Changes to Federal Student Aid
Significant changes to federal student aid were signed into law through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and will impact students beginning with the 2026–27 academic year. The information below reflects the most current guidance available to the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Financial Aid Office and is subject to change as additional guidance is provided by the U.S. Department of Education.
Part-Time Enrollment and Federal Loan Eligibility
Beginning with the 2026–27 academic year, Federal Direct Loans for students enrolled less than full-time will be prorated based on enrollment status.
For UW-Platteville students, full-time enrollment is defined as:
- Undergraduate students: 12 or more credits
- Graduate students: 9 or more credits
Students enrolled less than full-time may see reduced federal loan eligibility based on the number of credits they are taking during the term. Students must still be enrolled at least half-time, with 5 or more credits, to qualify for federal student loans.
Parent PLUS Loan Changes for Families of Undergraduate Students
Beginning with the 2026–27 academic year, first-time Parent PLUS Loan borrowers will be subject to new federal borrowing limits:
- Annual limit: $20,000 per dependent student
- Aggregate (lifetime) limit: $65,000 per dependent student
Legacy Provision Exception
Some families may qualify to continue borrowing under previous Parent PLUS Loan rules through a federal “legacy provision.” To qualify:
- The student must be enrolled as of June 30, 2026, and
- The student or parent must have previously borrowed a federal loan for the student’s current program of study
Graduate Student Loan Changes
Beginning with the 2026–27 academic year, the federal Graduate PLUS Loan program will be eliminated for new borrowers.
Legacy Provision Exception
Graduate students may still qualify to borrow through the Graduate PLUS Loan program if they meet the federal “legacy provision” requirements:
- The student must be enrolled as of June 30, 2026, and
- The student must have previously borrowed a federal loan for their current program of study
New Graduate Federal Loan Limits
Graduate students will also be subject to new federal borrowing limits:
- Annual Federal Direct Loan limit: $20,500
- Aggregate Federal Direct Loan limit: $100,000
Students qualifying under the legacy provision may remain eligible under the current aggregate loan limit of $138,500, including undergraduate borrowing.
Additionally, the federal government has established a new overall lifetime federal student loan limit of $257,500, which includes Subsidized Loans, Unsubsidized Loans, and Graduate PLUS Loans.
Federal Pell Grant Eligibility Change
Beginning with the 2026–27 academic year, students whose non-federal grants and scholarships meet or exceed their full cost of attendance will no longer qualify for the Federal Pell Grant.
Questions?
UW-Platteville students and families with questions about how these federal changes may impact their financial aid are encouraged to contact the Financial Aid Office by phone at 608.342.1836 or email finaid@uwplatt.edu for assistance and individualized guidance.