Announcements


Other Important Updates:

Live Webinar: Parent PLUS Loan Overhaul

When: Monday April 20, 2026 at 6:30pm EST

Who Should Attend? This presentation is for both new and current parent borrowers

Title: Parent PLUS Overhaul: Critical Deadlines and New Rules Every Family Should Understand
 
Description: 
Parent PLUS borrowers are facing significant changes with a fast-approaching deadline that will limit access to flexible repayment plans and forgiveness programs unless they take specific steps in advance. Consolidating existing Parent PLUS loans is now essential for preserving eligibility for income driven repayment (IDR) and related relief options before those paths close off for current borrowers. 
 
At the same time, the program is shifting toward stricter borrowing limits and more restrictive repayment rules for new Parent PLUS loans, creating a more constrained landscape for families who may rely on this financing. 
 
This webinar will outline these upcoming changes, explain the “grandfathering” protections that remain available for some current borrowers, and help families understand how the updated system will affect both repayment and future borrowing decisions. 
 
Join for a live Q&A held throughout the webinar to chat with experts while you watch. EDCAP  is a program of the Community Service Society of New York (CSS).

  • By registering, you will receive an email with a link to the webinar
  • To join the webinar, click the link in your email to open the event. An account is not needed.

REGISTER

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New 2026-27 Loan Changes from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA)

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) law includes significant changes to federal student loans, borrowing limits, and repayment options. Many of these provisions require additional federal regulations before they can be fully implemented. The U.S. Department of Education is currently completing that process through negotiated rulemaking.  The information below is subject to change.

Most OBBBA financial aid changes are scheduled to take effect July 1, 2026. 

Summary of possible changes are below:

  • Parent PLUS loan capped (New annual and lifetime limits)
  • New graduate student loan limits
  • Federal Direct Loan amount reduction for less-than-full-time enrollment
  • Repayment simplified to two plans
  • Deferment options reduced

Resources: 

OBBBA Q&A: LOAN LIMITS

What are the changes to loan limits starting in 2026-27?
Loan Type

Current
2025-26 

 New 2026-27
Based on OBBBA		 Time Limited Legacy Exception:
Parent PLUS Loan Amount Limits

Annual Limit: Parent can borrow up to the student's annual Cost of Attendance (COA) minus other aid, annually.

 

Aggregate Limit: None

New Annual limit: $20,000 per dependent student 

 

 

 

 

New Aggregate Limit: $65,000 (per student)

Annual & Aggregate Limit Exception: If a parent borrowed a Parent PLUS loan for a current student before July 1, 2026, they may be able to keep borrowing under the old rules for a short period of time. The length of this exception depends on the normal length of the student’s program (2, 4, or 5 years) and how long the student has already been enrolled in that program.

The exception can last up to 3 years, but it may be shorter if the program is shorter or if the student has already used part of that timeline.

  • The student must remain continuously enrolled in the same program of study at the same institution as they were enrolled as of June 30, 2026,

AND meet ONE of the following:

  • The parent borrower must have had a Parent PLUS Loan disbursed for that same program before July 1, 2026, OR
  • The student must have had a Direct Loan (subsidized or unsubsidized) disbursed for that same program before July 1, 2026.

Continuously enrolled means the student is not withdrawn from all courses or otherwise cease enrollment outside of scheduled breaks or non-required terms, such as summer).
New Graduate Unsubsidized Loan Limits

Annual Limit: $20,500

 

 

Aggregate Limit: $138,500

Annual Limit: $20,500 (unchanged)

 

New Aggregate Limit $100,000 (only graduate Unsub loans)

New Lifetime Limit:

$257,500 (combined Sub/Unsub as Undergraduate and Grad)

Aggregate & Lifetime Limit Exceptions:

The law allows some students to be exempt from the new Direct Unsubsidized aggregate and lifetime borrowing limits under a limited exception through their time to completion, for a maximum of 3 years. Students may qualify for the limited exception if:

  • They remain continuously enrolled in the same program of study at the same institution as they were enrolled as of June 30, 2026

AND

• They had a Direct Loan disbursed (Direct Unsubsidized or Graduate PLUS) for that same program before July 1, 2026
What happens when students no longer qualify for the Legacy exception?

After three academic years, or earlier if the student withdraws or otherwise ceases enrollment from their current school or completes their program of study, Parent PLUS Loan borrowers become subject to the new $20,000 annual and $65,000 aggregate loan limits.

What if a Parent PLUS Loan borrower needs more than the annual borrowing limit, or reaches the aggregate limit before the student graduates?

Reach out to the One Stop Delhi Student Services Office about other financing options, like external scholarships, payment plans, or private loans.

Can a new student’s parent get a Parent PLUS Loan for 2026–27 under the time‑limited Legacy exception if they apply before July 1, 2026?

No. The loan would need to be disbursed (paid) before July 1, 2026 and loans will not disburse for Fall 2026 until at least 10 day prior to the start of the full session in August. 

Does changing majors disqualify Parent PLUS borrowing under the Legacy exception?

No, as long as the student remains within the same program of study and same degree type at the same institution.

