This section is for students who are currently enrolled in an undergraduate program at Fort Lewis College and plan to continue in the same program during the 2026–27 academic year.
What is staying the same
Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loan limits for undergraduate students are not changing.
Undergraduate loan limits remain:
| Loan limit type |
Amount |
| Annual limit |
$5,500–$12,500, based on year in school and dependency status |
| Total limit for dependent students |
$31,000 |
| Total limit for independent students |
$57,500 |
What is changing
Parent PLUS loan limits
Parent PLUS loans will have new annual and lifetime borrowing limits. These limits are per student, not per parent borrower.
| Parent PLUS limit |
Amount |
| Annual limit |
Up to $20,000 per year, per student |
| Lifetime limit |
$65,000 total per student |
Some current students may qualify for a temporary exception. See "Temporary exception for some current undergraduate students" below.
Loan limits for part-time enrollment
If you enroll in fewer than 12 credits in a semester, your federal loan eligibility for that semester will be reduced.
For example, if you enroll in 6 credits for the fall semester, that is half of full-time enrollment. The portion of your annual loan limit available for fall will also be reduced by half.
If you plan to enroll part time, contact the Office of Financial Aid before the semester begins. Your federal loan eligibility will be lower, and we will help you review your options.
Pell Grant eligibility
Pell Grant eligibility rules are changing. These changes may affect how some income, assets, grants, and scholarships are counted.
Changes include:
- Family businesses (≤100 employees), family farms, and commercial fishing operation assets will be excluded.
- Income from foreign sources will be added to adjusted gross income (AGI).
- Students with an SAI ≥ $14,790 will not be eligible for Pell Grants.
- Students with total grants and scholarships from non-federal sources greater than or equal to the total estimated cost of attendance will not be eligible for Pell Grants.
Temporary exception for some current undergraduate students
Some current undergraduate students may qualify for a temporary exception to the new Parent PLUS loan limits.
You may qualify if all of these are true:
- You are enrolled as of June 30, 2026.
- You or your parent borrowed a federal loan for your current academic program before July 1, 2026.
- You stay in the same academic program through graduation.
If you qualify, your parent will be able to continue borrowing Parent PLUS loans under the previous limits for up to three academic years or until you finish your program, whichever comes first.
You may lose this exception if you:
- Take a leave of absence.
- Withdraw from your FLC academic program.
- Change academic programs.
- Stop meeting eligibility requirements.
The temporary exception does not apply to all changes. Reduced loan eligibility for part-time enrollment and updated Pell Grant eligibility rules begin July 1, 2026.
What to do next
Contact the Office of Financial Aid if:
- You plan to enroll part time.
- You are unsure whether you qualify for a temporary exception.
- You need help understanding your aid options.