Federal Financial Aid

As a currently enrolled student, you may remain eligible to apply for a Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan under applicable legacy provisions. Please review the drop-down question below for details regarding eligibility.

You would be considered a new borrower and would not be eligible to borrow a Federal Graduate PLUS Loan.

The bill includes a legacy provision to the new borrowing limits for students who are enrolled in a program of study prior to July 1, 2026. Under this provision, a student who has borrowed a Federal Direct Loan on or before June 30, 2026, while continuously enrolled in a graduate or professional degree program, may continue to borrow through the Graduate PLUS Loan Program for up to a maximum of 3 years or remainder of their expected time to complete the credential—whichever is shorter.

If you have not borrowed a federal loan on or before June 30, 2026, you will not be eligible for the Grad PLUS Loan under the legacy provision provided in the bill. However, you may still explore private loan options to help finance your education. Additionally, the University Bursar’s Office offers flexible payment arrangements that may assist in managing your tuition and fees.

Login to studentaid.gov to view your loan information, including details about your previous aid and enrollment history.

As a new borrower, your federal loan eligibility falls under the updated rules established by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). The information below applies to students enrolled full-time. If you plan to switch to part-time enrollment at any point, please contact Financial Aid for guidance.

What You Need to Know:

• You are not eligible for Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans.
• You may still explore private loan options to help finance your education.
• You are eligible for Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans only, with the following limits:

*The annual limit is the amount a student can borrow in one academic year.

If you received a federal Direct Loan disbursement for your J.D. program on or before June 30, 2026, you qualify as a "current borrower" under OBBBA. You can continue borrowing Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan and Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans under existing rules and loan limits. 

The information below applies to full-time enrollment. If you plan to switch to part-time at any point, please contact Financial Aid for specific guidance. 

As a J.D. student classified as a professional degree program under OBBBA, you can continue to access Graduate PLUS Loans at current limits for the lesser of:

• Up to 3 additional academic years, OR
• The remainder of your expected time to degree completion

What You Need to Know:

• Withdrawals, leaves of absence, or program changes may forfeit your legacy borrower status. Contact Financial Aid before making any enrollment changes.
• You may still explore private loan options to help finance your education.
• You are also eligible for Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans, with the following limits:

*The annual limit is the amount a student can borrow in one academic year.

As a new borrower, your federal loan eligibility falls under the updated rules established by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).

What You Need to Know:

• You are not eligible for Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans.
• You are eligible for Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans only. Since you'll be enrolled less than full-time, your annual loan limit is reduced based on your percentage of enrollment. The financial aid office will use a schedule of reduction formula, published by the U.S. Department of Education, to calculate your loan eligibility each academic year based on your credit enrollment. For additional information, visit our page: Loan Reduction for Less-Than-Full-Time Enrollment - Financial Aid – Syracuse University. 
  • For first-year (1L) students in the JDi program, the sample course schedule provides for enrollment in 11 credits in the fall semester and 11 credits in the spring semester. Under the revised loan eligibility formula, a 1L JDi student enrolled in a total of 22 credits across the academic year would be eligible to borrow up to $46,000.
• You may still explore private loan options to help finance your education.

If you received a federal Direct Loan disbursement for your J.D. program on or before June 30, 2026, you qualify as a "current borrower" under OBBBA. You can continue borrowing Federal Direct Loans, but there is a new schedule of reductions that applies to loans awarded for student's enrolled part-time.

As a J.D. student classified as a professional degree program under OBBBA, you can continue to access Graduate PLUS Loans at current limits for the lesser of:

• Up to 3 additional academic years, OR
• The remainder of your expected time to degree completion

What You Need to Know:

• Withdrawals, leaves of absence, or program changes may forfeit your legacy borrower status. Contact Financial Aid before making any enrollment changes.
• You may still explore private loan options to help finance your education.
• You are still eligible for Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans. However, since you'll be enrolled part-time, your annual loan limit is reduced based on your percentage of enrollment. The financial aid office will use a schedule of reduction formula, published by the U.S. Department of Education, to calculate your loan eligibility each academic year based on your credit enrollment. For additional information, visit our page: Loan Reduction for Less-Than-Full-Time Enrollment - Financial Aid – Syracuse University.