{"id":4266,"date":"2026-02-03T10:29:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-03T16:29:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/finaid\/?page_id=4266"},"modified":"2026-02-18T10:54:47","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T16:54:47","slug":"financial-aid-updates","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/finaid\/financial-aid-updates\/","title":{"rendered":"2026-2027 Financial Aid Updates"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-1 fusion-flex-container nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0);background-position: center center;background-repeat: no-repeat;border-width: 0px 0px 0px 0px;border-color:#eae9e9;border-style:solid;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-justify-content-center\" style=\"max-width:104%;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-0 fusion_builder_column_3_4 3_4 fusion-flex-column\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\" style=\"background-position:left top;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-size:cover;-moz-background-size:cover;-o-background-size:cover;background-size:cover;padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-1\" style=\"transform:translate3d(0,0,0);\"><p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\"><b>On July 4, 2025<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0the\u00a0One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) was signed into law. The following information is designed to provide continual guidance on what has changed related to federal student aid programs. While many of these changes are still working through the finalization process within the Department of Education (ED), these regulations are scheduled to become effective on July 1, 2026.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\"><b>Note:\u00a0<\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As ED releases further guidance and finalizes the rules, we will continue to update this page with the most accurate and actionable information available. We understand that students, families, and others have questions, and we are here to help.<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-2\" style=\"transform:translate3d(0,0,0);\"><h2><b>What Has Not Changed for 大象传媒 Students<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/finaid\/federal-loan-information\/\"><b>Direct Loan annual limits<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0for undergraduate and graduate students will continue to remain the same.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;font-size: 12pt\">Aggregate (lifetime) loan limits for undergraduates will remain the same ($31,000 for dependent undergraduates and $57,500 for independent undergraduates).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-3\" style=\"transform:translate3d(0,0,0);\"><h2><b>What is Changing<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;font-size: 12pt\">The following changes are the most relevant to 大象传媒 students, and do not constitute a complete list of all changes within OBBBA. Please contact the Financial Aid Office for additional information on how any of these changes may impact your specific circumstances.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><style type=\"text\/css\">.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-0{width:75% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-0 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 2.56%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 2.56%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-0{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-0 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-0{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-0 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}<\/style><\/div><style type=\"text\/css\">.fusion-body .fusion-flex-container.fusion-builder-row-1{ padding-top : 0px;margin-top : 0px;padding-right : 30px;padding-bottom : 0px;margin-bottom : 0px;padding-left : 30px;}<\/style><\/div><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-2 fusion-flex-container nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0);background-position: center center;background-repeat: no-repeat;border-width: 0px 0px 0px 0px;border-color:#eae9e9;border-style:solid;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-justify-content-center\" style=\"max-width:104%;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-1 fusion_builder_column_3_4 3_4 fusion-flex-column\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\" style=\"background-position:left top;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-size:cover;-moz-background-size:cover;-o-background-size:cover;background-size:cover;padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;\"><style type=\"text\/css\">#accordion-4266-1 .fusion-panel:hover, #accordion-4266-1 .fusion-panel.hover{ background-color: #ffc700 } #accordion-4266-1 .fusion-panel { border-color:#cccccc; border-width:2px; background-color:#ffffff; }.fusion-accordian  #accordion-4266-1 .panel-title a .fa-fusion-box{ color: #ffffff;}.fusion-accordian  #accordion-4266-1 .panel-title a .fa-fusion-box:before{ font-size: 13px; width: 13px;}.fusion-accordian  #accordion-4266-1 .panel-title a{font-size:18px;}.fusion-accordian  #accordion-4266-1 .fa-fusion-box { background-color: #333333;border-color: #333333;}.fusion-accordian  #accordion-4266-1 .panel-title a:hover, #accordion-4266-1 .fusion-toggle-boxed-mode:hover .panel-title a { color: #3a3a3a;}.fusion-accordian  #accordion-4266-1 .panel-title .active .fa-fusion-box,.fusion-accordian  #accordion-4266-1 .panel-title a:hover .fa-fusion-box { background-color: #3a3a3a!important;border-color: #3a3a3a!important;}<\/style><div class=\"accordian fusion-accordian\"><div class=\"panel-group\" id=\"accordion-4266-1\" role=\"tablist\"><div class=\"fusion-panel panel-default fusion-toggle-no-divider fusion-toggle-boxed-mode\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-heading\"><h4 class=\"panel-title toggle\"><a aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-selected=\"false\" aria-controls=\"3735f02319f322d0c\" role=\"tab\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-parent=\"#accordion-4266-1\" data-target=\"#3735f02319f322d0c\" href=\"#3735f02319f322d0c\"><span class=\"fusion-toggle-icon-wrapper\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><i class=\"fa-fusion-box\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/span><span