From Duke-funded support and fellowships to pre-vetted private loan options and federal borrowing alternatives, our financial aid professionals have crafted a comprehensive suite of resources to support you.
In addition to federal student loan options that remain available, Duke has assembled a list of private lenders offering competitive rates and terms designed specifically for Duke graduate and professional students. These private solutions, coupled with institutional aid, assistantships, fellowships, and federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans, are in place to bridge any gaps and keep your education affordable and within reach.
Summary of Recent Legislation Impacting Graduate and Professional Student Federal Loans
Starting July 1, 2026, graduate and professional students will experience several important changes to federal student loans, though current students may continue to borrow under legacy provisions.
Graduate plus Loans
- The Graduate PLUS loan will be eliminated for new borrowers, though students who have borrowed federal Direct Loans during their current program of study can continue to borrow federal Direct Loans, including the PLUS loan, for up to three more academic years after July 1, 2026 or the remainder of their program, whichever is less, as long as:
- The federal loan was disbursed for the current program of study and
- The student was actively enrolled in the program of study for which the federal loan was received as of June 30, 2026.
Unsubsidized loans
- Duke students already enrolled in graduate or professional programs who have borrowed unsubsidized loans in their program prior to July 1, 2026, and were enrolled in that program as of June 30, 2026, will remain eligible under the existing loan limits to borrow for up to three more academic years or the remainder of their program, whichever is less.
- Graduate or professional programs: Annual unsubsidized loan limits are capped at $20,500 with total borrowing, including undergraduate borrowing, with aggregate borrowing limits capped at $138,500.
- Students enrolled in certain Health Professions, including Duke’s M.D. program, are eligible for additional loan limits: Annual unsubsidized loan limits are capped at $40,500 for a nine-month academic year and $47,167 for a 12-month academic year with total borrowing, including undergraduate borrowing, with aggregate borrowing limits capped at $224,000.
Note: If you have not previously borrowed or do not borrow federal funds for unsubsidized loans or Graduate PLUS loans (each separately and respectively) in 2025-26 for your program, the new rules in the prospective student section below will apply to you.
Starting July 1, 2026, graduate and professional students will experience several important changes to federal student loans.
- The Graduate PLUS loan will be eliminated for new borrowing.
- There are different annual and aggregate borrowing limits for the unsubsidized loan for borrowers after July 1, 2026, and the limits vary depending on whether you are enrolled in a graduate or professional program.
- Graduate programs: Annual unsubsidized loan limits will be capped at $20,500 with total borrowing limits, not including undergraduate borrowing, set at $100,000.
- Professional programs: Annual unsubsidized loan limits will be capped at $50,000 with total borrowing limits, not including undergraduate borrowing, set at $200,000.
- Students who have ceased enrollment but received a federal loan for their program of study previously but were not actively enrolled as of June 30, 2026, will be treated as new borrowers under the new regulations when re-entering their programs.
Additionally, the legislation requires loan amounts to be prorated based on your enrollment status, meaning part-time students may have lower loan eligibility. This proration applies to all students, regardless of legacy provisions.