Important Information for 2026-2027

Pell Grant Eligibility Changes

• SAI Threshold: Students are ineligible if their SAI is equal to or greater than twice the maximum Pell Grant award. This threshold is $14,790 for 2026-27.
• Foreign Earned Income: Foreign earned income exclusions reported on the FAFSA will be added to the applicant's adjusted gross income for eligibility determination.
• Full Scholarship Rule: Students receiving non-federal scholarships and waivers that meet or exceed their Cost of Attendance are no longer eligible for Pell Grants.

FAFSA/SAI Asset Calculation Changes

These changes can impact eligibility by altering the SAI calculation:

• Expanded Asset Exclusions: Certain assets are excluded from the SAI calculation, potentially increasing aid eligibility:
  • New graduate students (non-professional degrees) will have annual unsubsidized loan limits of $20,500 and an aggregate limit of $100,000.
  • New professional students (e.g., in medicine or law) will have annual limits of $50,000 and an aggregate limit of $200,000.
  • A new overall lifetime limit of $257,500 for all federal loans (excluding Parent PLUS) applies to new borrowers after July 1, 2026.

Key Changes to Federal Student Loans

• Beginning July 1, 2026, loan limits will be prorated depending on enrollment level, similar to grant funding. This means new borrowers enrolled less than full time will only be able to borrow loan amounts in direct proportion to their credit load, with a minimum half-time enrollment requirement.

We expect to receive further information from the Department of Education regarding exact proration amounts.

• Parent PLUS Loans For new loans made on or after July 1, 2026, borrowing is capped at $20,000 annually and $65,000 in aggregate per dependent student, a major change from previous rules that allowed borrowing up to the full cost of attendance.
• Graduate PLUS Loans This program will be eliminated for new borrowers starting July 1, 2026.
• New Graduate/Professional Limits:
  • New graduate students (non-professional degrees) will have annual unsubsidized loan limits of $20,500 an aggregate limit of $100,000.
  • New professional students (e.g., in medicine or law) will have annual limits of $50,000 and an aggregate limit of $200,000.
  • A new overall lifetime limit of $257,500 for all federal loans (excluding Parent PLUS) applies to new borrowers after July 1, 2026.
• Repayment Plans The number of income-driven repayment (IDR) plans is being reduced from five to two: a new Standard Repayment Plan (10-25 year fixed payments) and a new Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP), an income-based plan with a 30-year forgiveness timeline. The existing SAVE, PAYE, and ICR plans will be phased out by July 1, 2028.

Direct Student Loan Programs

Effective for Loans with a First Disbursement on or after July 1, 2026 but before July 1, 2027.

All subsidized and unsubsidized loans made to undergraduate students will have a fixed interest rate of TBD. All unsubsidized Loans for Graduate students will have a fixed interest rate of TBD and PLUS loans for Parents will have an interest rate of TBD.

• For loans with a first disbursement on or after July 1, 2026:
  October 1, 2026, the lender withholds TBD from the borrowed amount for loan 
  origination fees, prior to disbursement.
• For loans whose first disbursement date is on or after July 1, 2026:
  October 1, 2026, the lender withholds TBD from the borrowed amount for loan 
  origination fees, prior to disbursement.

In-State Tuition Match Program for Out of State Students

SUNY's four-year colleges are matching the in-state tuition of the flagship public universities in 8 states to make it easier for students from around the country to get a great education in New York.

If you live in one of the states listed below, all you have to do is apply to a participating SUNY campus, and they’ll match the tuition and fees of your state's flagship. It's that easy.

Connecticut: UConn - Storrs
Pennsylvania: Penn State - University Park
New Jerse Rutgers: - New Brunswick
Massachusetts: UMass Amherst
Vermont: UVM - Burlington
New Hampshire: UNH - Durham
Illinois: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
California: UC Berkeley