For years, the federal Parent PLUS program gave families a powerful but risky option: parents could borrow up to a college’s full cost of attendance minus other financial aid. That changed on July 1, 2026, when new Parent PLUS loan limits took effect for many families. New borrowing is generally capped at $20,000 per year and $65,000 total per dependent student. The shift could reshape college choices, especially at expensive private schools and out-of-state universities. Families now need to calculate funding gaps earlier instead of assuming another federal parent loan will cover the bill.
