Wichita State University is preparing students and families for significant updates to federal financial aid programs scheduled to take effect July 1 as part of new federal legislation commonly referred to as the One Big Beautiful Bill.  

The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships is closely monitoring federal guidance and working to help students and families understand how these nationwide changes may affect eligibility and borrowing options. While the updates are being implemented at the federal level, Wichita State remains committed to providing clear communication and individualized support to students navigating the transition.  

Because these federal changes can seem complex, students should work with their academic and financial aid advisors to plan enrollment and payment options ahead of each semester, says Sheelu Surender, assistant vice provost for the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at Wichita State.  

Several major updates to federal student aid eligibility and loan programs are expected to impact both current and future borrowers:  

• Parent PLUS Loans (new borrowers): Annual borrowing will be capped at $20,000, with a lifetime limit of $65,000.  
• Graduate PLUS loans: These loans will no longer be available to new borrowers beginning July 2026.  
• Direct loans: Loan amounts will be reduced for students enrolled in less than full time.  
• Legacy (interim exception) borrowers: Current Parent PLUS and Graduate PLUS borrowers may continue borrowing for up to three academic years if they continue to meet eligibility for legacy status. 
• Students with a Student Aid Index (SAI) at or above twice the maximum Pell Grant amount will no longer qualify.  
• Pell Grant awards may be reduced if other scholarships or grants fully cover a student’s cost of attendance.  
• Annual borrowing limits for professional students will be set at $50,000 with a $200,000 lifetime cap. At Wichita State, this applies only to students enrolled in the clinical psychology Ph.D. program.  
• Part-time students (less than 12 hours for undergraduates and less than nine hours for graduate) will receive less federal aid.   
• Students who drop from full-time to part-time during a semester may be required to immediately repay a portion of their federal loan funds based on the reduced enrollment level.  

Students receiving financial aid are encouraged to review their aid offer closely, so they can fully understand the impact of enrollment reductions before making changes, says Surender. 

More broadly, the new regulations may result in some students receiving less federal aid overall, and certain loan programs will no longer be available to new borrowers.  

Because these changes stem from federal policy, colleges and universities across the country are adapting alongside their students. Details remain subject to change as more federal guidance becomes available. 

Wichita State encourages students and families to stay informed by visiting the university’s financial aid website and checking for updates from the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships.  

For additional details on the federal policy changes, visit the U.S. Department of Education’s One Big Beautiful Bill page.  

Students and families with questions are encouraged to contact Wichita State’s Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships for personalized assistance.  

Wichita State University is Kansas' only urban public research university, enrolling more than 25,000 students between its main campus and the WSU Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology (WSU Tech), including students from every state in the U.S. and more than 100 countries. Wichita State and WSU Tech are recognized for being student-centered and innovation-driven.

Located in the largest city in the state with one of the highest concentrations in the United States of jobs involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), Wichita State University provides uniquely distinctive and innovative pathways of applied learning, applied research and career opportunities for all of our students. The National Science Foundation ranked WSU No. 1 in the nation for aerospace engineering R&D, No. 2 for industry- and defense-funded engineering R&D and No. 9 overall for engineering R&D.

The Innovation Campus, which is a physical extension of the Wichita State University main campus, is one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing research/innovation parks, encompassing over 120 acres and is home to a number of global companies and organizations.

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