Financial Aid

(Students who have NOT borrowed federal loans for their current program before July 1, 2026)

Lifetime Graduate Limit

• $100,000 total for graduate education
• This does not include undergraduate borrowing
• Applies if you are starting a new program or returning to your current program but have not previously borrowed federal loans for it

Grad PLUS Loans

• Not available
• The Graduate PLUS Loan program ends for new borrowers on July 1, 2026
• Students will need to explore private loan options for costs exceeding $20,500 per year

(Students who HAVE borrowed federal loans for their current program before July 1, 2026)

You may continue under the previous, more generous rules if you meet all of the following conditions:

• Remain continuously enrolled (no leaves of absence or semesters off)
• Complete your program within its published length
• Finish your program within 3 years of July 1, 2026 (by July 1, 2029)

Extended Eligibility Includes

Lifetime Limit

• $138,500 total
• This does include undergraduate borrowing

Grad PLUS Loans

• Still available
• You may continue borrowing beyond the $20,500 annual limit to cover remaining educational costs

You Will Lose This Extended Eligibility If You:

• Take a leave of absence or a semester off
• Exceed your program’s published completion timeframe
• Do not complete your program by July 1, 2029

(Applies to all students, both new and returning)

Students who are not enrolled full time will not be eligible for the maximum annual loan limits. Beginning with the 2026–2027 aid year, loan eligibility will be adjusted based on the percentage of full-time credits in which a student is enrolled during the academic year.

Your Financial Aid Award Letter includes the number of credits per semester on which your award is based. If your enrollment plans change, you must notify the Financial Aid Office as soon as possible so your award can be adjusted appropriately. Students who change their enrollment after being awarded aid and do not notify the Financial Aid Office may experience unexpected aid adjustments that could result in a balance due.

For Masters and certificate students full-time enrollment is 24 credits for the academic year. Students must enroll in at least 24 credits during the year to receive the full $20,500 Direct Unsubsidized Loan amount.

For doctoral students, full-time enrollment is 18 credits for the academic year. Doctoral students must enroll in at least 18 credits during the year to receive the full $20,500 Direct Unsubsidized Loan amount.

Summer, Fall, and Spring enrollment are all included in this calculation.

Example of Proration

A master’s student plans to enroll in:

• 3 credits in Summer
• 6 credits in Fall
• 6 credits in Spring

Total enrollment for the year = 15 credits

15 credits enrolled / 24 credits full time for year = 63%

$20,500 x 63% = $12,915

$12,915 is the maximum Direct Unsubsidized Loan amount for the academic year.

Please note that for returning students who retain eligibility for Graduate PLUS Loans, maximum PLUS eligibility will also be prorated by the same percentage.

• File your 2026–2027 FAFSA at StudentAid.gov (Endicott Code: 001248).
• Register for courses early: To ensure accurate calculation and communication of your eligibility, please register for all courses you plan to take for each semester as early as possible.
• Calculate your “gap”: If you plan to finance your bill entirely through loans and your tuition and fees exceed your federal loan eligibility, visit Elm Select to compare private loan options.