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Loan Proration for Less Than Full-Time Enrollment

Beginning with the 2026–2027 award year, a new federal requirement changes how Federal Direct Loan limits are calculated for students who are enrolled less than full-time.

Full-time for graduate students is defined as 6 credits per semester.  Full-time for undergraduate students is defined as 12 credits per semester.

For eligible loan periods beginning on or after July 1, 2026, students enrolled less than full-time may have their annual Federal Direct Loan limits reduced based on their enrollment status.

This change is required by federal law and is not a ½ñÈÕ´ó¹Ï policy.

What Is Changing?

In previous years, an eligible student enrolled at least half-time could generally qualify for the same annual Federal Direct Loan limit as a full-time student, subject to the student’s grade level, dependency status, cost of attendance, financial need, and other eligibility requirements.

Beginning with the 2026–2027 award year, annual Federal Direct Loan limits for students enrolled less than full-time must be reduced in accordance with a federal schedule of reductions.

This means that students who attend less than full-time may not be eligible to receive the full annual loan amount available to a full-time student.

Who May Be Affected?

This change may affect undergraduate, graduate, and professional students who:

• Receive a Federal Direct Loan;
• Are enrolled in a term-based academic program; and
• Attend less than full-time during the academic year.

Students must generally remain enrolled at least half-time to receive Federal Direct Loans.

At ½ñÈÕ´ó¹Ï, enrollment status may vary by academic level and program. Students should review their enrollment with Student Financial Services if they are unsure whether they are considered full-time or half-time.

How Will My Loan Amount Be Determined?

½ñÈÕ´ó¹Ï will review your enrollment and determine your Federal Direct Loan eligibility using the calculation and schedule required by the U.S. Department of Education.

Your final loan eligibility may depend on several factors, including:

• Your number of eligible credit hours;
• Your undergraduate, graduate, or professional student status;
• Your grade level;
• Your dependency status;
• Your annual federal loan limit;
• The length of your loan period;
• Your cost of attendance;
• Your financial need and other financial aid; and
• Federal aggregate or lifetime borrowing limits.

Financial aid offers may initially be based on anticipated enrollment. Your loans may be adjusted after ½ñÈÕ´ó¹Ï reviews your actual enrollment.

What Happens If I Drop a Class?

Adding, dropping, withdrawing from, or failing to begin attendance in a class may change your enrollment status and Federal Direct Loan eligibility.

If your enrollment changes from full-time to less than full-time, ½ñÈÕ´ó¹Ï is required to reevaluate your annual loan eligibility. This could reduce a future loan disbursement or the total amount you are eligible to borrow for the academic year.

A reduction in your financial aid could result in an outstanding balance owed to Jacksonville University.

Contact Student Financial Services before changing your schedule to discuss how the change may affect your financial aid and student account.

Will My Loans Be Canceled If I Am Less Than Full-Time?

Not necessarily.

Students may still qualify for Federal Direct Loans while enrolled less than full-time, provided they remain enrolled at least half-time and meet all other federal eligibility requirements. However, the maximum amount they are permitted to borrow may be reduced.

Students enrolled less than half-time are not eligible to receive a Federal Direct Loan disbursement.

Does This Change Affect Pell Grants?

The Federal Pell Grant already adjusts according to a student’s enrollment intensity. The new Federal Direct Loan requirement is separate from the calculation used for Pell Grants.

A change in your enrolled credit hours may affect both your Pell Grant and Federal Direct Loan eligibility, but each type of aid is calculated under different federal requirements.

Will This Affect Scholarships or Other Financial Aid?

The federal loan reduction requirement applies specifically to Federal Direct Loan limits. However, enrollment changes may also affect institutional scholarships, state grants, federal grants, athletic aid, veteran education benefits, and other forms of assistance.

Students should review the requirements for each award before changing their enrollment.

What If My Loan Has Already Been Disbursed?

If your enrollment changes after you have received a loan disbursement, Jacksonville University will be required to reevaluate your eligibility before releasing a future disbursement within the same loan period.

Depending on the timing of the enrollment change and the federal requirements that apply, your remaining loan eligibility may be reduced.

What If I Add Classes Later?

If you increase your enrollment, Student Financial Services may review your eligibility again. An increase in enrollment does not guarantee that additional loan funds will be available.

Additional eligibility will depend on federal loan limits, the timing of the enrollment change, your cost of attendance, the amount already borrowed, and all other applicable requirements.

Does This Apply to Every Academic Program?

The new federal enrollment-based loan reduction generally applies to eligible students enrolled in term-based programs.

What Should I Do?

