Disclaimer: Impacts to All Students
This page contains information about how the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) will specifically impact financial aid for undergraduate students. Please note that OBBBA will also impact the following:
- Less-Than-Full-Time Enrollment and Loan Proration
- Withdrawing or Taking a Leave of Absence
- Rules for Dual-Degree Programs
Visit our main OBBBA: Financial Aid page for updates, enrollment, withdrawing, loan repayment, loan forgiveness, and loan deferment options.
Incoming First-Year and Transfer Undergraduate Students
Incoming first-year and transfer students beginning in fall 2026 will be subject to the new federal guidelines established by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).
Loan Limits Effective July 1, 2026
Applicable to new borrowers or those not eligible for the interim exception.
| Dependent Students | Independent Students (And Dependent Students Whose Parents Cannot Obtain Parent Plus) |
|
|---|---|---|
| First Year | $5,500 ($3,500 Subsidized) |
$9,500 ($3,500 Subsidized) |
| Second Year | $6,500 ($4,500 Subsidized) |
$10,500 ($4,500 Subsidized) |
| Third Year and beyond | $7,500 ($5,500 Subsidized) |
$12,500 ($5,500 Subsidized) |
| Aggregate Limit | $31,000 ($23,000 Subsidized) |
$57,500 ($23,000 Subsidized) |
Undergraduate Student Loan Limits
All incoming first-year and transfer students must adhere to the updated Federal Direct Loan limits. While annual limits for students remain consistent with previous years, please note the new lifetime aggregate limit below.
| Loan Model | Before OBBBA | After OBBBA |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Direct Loan Limits |
Dependent: $5,500-$7,500 (Subsidized $3,500-$5,500) Independent: $9,500-$12,500 (Subsidized $3,500-$5,500) |
No change to base limit Required proration for less-than-full-time enrollment |
| Aggregate Direct Loan Limit |
Dependent: $31,000 (Subsidized $23,000) Independent: $57,500 (Subsidized $23,000) |
No change |
| Lifetime Federal Loan Cap | No limit |
$257,500 (undergrad and graduate combined; excludes Parent PLUS) |
| PLUS Availability | Parent PLUS: Up to the full cost of Attendance |
$20,000 annual cap $65,000 total cap |
UNLV Programs Impacted by OBBBA
All undergraduate bachelor’s degree and certificate programs.
Annual Limit Adjustments
Starting with the 2026-27 academic year, annual limits for Federal Direct Loans will be adjusted based on your enrollment status.
- Full-Time Students: Maintain standard annual loan eligibility.
- Less-Than-Full-Time Students: Your maximum loan amounts will be reduced proportionally based on your credit load.
Federal Pell Grant Eligibility Changes
The OBBBA introduces new criteria for Pell Grant eligibility. A student may be ineligible for a Pell Grant if:
- Full Coverage: Your total cost of attendance is already fully covered by non-federal grants and scholarships.
- SAI Threshold: Your Student Aid Index (SAI), as determined by the annual FAFSA, exceeds twice the maximum Pell Grant amount. For 2026-27, this threshold is $14,790.
Important Note: We will update this page with further guidance as soon as the U.S. Department of Education releases final technical specifications.
Current Undergraduate Students
If you’re a current student, you’ll continue to have the same loan options as long as you borrow any type of Federal Direct Loan for your current degree at UNLV prior to July 1, 2026.
In federal policy, “grandfathering” and “legacy provisions” essentially mean the same thing: If you started your education under the old financial rules, you are permitted to finish under them.
Legacy Provisions: Allow current students or parents to temporarily continue to borrow under the prior federal loan rules and loan limits. Legacy eligibility is determined by federal law and is automatically applied if a student qualifies. It cannot be waived or declined.
Legacy status does not last forever. The OBBBA creates temporary interim exceptions — essentially a transition window — to give current students a fair amount of time to complete their degrees before the new rules apply to everyone.
Legacy Provisions Qualifications
- A Federal Direct Loan is disbursed on or before June 30, 2026.
- The student must remain in the same program at the same school. Undergraduates may change majors as long as they remain at the undergraduate level.
- There is no withdrawal or break in enrollment.
- For semester students, the summer term is not compulsory. However, if you begin enrollment and then withdraw from the summer term, it will be considered a drop in enrollment. This will result in a loss of the legacy provisions.
- For trimester students in the Nursing B.S. program, not beginning enrollment in the summer term is considered a break in enrollment, which will result in a loss of the legacy provisions.
- The student must be within their expected time to complete the program, which is the shorter of three academic years or the remaining program length.
Starting with the 2026-27 academic year, annual limits for Federal Direct Loans will be adjusted based on your enrollment status.
- Full-Time Students: Maintain standard annual loan eligibility.
- Less-Than-Full-Time Students: Your maximum loan amounts will be reduced proportionally based on your credit load.
If you do not qualify for the legacy provisions, please see the Incoming First-Year and Transfer Undergraduate Students section for more information about the changes to federal financial aid.
Important Note: We will update this page with further guidance as soon as the U.S. Department of Education releases final technical specifications.
Questions?
Visit the Department of Education’s Loan Limits FAQs (last updated May 20, 2026) or contact the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships via the Rebel Success Hub.