 

Example 1: The student changes from an Accounting major to a Business major at the same school. Both are Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree programs, so the student has changed from one BBA program to another BBA program. This student stays within the bachelor's degree type, so they can change majors and are still enrolled in the same program of study for purposes of qualifying for the parent PLUS legacy limits.

 

Example 2: The student changes from the Veterinary Technology major (which is a BS degree) to the Healthcare Management major (which is a BBA degree) at the same school. This student stays within the bachelor's degree type (BS to BBA), so they can change majors and are still enrolled in the same program of study for purposes of qualifying for the parent PLUS legacy limits.

 

Example 3: The student changes from an associate's degree to a bachelor's degree at the same school. This student does not stay within the same degree type, so they have changed program of study and no longer qualify for the parent PLUS legacy limits.

The same applies if the student transfers from a bachelor’s degree to a master's degree.

 

Example 4 (Transfer Students): The student transfers from a BBA in Accounting from a college in NYC into a BBA in Accounting at SUNY Delhi. While this student stays within the same degree type, they are not enrolled in the same program of study at the same school and no longer qualify for the parent PLUS legacy limits.

 

What does the expected time to credential mean and how do I calculate it for the Legacy exception?

The Expected Time to Credential is the published length of your program by SUNY Delhi.  For example, an associate's degree is 2 years  and a bachelor’s degree is 4 years.

 

For students who are already enrolled, starting July 1, 2026, the legacy exception looks at how long the student is expected to need to finish their program. This expected time is whichever of the following is shorter:

  • Three academic years (as defined in federal regulations), OR
  • The time left in the student’s specific program, which is calculated by taking:
  • the full length of the published program, minus
  • the part of the program the student has already completed as of the date you make the determination.

Example 1:

The student is in a bachelor’s program that has a published program length of 4 years.

The student completes their first year at the end of 2025-26 and is scheduled to return for their second year in 2026-27.

According to the program length, they should be enrolled:

  • 2025-26 – Year 1  
  • 2026-27 – Year 2
  • 2027-28 – Year 3
  • 2028-29 – Year 4 (graduates)

The student's parents borrowed $20,000 in parent PLUS funds for the 2025-26 academic year.

Q1) Can the parent borrow under the legacy limits?

A1) Yes. The student’s parents would qualify for a PLUS loan under the interim exception.
This is because the student’s expected time to complete the credential is the lesser of:

  1. Three years, or
  2. The remaining length of the program, calculated as:
    • Total program length: 4 years
    • Time already completed: 1 year
    • Time remaining: 4 − 1 = 3 years

Since the remaining program length is 3 years, the borrower has 3 years of eligibility under the interim exception.

 

Q2) When would the parent no longer be eligible for the legacy limit?

A2) After the 2028-29 academic year. If this borrower enrolled in 2029-30, the interim exception would have expired and they would no longer be eligible for the exception. Additionally, this student would lose interim exception eligibility earlier if they withdrew or otherwise ceased to be enrolled in the program of study at any point after receiving the interim exception.

Q3) If the parents borrowed at least $65,000 aggregate in parent PLUS when the student reaches the period where they lose interim exception eligibility, what is the student’s eligibility for parent PLUS funds when the student returns to school at that time?

A3) During the student’s expected time to credential, the parents are not subject to the aggregate loan limit of $65,000; however, when the exception expires, the limit kicks in and looks at all that has been borrowed. If the parents borrowed at least $65,000 on the student’s behalf, they have exhausted their eligibility.

Academic Year

Period Enrolled

Interim Exception Status

2025-26

Year 1

N/A

2026-27

Year 2

Interim Exception Year 1

2027-28

Year 3

Interim Exception Year 2

2028-29

Year 4

Interim Exception Year 3

2029-30

Year 5 (if enrolled)

Exception expired – new loan limits apply
Will these changes impact my loans if I enroll in summer courses?

It could. Most changes are expected to go into effect by July 1, 2026 and depending on your situation, you may need to borrow under the new loan regulations.

How much should a parent borrow in a Parent PLUS loan under the new regulations?

On the Parent PLUS Loan application, parents should only select the “maximum amount” option if they wish to borrow the full $20,000 for the year.

To ensure adequate Parent PLUS Loan eligibility for the duration of the student’s undergraduate program, parents may request a lesser amount on the application.

For example, request $16,250 per year for total (aggregate) eligibility to be split equally for a four-year program.

Parent PLUS Loan Chart

What is NOT impacted by the new loan limit regulations?

The annual and aggregate loan limits for an undergraduate student (2, 4 and 5 year programs) are not changing.  The only part that is changing is if attending part-time, the loans are subject to the new part-time schedule of reduction.

The annual loan limit for Graduate Unsubsidized loans is not changing.  The only changes includes new limits to the aggregate and (new) lifetime limits, as well as being subject to the new part-time schedule of reduction.

Students may still qualify for loan forgiveness (through PSLF or TBF) under the new Repayment Assistance Program (RAP).


OBBBA Q&A: PART-TIME ENROLLMENT

Am I eligible for a loan if I attend part-time?

