If your family is counting on Parent PLUS Loans… heads up: new federal caps start July 1, 2026.
Translation: many families won’t be able to “borrow the whole gap” the way they used to.
What we know so far (for many borrowers): Parent PLUS may be capped at $20,000/year per student and $65,000 lifetime per child.
4 quick moves to prep NOW:
1) Run your “gap” number: Cost of Attendance – grants – scholarships – savings.
2) Call the financial aid office and ask: “What’s my projected out-of-pocket for 2026–27?”
3) Build a scholarship stack (small awards add up fast). Set a weekly application hour.
4) Create a backup plan: payment plan, cheaper housing/meal options, transfer pathways, employer tuition help.
Families who plan early stress less later.
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