Graduate students have long relied on Grad PLUS loans to cover the steep costs of advanced degrees. These loans remain available in 2026, but the landscape around them has shifted. Federal policy now emphasizes transparency and accountability, requiring schools to show whether their programs deliver real financial value.
While students are not cut off from Grad PLUS loans based on program earnings, they are expected to make more informed choices using new data tools and disclosures. This change matters because it reshapes how both students and institutions think about debt, outcomes, and the long-term value of a degree.
