    • 2028-2029, or
  • Until program completion (whichever comes first)

After this period, all borrowing transitions to the new federal limits.

Parent PLUS Loan Changes

• Annual Limit: $20,000 per student
• Aggregate Limit: $65,000

Legacy provision applies if borrowing occurred prior to July 1, 2026, with continuous enrollment.

Lifetime Federal Loan Limit

• $257,500 total (excludes Parent PLUS Loans)

Beginning July 1, 2026:

• Foreign income must be included in adjusted gross income (AGI) calculations
• Students with a Student Aid Index (SAI) greater than twice the maximum Pell Grant are ineligible
• Students receiving non-federal aid covering full cost of attendance are not eligible for Pell Grants

For loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2026:

Standard Repayment Plan

• Fixed payments over 10–25 years, depending on loan balance

Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP)

• New income-driven plan
• Monthly payments range from 1%–10% of income
• Loan forgiveness after 30 years

Current Borrowers

• Loans disbursed before July 1, 2026 may remain in existing plans (e.g., IBR, SAVE, PAYE) through July 1, 2028
• After that, borrowers will transition to RAP if another plan is not selected

These federal changes will impact how students finance their education, especially with the elimination of the Grad PLUS Loan for new borrowers.

Depending on your status, you may:

• Continue under legacy borrowing rules, or
• Transition to the new federal loan structure

Some students may also need to consider private loan options to cover remaining costs.

Northwestern Health Sciences University’s Financial Aid Office is here to support you every step of the way. We can help you:

• Understand your borrowing eligibility
• Plan for potential funding gaps
• Explore alternative financing options
• Maintain eligibility for legacy benefits (if applicable)

If you have questions or would like personalized guidance, we encourage you to connect with our team.