The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law in July 2025, makes major changes to the Federal Direct Loan Program. All changes take effect July 1, 2026, beginning with the Fall 2026 semester.
If you have questions about financial aid or loan eligibility, please contact the Admissions and Financial Aid office at lawfinaid@fiu.edu or 305-348-8006.
| Student Type | Annual Unsubsidized Limit | Aggregate Limit | Lifetime Limit (all federal loans) | Graduate PLUS Annual Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professional (JD) | $50,000 | $200,000 | $257,500 | Loan Eliminated |
| Graduate (LLM, JM, MSLT) | $20,500 | $100,000 | $257,500 | Loan Eliminated |
- Aggregate limits above do not include amounts borrowed as an undergraduate.
- The new lifetime limit of $257,500 covers all federal loans combined Undergraduate, Graduate, and Professional including Unsubsidized and Graduate PLUS. This amount will not be reduced by payments you make or discharged loans.
- Graduate PLUS Loans are eliminated under the new law. Students who previously relied on Graduate PLUS loans to cover the full cost of attendance will need to explore other options.
Exceptions for Continuing Students Enrolled as of June 30, 2026
If you borrowed Graduate PLUS or Unsubsidized loan funds before July 1, 2026, you may be eligible for a limited exception — meaning you can continue borrowing under the older rules, for up to three years in the same program or the remainder of your program length.
Under the limited exception, your current loan limits do not change.
| Student Type | Annual Unsubsidized Limit | Aggregate Limit | Lifetime Limit (all federal loans) | Graduate PLUS Annual Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate and Professional | $20,500 | $138,500 | Not applicable | Cost of attendance minus other financial aid |
You will lose limited exception if you:
- Change your program of study after July 1, 2026
- Complete your program of study
- Reach or have exceeded your program length
- Stop attending future terms
If you lose the limited exception, you will no longer be eligible for Graduate PLUS loans; your unsubsidized aggregate limit will change based on your program, and the $257,500 lifetime cap will apply.
Part-time Enrollment and Loan Reductions
If you enroll less than full-time in 2026–27 or later, your loan amounts will be reduced to match your enrollment level. The prorated loan amount will be based on your actual enrollment. You must maintain a minimum enrollment of 6 credits.
All loans are subject to reduction regardless of limited exemption status if enrolled less than full-time. Dropped courses will result in a loan reduction and the outstanding balance is due immediately.
| Enrollment | Loan Eligibility |
|---|---|
| 12 credits | 100% |
| 11 credits | 92% |
| 10 credits | 83% |
| 9 credits | 75% |
| 8 credits | 67% |
| 7 credits | 58% |
| 6 credits | 50% |
| 1-5 credits | 0% |
Exception: JD students enrolled in their final semester are exempt from loan reduction and will receive 100% of their loan eligibility.
| Enrollment | Loan Eligibility |
|---|---|
| 9 credits | 100% |
| 8 credits | 89% |
| 7 credits | 78% |
| 6 credits | 67% |
| 1-5 credits | 0% |