Yes, if taking at least 6 degree applicable credits. However, the amount you can borrow will change starting in 2026-27 based on the new Loan Schedule of Reduction regulation.

As of July 1, 2026, student that enroll part-time (less than 12 credits) or whose enrollment drops to part-time (from full-time), will need their loans reduced in accordance with changes to the law.

Students thinking of enrolling part-time or dropping a class should contact the One Stop to understand the implications first.


OBBBA Q&A: REPAYMENT

What are the changes to repayment for the Parent PLUS Loan?

Any federal Parent PLUS Loans borrowed on or after July 1, 2026 (including federal consolidation loans that include Parent PLUS Loans) can only be repaid under a single new, fixed repayment plan.

The tiered standard repayment plan offers a fixed monthly payment over 10 to 25 years, based on the outstanding balance of the loan(s).

• This applies to parent borrowers with existing Parent PLUS Loans who borrow a new loan on or after July 1, 2026.

•  Parents who currently have Parent PLUS loans in repayment and borrow a Parent PLUS Loan on or after July 1, 2026, will have all of their Parent PLUS Loans moved to the tiered standard repayment plan, potentially changing the monthly payment amount.

•  Current Parent PLUS Loan borrowers may repay their loans under the current repayment plans until their loans are fully repaid, but only if they do not borrow new Parent PLUS Loans on or after July 1, 2026.

•Parent PLUS Loan borrowers who consolidated their Parent PLUS Loans into a Direct Consolidation Loan before July 1, 2026, may repay their loans under the income-contingent repayment (ICR) plan through June 30, 2028, at which point that plan will sunset, and Parent PLUS Loan borrowers repaying under ICR will be moved to the income-based repayment (IBR) plan.

•Parents who want access to loan forgiveness for their Parent PLUS Loans must not borrow a new Parent PLUS Loan on or after July 1, 2026.

 

All information above is subject to change.

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2026-27 FAFSA Processing Delays

 

The 2026–27 FAFSA will have a processing delay at the end of April because of federal system updates scheduled for April 26, 2026 to implement changes from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).

What does this mean for students? The FAFSA will still be available, but submitting it near or after this date may delay financial aid offers until at least the end of May 2026.  Submit the FAFSA by 4/15 to allow processing time before the end of month delay.

 

Admission Deposits: This delay overlaps with the May 1, 2026 Decision Day for new applicants, so students should complete the 2026–27 FAFSA at www.studentaid.gov/fafsa as soon as possible to receive their financial aid offer before the delay.

 

 

Important Note:Although May 1 is the traditional Decision Day, students are encouraged to submit their deposit early because many programs fill up quickly, sometimes before Decision Day.

 

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Fall 2026 New Student Finanical Aid Offers

New students that have been accepted for Fall 2026 and have completed the 2026-2027 FAFSA will start to receive their financial aid offer via their SUNY Delhi email, FAFSA student email, and SMS (if opted-in) as early as December 2025.  Students can still apply for financial aid by starting with the FAFSA application at studentaid.gov/fafsa.

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Fall 2026 NYS Excelsior Tuition Scholarship Application

Students from families earning $125,000 or less could receive a scholarship to cover up to the cost of their tuition, after other grants and scholarships are applied first. The Fall 2026 application opens in May 2026. 

Visit the Excelsior Scholarship webpage for more eligibility information and to apply. Returning recipients do not need to reapply for Excelsior but must submit the annual FAFSA and TAP application.  This scholarship will not cover other costs such as room, meals, or fees.

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Consent to Release Financial Aid & Billing Information

Individuals calling on behalf of the student must be authorized to discuss specific financial aid and billing account information.

Students may submit an online Financial Aid and Billing Consent to Release Information form at any time to authorize the offices of Student Financial Services and the One-Stop Delhi Student Services speak with individuals such as parents, guardians, relatives, counselors, employers etc. 

Visit our Forms webpage for instructions.

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Important Updates Regarding Spring Pell Grant Eligibility 

Students who are eligible for the Pell Grant should enroll in all spring courses before the Pell Recalculation Date (PRD). The PRD is a point in time when the Pell Grant will not adjust (up or down) based on changes made to a student’s schedule. Policy updates regarding Pell Recalculation Dates (PRD) can be found on the Important Policies webpage.

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Other Important Updates:

Apply for Scholarships!

Log into the Scholarship Universe platform to access SUNY Delhi campus based scholarships and external scholarship opportunities. Check back often as new scholarships are adding continuously! 

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SUNY Foster Youth College Success Initiative (FYCSI)

The FYCSI program provides financial aid support to eligible recipients.  All students - regardless of immigration status - are eligible to access funding and resources through FYCSI if they are determined eligible.  Check out the SUNY FYCSI website for eligibility criteria and if you believe you may be eligible, submit the FYCSI Consent form in the Student Forms Portal.

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Bronco Web Navigation Guide

Use our Bronco Web Navigation Guide for click-by-click financial aid and billing instructions.

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Questions?
Office of Admissions

118 Bush Hall