Purdue University Northwest / Financial Aid / Financial Aid Changes Starting 2026-27

Financial Aid Changes Starting 2026-27

Read about the Financial Aid changes that will begin during the 2026-2027 academic year.

Pell Grant

  • Students will be ineligible for a Federal Pell Grant if they receive grants or scholarships from state, institutional, and/or private sources in an amount that equals or exceeds their Cost of Attendance.

Federal Student Loans

  • Direct Loans for the 2026-27 academic year and beyond will need to be adjusted when the student is enrolled less-than-full-time for the academic year (not just by term). This provision impacts both Undergraduate and Graduate level students.
  • Graduate PLUS Loan program will be eliminated. (See Legacy Provision 1)
  • Graduate/Professional annual and aggregate limits have been changed. Students may now borrow no more than $20,500 as a Graduate-level student and $50,000 as a Professional-level student. The aggregate limit for Graduate-level students is $100,000 and for Professional-level students is $200,000. These aggregate amounts do not include any amounts borrowed as an undergrad. (See Legacy Provision 3)
    • As of this writing, the Doctor of Psychology is a professional program and the other master’s and doctoral programs are considered graduate level for borrowing purposes.
  • All students have a $257,500 lifetime borrowing limit on all Federal Student Loans, excluding Parent PLUS loan amounts. (See Legacy Provision 4)

Federal Parent Loans

  • Parent PLUS annual and aggregate limits have been changed. Parents (combined) may now borrow no more than $20,000 per year per dependent student and have a $65,000 aggregate limit per dependent student. (See Legacy Provision 2)

Legacy Provision

  1. If a borrower has a Graduate PLUS loan made before 7/1/2026 while enrolled in a credentialed program, they can continue to borrow from the program for 3 academic years or the remainder of their expected time to credential, whichever is less.
  2. If a borrower has a Parent PLUS loan made before 7/1/2026 while the dependent is enrolled in a credentialed program, the parent can continue to borrow under current loan limits for 3 academic years or the remainder of their dependent student’s expected time to credential, whichever is less.
  3. If a borrower has a Direct Unsubsidized loan made before 7/1/2026 while enrolled in a credentialed program, the borrower can continue to borrow under current loan limits for 3 academic years or the remainder of their expected time to credential, whichever is less.
  4. If a borrower has a Federal Direct Loan made before 7/1/2026 while enrolled in a credentialed program, the borrower can continue to borrow under current loan limits for 3 academic years or the remainder of their expected time to credential, whichever is less.

All changes and provisions described are subject to change and final guidance being issued from the Department of Education.