Archive · 29 Nov 2025
Trump Administration Proposes 2026 Loan Caps for Graduate Degrees
The Trump administration is proposing new rules for federal student loans that will start in 2026.
Graduate students will be able to borrow up to $20,500 per year, with a total limit of $100,000.
Professional students in certain fields, like medicine and law, can borrow up to $50,000 per year, with a total limit of $200,000.
The Graduate PLUS loans, which allowed students to borrow the full cost of attendance, will be discontinued.
Some professional groups are concerned because their fields are not included in the higher loan limits.
F1 visa holders are not eligible for these federal loans.
The goal is to help students manage their debt and encourage universities to control tuition costs.
The Trump administration proposes new federal loan limits for graduate and professional students starting July 1, 2026.
Graduate students will have an annual borrowing limit of $20,500 and a lifetime cap of $100,000.
Professional degree students can borrow up to $50,000 per year, with a total cap of $200,000.
Eleven fields automatically qualify for higher loan limits, including medicine, law, and pharmacy.
Over 40 additional fields may qualify if they meet specific criteria related to licensure and doctoral pathways.
- Who
- The Trump administration and the U.S. Department of Education
- What
- Proposed new federal loan limits for graduate and professional students
- When
- Implementation set for July 1, 2026
- Where
- United States
- Why
- To redefine borrowing rules and manage student debt levels
- Implementation Date
- July 1, 2026
- Fields Automatically Qualifying for Higher Limits
- 11 fields including Pharmacy, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine, Chiropractic, Law, Medicine, Optometry, Osteopathic Medicine, Podiatry, Theology, and Clinical Psychology
- Additional Fields That May Qualify
- More than 40 fields based on licensure, doctoral pathways, and elevated skill levels
- F1 Visa Holders Eligibility
- Not eligible for federal student loans
