These changes do not affect the 2025–26 award year. They apply beginning with the 2026–27 academic year. Students currently enrolled who borrowed a federal loan before July 1, 2026 may qualify for an interim exception — see below.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed July 4, 2025, makes significant changes to federal student loan programs for graduate and professional students. Most changes take effect July 1, 2026. Radford University is committed to keeping students informed and maximizing aid eligibility throughout this transition.
Last reviewed: July 2026 | This page will be updated as federal guidance evolves.
Students who borrowed before July 1, 2026 may qualify for the interim exception protection. See below for more information.
Graduate students are still eligible to borrow up to $20,500 in unsubsidized loans; however the Graduate PLUS loan program is no longer an option available to new borrowers.
Graduate students in need of additional loan funding can review a list of approved private loan lenders that Radford has worked with in the past.
Note: On June 24, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia imposed a preliminary stay on the U.S. Department of Education’s definition of a professional degree program for purposes of eligibility for the $50,000 annual loan limit. This order added the following Radford University programs as qualifying professional programs.
Under the authority granted to institutions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Radford University is setting the loan limit for these programs at $20,500, rather than the $50,000 limit possible under the court-ordered preliminary stay. This means all Radford University graduate, professional, and doctoral programs have a $20,500 maximum annual limit for the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan. The primary reason for this decision is that the court order is preliminary and temporary, meaning it could be reversed, which would reduce loan limits for these programs back down to the $20,500 limit. Our concern is the potential harm to students if we award the $50,000 and then the stay is overturned; if that happens, it could put students in a challenging financial situation.
Radford University will continue to monitor the situation. Should the order become permanent, we will re-evaluate the loan limits associated with these programs in relation to the $50,000 limit.
Parents are still eligible to apply for and borrow the PLUS loan for students; however there is now a yearly limit and lifetime limit to how much a Parent can borrow per student.
Parents can now borrow up to $20,000 each year with a total limit of $65,000 on behalf of each student from all parent’s combined borrowing. Meaning, if Parent A borrows $50,000 on behalf of their child and Parent B borrows $15,000 for that same child, the total borrowed between both parents is the limit of $65,000.
If you already had a federal Direct Loan disbursed before July 1, 2026, you may be able to continue borrowing under the current rules for up to three more academic years, or until you complete your program, whichever comes first.
This includes Direct Unsubsidized or Graduate PLUS loans for your current program at this institution.
Changing your major or degree program ends your interim exception eligibility, even within the same college or field.
The exception is tied to both your program and your institution.
Graduate PLUS loans borrowed before July 1, 2026 will count toward the new $257,500 lifetime limit once your interim exception period ends.
Radford University is doing everything possible to protect and inform students affected by these federal changes and to maximize federal aid eligibility for every student in every impacted program. We will update this page as guidance evolves.
Federal guidance and pending litigation regarding these changes continues to evolve. This page reflects Radford University's current understanding of applicable regulations and will be updated as new information is released. This page does not constitute legal or financial advice.