ED Takes Another Step Toward Finalizing Loan Limits
Jessica Blake
January 30, 2026
The rule is slated to take effect July 1. However, significant pushback is anticipated from Congress and higher ed groups in the weeks to come.
The Department of Education has taken its penultimate step in finalizing a new rule that will put a limit on how much graduate students can borrow from the government to fund their education. The plan has seen significant public pushback in recent months, and now concerned constituents will get the chance to have their say.
A committee of higher ed experts cautiously signed off on the department’s plans in November. On Thursday, the department’s more thorough formal proposal was published to the Federal Register for comment. (What was published closely mirrors the regulatory text committee members agreed to but adds further explanations.)
Members of the public now have until March 2 to submit their comments. And after that, the only step left is for department officials to review and respond to the comments before they finalize the rule. The policy is supposed to take effect July 1.
