For graduate school in 2026, first reduce the amount you need to borrow, then ask your financial aid office exactly how much federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan eligibility you have under the new limits. The rate for those loans first disbursed from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, is fixed at 8.07%. New graduate Direct PLUS borrowing generally ended July 1, 2026, although some continuing students may qualify for a limited exception. If federal aid and non-loan resources still leave a gap, compare private offers by their full terms—not just the advertised rate.
What should you do before choosing a loan?
Start with the size of the funding gap, not a lender’s maximum offer. Complete the FAFSA, compare your school’s aid offer with the actual cost of attendance, and subtract grants, scholarships, assistantships, work-study, savings, and other funds you expect to use. Federal Student Aid advises borrowing only what you need; the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) also recommends looking at non-loan resources before private borrowing.
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- Build a school-year budget. Use your school’s cost-of-attendance estimate, then check which expenses you will actually face. Ask the financial aid office how the school calculates your certified borrowing need.
- Ask about funding that does not create loan debt. Check with your department and school about fellowships, grants, scholarships, teaching or research assistantships, work-study, paid employment, and tuition installment plans.
- Confirm your federal loan eligibility. Ask the financial aid office to identify your program’s graduate or professional classification, your remaining annual and aggregate eligibility, and any effect of prior federal borrowing.
- Calculate the remaining gap. Only after accounting for the aid and resources above should you decide whether you need another loan and compare private offers.
Work-study depends on financial need and available school funding, and earnings may arrive after tuition or other direct charges are due. Installment plans can spread bills across monthly payments, but review the school’s agreement for fees and other terms.
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How much can you borrow in federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans?
Federal Student Aid’s 2026 guidance sets different annual and aggregate limits according to borrower history and whether a program is classified as graduate or professional. These are maximums, not a promise that every student can borrow that amount: prior borrowing, offsets between categories, eligibility rules, and the overall lifetime maximum can reduce what remains. Ask your school to calculate your own eligibility rather than treating a headline cap as your available amount.
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| Borrower category in Federal Student Aid guidance | Annual maximum | Aggregate maximum | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate student who has never been a professional student | $20,500 | $100,000 | Remaining eligibility depends on the applicable limits and borrowing history. |
| Graduate student who previously was a professional student | $20,500 | $200,000 | The aggregate amount is reduced by applicable professional-study borrowing. |
| Professional student | $50,000 | $200,000 | The aggregate amount is reduced by applicable graduate borrowing. |
Federal Student Aid’s guidance also describes a $257,500 lifetime aggregate maximum. The categories and offsets can interact, so a school’s review of your program classification and prior loans is essential to determining what you can borrow.
What rate applies to a 2026–27 federal loan?
For graduate and professional Direct Unsubsidized Loans first disbursed from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, Federal Student Aid lists a fixed interest rate of 8.07%. The rate is tied to the loan’s first-disbursement period; it does not automatically apply to loans disbursed in other periods. A fixed rate remains with that loan for its life.
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Direct Unsubsidized Loans accrue interest while you are enrolled, and you are responsible for that interest. Check your loan terms and ask your school how unpaid interest is handled. The cost of borrowing is more than the rate alone: consider how much you borrow, when interest accrues, and how repayment will fit your expected budget.
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Can you still get a graduate Direct PLUS Loan?
Generally, new graduate and professional Direct PLUS borrowing is not available beginning July 1, 2026. Federal Student Aid describes a limited transition exception for certain continuing students. Do not assume that being enrolled before the change is enough; ask your school to confirm whether you meet every condition.
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The described exception generally requires that you:
- Were enrolled in the same program at the same school by June 30, 2026;
- Borrowed a Direct Loan for that program before July 1, 2026; and
- Maintained continuous enrollment at that school and in that program, subject to the stated rules. An approved leave is not treated as a break under the cited guidance.
If you qualify, the exception lasts for the shorter of three academic years or the remaining time to earn your credential, under the described rules. Have the school confirm your eligibility and how much funding remains available for your circumstances.
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For eligible graduate or professional PLUS loans first disbursed from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, the fixed rate is 9.07%. The loan fee is 4.228% and is deducted proportionally from disbursements, so the amount received is less than the amount borrowed. The maximum is the school-determined cost of attendance minus other financial assistance, subject to the new eligibility and limit rules.
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How should you compare federal and private loans?
Use the written loan terms for a like-for-like comparison. Federal limits mean federal borrowing may not cover every graduate student’s full cost, and the PLUS transition rule means the option is unavailable to many new borrowers. A private loan may fill a remaining gap, but its rate, fees, repayment terms, and hardship protections depend on the lender and contract.
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| What to compare | Federal Direct Unsubsidized or eligible PLUS | Private graduate loan |
|---|---|---|
| Eligibility and amount | Federal categories and limits apply; PLUS is also subject to the 2026 transition exception. Confirm your remaining eligibility with the school. | Lender underwriting and school certification may apply; approval and amount vary by lender and borrower. |
| Rate and fees | Published fixed rate depends on loan type and first-disbursement date. Eligible PLUS loans have a fee. | Compare the actual APR, fixed or variable rate, fees, and any terms that can change the rate. |
| Interest and payments during school | Direct Unsubsidized interest accrues during enrollment; check the terms for how unpaid interest is handled. | Interest and in-school payment arrangements vary. Check when interest accrues and whether payments are required while enrolled. |
| Repayment flexibility and hardship | Federal options may include income-based payments or temporary relief, subject to the loan, current rules, and borrower eligibility. | Repayment and forbearance protections depend on the lender and contract; do not assume they match federal options. |
| Cosigner and credit exposure | Most federal student loans do not require a cosigner; PLUS loans have separate credit-related criteria. | A cosigner may affect approval or terms, but is legally responsible for repayment if the borrower does not pay. Review release conditions. |
Ask private lenders for written offers using the same borrowing amount and repayment assumptions. Compare the monthly payment and total expected repayment, not only the starting rate. For a variable-rate offer, examine how and when the rate can change. Advertised rates may be available only to borrowers with the strongest credit, according to CFPB guidance.
When might a private loan be worth considering?
Federal and private loans do not offer equivalent protections. CFPB guidance says private loans do not provide the same federal protections, while federal repayment options may matter if your income, career path, or public-service plans are uncertain. The CFPB identifies unusually strong credit, a substantially lower offered rate, clear job prospects, and a short repayment plan as factors that could make private borrowing worth considering in rare cases.
Weigh those factors against the protections you could give up. Federal Student Aid warns that refinancing federal student loans into a private loan may not preserve the federal terms and conditions. Before choosing a repayment plan or refinancing, review current Federal Student Aid guidance and the loan’s own disclosures.
What to verify before accepting an offer
- Your school’s classification of your program and your individualized remaining federal eligibility;
- The loan’s first-disbursement date and the rate that applies to that loan;
- For any PLUS offer, whether you meet the transition exception and the fee deducted from disbursements;
- The private loan’s APR, fixed or variable rate, fees, in-school payment requirements, repayment term, and hardship provisions;
- Any cosigner’s legal responsibility and the exact conditions for cosigner release; and
- Your total projected borrowing and repayment using the amount you actually need—not the lender’s maximum offer.
Federal loan rates, limits, and PLUS eligibility above are based on Federal Student Aid’s 2026 guidance. CFPB’s federal-versus-private comparison was last reviewed May 14, 2024, so use it for general consumer decision factors, not for the federal limits or eligibility rules that changed for 2026. Your school determines your aid package and certified cost of attendance; lender offers and individual eligibility require review of your own disclosures and borrowing history.
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