To help prevent unexpected changes to your financial aid:

1. Register for the courses you intend to attend.
2. Confirm that each course applies toward your eligible degree program.
3. Review your financial aid and student account regularly.
4. Complete all outstanding financial aid requirements.
5. Contact Student Financial Services before dropping or withdrawing from a class.
6. Be prepared to make alternative payment arrangements if your loan eligibility is reduced.

Important Reminder

A financial aid offer is an estimate and may be revised based on your enrollment, eligibility, cost of attendance, receipt of additional assistance, changes in federal requirements, or other information received by ½ñÈÕ´ó¹Ï.

Federal guidance may be updated. ½ñÈÕ´ó¹Ï will revise this page as additional information becomes available from the U.S. Department of Education.

Questions?

Student Financial Services is available to help you understand how your enrollment may affect your financial aid.

Student Financial Services
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Email: sfs@ju.edu
Phone: 904-256-7060

Students are encouraged to contact Student Financial Services before making changes to their class schedules.

Current Parent PLUS Loan Borrowers

Beginning July 1, 2026, changes to the law affect how much parents can borrow from the Parent PLUS Loan program for their children’s college education and the available repayment options for those loans. There are no changes to how much undergraduate students can borrow.

Exceptions for Continuing Borrowers

New federal borrowing limits cap the Parent PLUS Loan at $20,000 per year and $65,000 in total, but the law allows for a time-limited exception to new loan limits for currently enrolled students:

In order for Parent PLUS Loan borrowers to not be subject to the new loan limits:

• 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
• Either
• 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.
• If the above requirements are met, the new Parent PLUS Loan limits do not apply while the student is completing their program, for up to 3 years, provided the student remains continuously enrolled (i.e., does not withdraw or otherwise cease enrollment outside of schedule breaks or non-required terms, such as summer).

Parents of current students who do not currently meet these criteria can still qualify for this limited exception to the loan limits if:

• The parent borrows a Parent PLUS Loan prior to July 1, 2026, OR
• The student borrows a Direct Loan (subsidized or unsubsidized) prior to July 1, 2026.

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.

Repayment Plan Changes

For Parent PLUS Loans taken out 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. This applies to parent borrowers with existing Parent PLUS Loans as well if they borrow a new loan on or after July 1, 2026.

More Information for Current Parents is available here from NASFAA:

New Parent PLUS Loan Borrowers

Borrowing Limits

There are new loan limits for the Parent PLUS Loan program. Parents are limited to borrowing $20,000 per dependent student, per academic year (annual limit) and $65,000 per dependent student, in total (aggregate limit). This amount is specifically per dependent student and not per parent--a student can only receive up to $20,000 in Parent PLUS Loans annually. 

Repayment Plan Changes

For Parent PLUS Loans taken out 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. This applies to parent borrowers with existing Parent PLUS Loans as well if they borrow a new loan on or after July 1, 2026.

More Information for New Parents is available here from NASFAA:

Changes for Graduate Students

• 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

Changes for Health Professions Students

What’s Changing

Starting July 1, 2026, the Graduate PLUS loan program will be eliminated unless students qualify for a limited exception.

There are also new Direct Unsubsidized Loan annual and total (aggregate) limits, based on whether students are considered graduate or professional students, and a new lifetime borrowing limit. Some health professions students will see higher annual and aggregate Direct Unsubsidized Loan eligibility, while others will qualify for lower amounts.

More information for Health Professions Students is available here through NASFAA:

Changes for Professional Students

What’s Changing

Starting July 1, 2026, the Graduate PLUS loan program will be eliminated unless students qualify for a limited exception.

The new annual Direct Unsubsidized Loan limit is $50,000. The new aggregate limit is $200,000 for a professional degree program, and a new lifetime federal loan limit of $257,500 for all Federal Direct student loans (excluding Graduate or Parent PLUS Loans) borrowed for all levels of study.

Students who qualify for the limited exception will also be exempt from the new Direct Unsubsidized annual, aggregate, and lifetime limits.

Limited Exception

Students may qualify for the limited exception for a maximum of three years, 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.

The limited exception also maintains the current annual limit of $20,500 for Direct Unsubsidized Loans, and is not subject to the new annual limit.

New Rules for Less Than Full-Time Enrollment

If students enroll part-time in 2026-27 or future years, their federal Direct Unsubsidized and/or Graduate PLUS Loans (if they qualify to borrow under the limited exception describe above) must be prorated in accordance with changes to the law.

Students thinking of enrolling part-time or dropping a class should talk to the financial aid office first to understand the implications.

Repayment Plan Changes

Students who borrow a new federal Direct Loan on or after July 1, 2026 will be eligible for limited repayment plan options. This applies to borrowers with existing loans in repayment if they borrow a new loan on or after July 1, 2026.

More Information for Professional Students can be found here from NASFAA: