26-27 Student Loan Changes

These changes come from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) and began affecting all borrowers on July 1, 2026. Some NCU students may see changes in Self-Service. The One Stop is here to support you through these changes. Please read more information below.

Federal Student Loan Proration Changes For All Students

• Students now need to be full-time to receive the full annual loan amount.
  • NCU undergraduate students need to be enrolled in at least 12 credits per term and 24 credits per year.
  • NCU graduate students need to be enrolled in at least 6 credits per term and 18 credits per year.
  • Full-time status will be assessed on a semesterly and annual basis.
• Loan eligibility will now be prorated based on enrolled credits. Students need to be at least half-time to be eligible for loans.
• The standard annual loan amounts are the same as previous years.

Graduate Loan Updates

• New lifetime borrowing cap of $100,000 will apply to graduate students.
• The Graduate PLUS Loan program has been eliminated.
• In some cases, continuing graduate students may be under previous lending lifetime limits.

Parent PLUS Loan Changes

Beginning with the 2026–27 school year, Parent PLUS Loans for new borrowers will be capped:

• Annual Cap: New borrowers may borrow up to $20,000 per student per year.
• Lifetime Limit: Total borrowing is limited to $65,000 per student.
• Impact: Families with higher tuition costs may need to consider private loans or other funding sources to cover remaining balances.

Want to learn about private loan options? NCU has an easy to use loan options tool!

For more resources regarding how the OBBBA affects federal aid programs, including borrower scenarios, visit here.

Have questions? Think you’re going to be impacted by these changes? Contact us at 612-343-5030.