Grad PLUS ended July 1, 2026

Federal grad loans just got smaller.
Here's exactly what to do next.

A plain-language guide to the new borrowing caps, the grandfather rules, and how to fill the gap — built by people who read the fine print so you don't have to.

Find your rate ↓Loans 101
Tell us where you're headed
Your annual Grad PLUS cap
$20,500
$100,000 lifetime
As a new borrower, this limit applies to you from the start — there is no prior arrangement to fall back on. Most borrowers in this position turn to a private loan to cover the remainder, and we can help you compare your options.
1
Understand

What actually changed, in numbers

No jargon, no fine print — the caps, the timeline, and who's affected, pulled straight from the new rules.

440K+
students pushed into the private loan market this cycle
$100K
new lifetime cap for standard graduate degrees
40%
of prior Grad PLUS borrowers won't qualify for a private loan alone
3
Compare

Lenders worth a look, side by side

We work with a small set of lenders directly — not the whole market, just the ones we'd point a friend toward.

Lender
Rate range
Cosigner release
Best for
Meridian Ed
4.9–9.8%
24 months
No cosigner needed
Compare rates →
Northlight
5.4–11.2%
12 months
Fastest cosigner release
Compare rates →
Ascent Peak
5.1–10.5%
36 months
Thin/no credit history
Compare rates →

We may earn a commission if you're approved through a partner above — it doesn't change your rate or our rankings. Full methodology and disclosure policy is linked in the footer.

4
Apply

Ready when you are

Once you know your numbers, applying takes most lenders under 10 minutes. We'll tell you what to have ready first.

Start your application ↗