Financial Aid Changes from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act are effective July 1, 2026. The information on this web page will be updated as additional information becomes available. Please email FinancialAid@letu.edu or call 903.233.4350 if you have questions regarding the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Undergraduate Students
Pell Grant Eligibility
Beginning July 1, 2026, the following change to Pell grant eligibility becomes effective.
Students with a Student Aid Index (SAI) exceeding twice the maximum Pell Grant award will not be eligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant.
Loan Proration for Part-time Students
Beginning July 1, 2026, the annual loan limits for Federal Direct Loans are required to be prorated in direct proportion to the percent of full-time status the student is enrolled. Additional guidance will be forthcoming from the U.S. Department of Education that will provide more details.
Parent PLUS Loan Availability
Beginning July 1, 2026, the Parent PLUS loan will have limits on borrowing.
All parents (combined) have an annual Parent PLUS loan limit of $20,000 per dependent student and a $65,000 aggregate limit per dependent student (without regard to amounts forgiven, repaid, canceled, or discharged).
A legacy provision permits parents with existing Parent PLUS loans for a dependent student to continue to borrow under current loan limits for 3 academic years or the remainder of their dependent student’s expected time to complete their current credential, whichever is less.
Graduate Students
Graduate PLUS Loan Availability
Beginning July 1, 2026, the Graduate PLUS loan will be eliminated for new borrowing.
Graduate & professional students newly enrolled or beginning a new program on or after July 1, 2026 will not have Graduate PLUS loans available as a financial aid option.
Legacy provision: Permits students with existing Graduate PLUS loans before July 1, 2026 who borrowed during their current program of study can continue to borrow for up to three more academic years after July 1, 2026 or the remainder of their program, whichever is less.
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan Limits
Beginning July 1, 2026, Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans annual unsubsidized loan limits for graduate programs are capped at $20,500 with total borrowing (aggregate limit) capped at $100,000. This limit does not include undergraduate borrowing,
Legacy provision: students already enrolled in graduate programs who have borrowed unsubsidized loans in their current program prior to July 1, 2026, will remain eligible under the existing loan limits to borrow for up to three more academic years or the remainder of their program, whichever is less. The current annual limit for federal student loans is $20,500 and the aggregate limit is $138,500 (including federal loans received for undergraduate study).
Loan Proration for Part-time Students
Beginning July 1, 2026, the annual loan limits for Federal Direct Stafford Loans are required to be prorated in direct proportion to the percent of full-time status the student is enrolled. Additional guidance will be forthcoming from the U.S. Department of Education that will provide more details.