class=\"fusion-toggle-heading\">Direct Loan Annual Limits for Less than Full-Time Enrollment <\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div><div id=\"3735f02319f322d0c\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse \"><div class=\"panel-body toggle-content fusion-clearfix\">\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Beginning with the 2026-2027 academic year, direct loan amounts will be disbursed in direct proportion to the percent of full-time status met for the loan period (fall or spring semesters combined). Annual loan limits will be calculated using the following formula:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\"><i>Number of credit hours enrolled for the academic year \u00f7 Number of credit hours considered full-time X 100<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">This change could have an effect on students withdrawing from classes. The example below illustrates how annual limits would work for a dependent freshmen student who is enrolled full-time (12 hours) and drops a 3-credit hour course.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">If full-time both fall and spring semesters, they could receive $5,500\/year ($2,750\/semester)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Drops to 9 credits in fall after initial disbursement\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li>No changes to the fall loan disbursement are required at that point in time<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Enrolls for 12 hours in the spring semester<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">9 hours in fall + 12 hours in spring = 21 annual credit hours<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">21\/24 credits is 87.5%<\/span><\/li>\n<li>87.5% of $5,500 = $4,812<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Financial Aid Office would subtract $2,750 (received in the fall) to determine the amount of remaining loan eligibility for spring<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Since the student had already received $2,750 in the fall, the spring loan amount would be $2,062.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-panel panel-default fusion-toggle-no-divider fusion-toggle-boxed-mode\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-heading\"><h4 class=\"panel-title toggle\"><a aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-selected=\"false\" aria-controls=\"3f1b72021d6615171\" role=\"tab\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-parent=\"#accordion-4266-1\" data-target=\"#3f1b72021d6615171\" href=\"#3f1b72021d6615171\"><span class=\"fusion-toggle-icon-wrapper\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><i class=\"fa-fusion-box\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/span><span class=\"fusion-toggle-heading\">Elimination of Graduate PLUS Loans<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div><div id=\"3f1b72021d6615171\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse \"><div class=\"panel-body toggle-content fusion-clearfix\">\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">The Federal Graduate PLUS Loan program is eliminated starting July 1, 2026. Graduate students needing additional loan resources (beyond their $20,500 annual Direct Unsubsidized Loan limit) would be able to apply for\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/choice.fastproducts.org\/FastChoice\/home\/249000\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>private education loans<\/b><\/a>. Contact the Financial Aid Office to discuss options.<b>\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">There is a legacy provision for students who received a direct loan disbursement prior to July 1, 2026 to allow them to continue receiving the Graduate PLUS loan for up to three academic years or the completion of their current program, whichever comes first. The legacy provision requires continuous enrollment, so if a student withdraws or stops out for a semester, they will no longer be under the legacy provisions. The student will also lose access to the Graduate PLUS loan legacy provision if they change their graduate program.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-panel panel-default fusion-toggle-no-divider fusion-toggle-boxed-mode\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-heading\"><h4 class=\"panel-title toggle\"><a aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-selected=\"false\" aria-controls=\"e583e3894d7699d2d\" role=\"tab\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-parent=\"#accordion-4266-1\" data-target=\"#e583e3894d7699d2d\" href=\"#e583e3894d7699d2d\"><span class=\"fusion-toggle-icon-wrapper\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><i class=\"fa-fusion-box\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/span><span class=\"fusion-toggle-heading\">Cap on Graduate Loans<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div><div id=\"e583e3894d7699d2d\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse \"><div class=\"panel-body toggle-content fusion-clearfix\">\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans for graduate students will continue to have an annual limit of $20,500, however, a lifetime limit of $100,000 for graduate students is now enacted. This lifetime limit would not include loans borrowed as an undergraduate student.<b>\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">There is a legacy provision for students who received a direct loan disbursement prior to July 1, 2026 to allow them to continue receiving federal direct loans at the current lifetime limit ($138,500, which includes loans received as an undergraduate and graduate student) for up to three academic years or the completion of their current program, whichever comes first. The legacy provision requires continuous enrollment, so if a student withdraws or stops out for a semester, they will no longer be under the legacy provisions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-panel panel-default fusion-toggle-no-divider fusion-toggle-boxed-mode\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-heading\"><h4 class=\"panel-title toggle\"><a aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-selected=\"false\" aria-controls=\"ef2bef03d22e7ff2a\" role=\"tab\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-parent=\"#accordion-4266-1\" data-target=\"#ef2bef03d22e7ff2a\" href=\"#ef2bef03d22e7ff2a\"><span class=\"fusion-toggle-icon-wrapper\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><i class=\"fa-fusion-box\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/span><span class=\"fusion-toggle-heading\">Cap on Parent PLUS Loans<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div><div id=\"ef2bef03d22e7ff2a\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse \"><div class=\"panel-body toggle-content fusion-clearfix\">\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Parent PLUS Loans (available only to the parents of dependent undergraduate students) will be capped at $20,000 annually per student.