Federal Student Aid Changes

Changes to federal financial aid eligibility and Direct Loan programs are coming as of July 1, 2026. These changes may impact how you and your family have been funding your college costs up until now. The OU Student Financial Center (SFC) wants to be sure that all students and their families are aware of the forthcoming changes so you can be prepared for Fall 2026 and beyond.

OU is committed to providing guidance and resources to assist you in making a financial plan to cover your educational costs. You can reach us in the SFC weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for walk-in or phone services without the need for an appointment.

• Parent PLUS loan borrowers will be limited to $20,000 a year per student.
• Parent PLUS loan borrowers' lifetime aggregate limit will be $65,000 per student.
• Direct student loan offers will be prorated for students who are enrolled less than full time.
• Students with an SAI that is equal to or greater than twice the amount of the maximum Pell Grant award will no longer be eligible for the Pell Grant during that academic year.
• Students who receive scholarships or grants that cover their total cost of attendance (COA) will lose their Pell grant eligibility for that academic year.
• The net worth of certain family farms and small businesses will be excluded from the Student Aid Index (SAI) calculation
• Foreign income will be included in the adjusted gross income(AGI) when determining Pell grant eligibility.

• The Graduate PLUS loan will no longer be available to new borrowers.
• Direct Unsubsidized borrowing limits remain $20,500 annually with a maximum of $100,000 per non-professional student.
• Direct Unsubsidized borrowing limits will be $50,000 annually with a maximum of $200,000 per professional student.
• Direct student loan offers will be prorated for students who are enrolled less than full time.
• The maximum lifetime aggregate per student borrower will be $257,500.

Borrowers who have received a loan for a program that has already started as of June 30, 2026, will be exempt from the above borrowing caps for up to three years as they complete their program.

• MidFirst Bank MoneyCoaches assist students with personalized, effective financial planning and education to ensure healthy lifelong financial behaviors. MoneyCoaches are available to assist all students as they navigate the process of paying for college. Make a MoneyCoach appointment through iadvise.ou.edu or visit them on the first floor of Buchanan Hall. Walk-in services are available.
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• The Student Financial Center (SFC) works to eliminate unnecessary barriers to college access and completion. Our goal is to simplify the financial aid process as much as possible, and to make sure students are always engaged and aware of the next steps that need to be taken. Contact the SFC if you have questions about applying for financial aid or your eligibility at sfc@ou.edu, 405-325-9000, or visit the SFC on the first floor of Buchanan Hall. Walk-in services are available. OU Online students can contact onlineaid@ou.edu or call 405-325-2929.
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• CASH is the Centralized Academic Scholarship Hub offering one place for current and continuing students to apply for university scholarships. CASH is open to all students enrolled in the current academic year for consideration of awarding and disbursement in the subsequent academic year.
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• ELMSelect - University of Oklahoma allows undergraduate, graduate, and professional students to research and compare high-quality private education lenders that other OU students have used successfully. Students are welcome to use lenders not included on this list. The ElmSelect lender list is reviewed and subject to change annually.
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• OU Institutional Loans are loan options administered by the University of Oklahoma and only available to our students.