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Federal Student Lending
RISE Act — Fact Sheet
Summary of the Responsible Investment in Student Education (RISE) Act provisions, outlining key changes to graduate and professional student borrowing limits, interest rate changes, and the transition timeline.
U.S. Department of Education
Final Rule: Graduate and Professional Student Loan Limits
Full text of the final rule implementing new annual and aggregate borrowing limits for graduate and professional students under the Direct Loan program, effective July 1, 2026.
Federal Register Vol. 91
Elimination of Grad PLUS Loans: Policy Analysis
Nonpartisan analysis of the phase-out of the Graduate PLUS loan program, examining historical borrowing patterns, projected funding gaps, and effects on enrollment in high-cost professional programs.
Congressional Research Service
Public Law 119-21: Working Families Tax Cuts Act
Full enrolled text of the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, including Title III provisions amending the Higher Education Act's student loan programs.
119th Congress
Dear Colleague Letter: Implementation Timeline for New Loan Limits
Guidance to financial aid administrators on the implementation schedule for revised graduate borrowing limits and the phase-out of Grad PLUS lending beginning July 1, 2026.
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Federal Student Aid
Negotiated Rulemaking Committee Report: Student Loan Provisions
Final report from the RISE negotiated rulemaking committee, documenting consensus language on borrowing limits, repayment plan consolidation, and institutional lending authority.
U.S. Department of Education
GAO Report: Federal Student Loan Portfolio and Graduate Borrowing Trends
Analysis of graduate and professional student borrowing trends from 2010–2025, including growth in Grad PLUS usage, default rates by program type, and debt-to-income ratios by field.
Government Accountability Office
CRS Report: Federal Student Loan Programs — Overview and Key Policy Issues
Comprehensive overview of all federal student loan programs, including Stafford, PLUS, and consolidation loans, with legislative history and current program parameters.
Congressional Research Service
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Student Loan Repayment and Borrowing Limits
The proposed rule preceding the final regulation, including public comment period details, alternative approaches considered, and regulatory impact analysis.
Federal Register Vol. 91
Fact Sheet: What the New Borrowing Limits Mean for Graduate Students
Plain-language summary for current and prospective graduate students explaining how the new federal borrowing limits will affect their financial aid packages starting in the 2026–27 academic year.
U.S. Department of Education