\u00a0In addition, a lifetime limit of $65,000 in Parent PLUS Loan (per student) is also enacted.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">There is a legacy provision for students who received a direct loan disbursement prior to July 1, 2026 to allow them to continue receiving the parent PLUS loan at the current limit (Cost of Attendance minus any other aid) for up to three academic years or the completion of their current degree, whichever comes first. The legacy provision requires continuous enrollment, so if a student withdraws or stops out for a semester, they will no longer be under the legacy provisions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-panel panel-default fusion-toggle-no-divider fusion-toggle-boxed-mode\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-heading\"><h4 class=\"panel-title toggle\"><a aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-selected=\"false\" aria-controls=\"c6fb92cacf101e46b\" role=\"tab\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-parent=\"#accordion-4266-1\" data-target=\"#c6fb92cacf101e46b\" href=\"#c6fb92cacf101e46b\"><span class=\"fusion-toggle-icon-wrapper\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><i class=\"fa-fusion-box\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/span><span class=\"fusion-toggle-heading\">Adjustments to Student Loan Repayment Options<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div><div id=\"c6fb92cacf101e46b\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse \"><div class=\"panel-body toggle-content fusion-clearfix\">\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Borrowers with new loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2026 will have two repayment options; a new standard plan and a new income-driven repayment plan (RAP).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Current borrowers with no new loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2026 are eligible for the current Standard, Graduated, Extended, or Income-Based repayment plans. They may also opt into the new income-driven repayment plan (RAP).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">Student loan servicers will be able to provide the most current information as students enter the repayment process.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-panel panel-default fusion-toggle-no-divider fusion-toggle-boxed-mode\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-heading\"><h4 class=\"panel-title toggle\"><a aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-selected=\"false\" aria-controls=\"cc5312e0c7a6ef0e0\" role=\"tab\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-parent=\"#accordion-4266-1\" data-target=\"#cc5312e0c7a6ef0e0\" href=\"#cc5312e0c7a6ef0e0\"><span class=\"fusion-toggle-icon-wrapper\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><i class=\"fa-fusion-box\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/span><span class=\"fusion-toggle-heading\">Changes to Pell Grant Eligibility for Students Receiving Scholarships Covering the Full Cost of Attendance<\/span><\/a><\/h4><\/div><div id=\"cc5312e0c7a6ef0e0\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse \"><div class=\"panel-body toggle-content fusion-clearfix\">\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">As currently written, students who have scholarships covering their full cost of attendance will be ineligible for Pell Grant if their total aid from other sources equals or exceeds their cost of attendance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 12pt\">The Financial Aid Office is awaiting further guidance from ED on regulatory implementation and process.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><style type=\"text\/css\">.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-1{width:75% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-1 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 2.56%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 2.56%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-1{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-1 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-1{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-1 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}<\/style><\/div><style type=\"text\/css\">.fusion-body .fusion-flex-container.fusion-builder-row-2{ padding-top : 0px;margin-top : 0px;padding-right : 30px;padding-bottom : 0px;margin-bottom : 0px;padding-left : 30px;}<\/style><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":145,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false},"categories":[],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/finaid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4266"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/finaid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/finaid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/finaid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/145"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/finaid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4266"}],"version-history":[{"count":19,"href":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/finaid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4266\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4290,"href":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/finaid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4266\/revisions\/4290"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/finaid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4266"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/finaid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4266"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/finaid\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4266"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}