Impact of New Grad Loan Caps on Institutions and Programs in 5 Charts
Katherine Knott
April 21, 2026
The new limits on how much graduate students can borrow will affect states and institutions differently, and new research shows how.
An estimated 30 percent of graduate students would hit their student loan limits if new borrowing caps take effect this summer.
That’s according to new research from the Postsecondary Education & Economics Research Center at American University that breaks down how the loan limits will affect states, institutions, programs and students. The caps, put in place by Congress last summer, are expected to significantly change how students pay for college and could force some institutions to close programs. To prepare, institutions are offering their own lending options, partnering with private lenders or helping to get students grandfathered into the current system. One state has launched its own loan program to help fill the gap for graduate students.
