In July 2026, federal rules will begin capping how much parents can borrow through the Parent PLUS loan program. This could leave families unexpectedly short on funds — unless they qualify for grandfathered borrowing under the current rules.
Not sure how your family will be affected? Try this calculator to find out.
Parent PLUS Loan Cap Calculator
Annual cost of attendance (COA)
Number of years your student will attend at this school
What academic year will your student be in when this borrowing begins?
Total cost of attendance
Student federal Stafford loan limit (based on entry year)
Parent PLUS borrowing limit under current rules (before July 1, 2026)
Annual Parent PLUS cap (new rules, after July 1, 2026)
Parent PLUS borrowing limit under new rules (after July 1, 2026)*
Will your student begin this degree program before July 1, 2026?
Will you take out a Parent PLUS loan before July 1, 2026?
Grandfathered into old Parent PLUS rules?
Estimated borrowing gap if subject to new caps
*The new Parent Plus maximum is a total of $65,000 per student per household, but there is also an annual borrowing limit of $20,000, which may limit the total amount you can borrow in PPLs depending on the year your student is in college.
