One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OB3) Financial Aid Guidance

Under the new regulations, federal Direct Loans will now be proportionally reduced based on your enrollment level. Previously, many students could receive a full loan amount as long as they were at least half-time. Starting July 1, 2026, if you are enrolled half-time (at least 6 credits), your loan eligibility will be roughly 50% of a full-time award.

No. The annual and aggregate loan limits for undergraduate students remain the same ($31,000 for dependent students and $57,500 for independent students). However, all loans now count toward a new total lifetime borrowing limit of $257,500, which includes any future graduate or professional studies you may pursue after transferring.

No, the new regulations limit the amount a student can receive for one semester to half of the annual maximum.

If you did not attend in the fall but begin in the spring, you may still be able to receive a federal Direct Loan for both spring and summer, as long as you are in an eligible program, enroll at least half time in each term you want to receive loan funds, and meet all other federal and CCAC requirements. The college will determine your eligibility when you submit your student loan requests for the spring and summer terms. Beginning with the 2026–27 aid year, loan amounts are adjusted  according to your enrollment at the time of disbursement.

Your fall loan will be prorated based on your enrollment at the time of disbursement, if you were enrolled in 12 credits when your loan disbursed your fall loan eligibility will not change. 

If you withdraw after your fall Direct Loan has been disbursed, federal regulations require CCAC to review how much of that aid you actually earned based on how far you were into the term. If you withdraw before completing more than 60% of the semester, we may have to return part of your fall loan to the U.S. Department of Education, which can create a balance you owe to the college or to the Department. If you owe an outstanding Title IV overpayment or have not repaid a resulting balance, you will not be able to receive additional federal aid when you return. As long as you resolve any balance, are not in default, and meet all other eligibility and satisfactory academic progress requirements, you can receive federal aid, including loans, when you come back next fall.

Yes. Starting in the 2026–27 award year, a student is ineligible for a Pell Grant if their Student Aid Index (SAI) is greater than twice the maximum Pell award for that year. For example, if the max Pell is $7,395, any student with an SAI of $14,790 or higher will not receive a Pell Grant.

Maybe. It depends on how your scholarship compares to your total Cost of Attendance (COA), which includes tuition, fees, books, and estimated living expenses.

If the total of all your non-federal grants and scholarships (including your private scholarship) is less than your COA, you can still receive your full Pell Grant eligibility, and any remaining Pell funds after your bill is paid can help with living expenses.

If the total of your non-federal grants and scholarships is equal to or higher than your COA, federal rules say you are not eligible for a Pell Grant unless some of your non-federal aid can be reduced so that the total is below your COA. If you"re not sure whether your scholarship is less than your COA, contact our Financial Aid Office and we can review your aid and tell you whether you can still receive Pell for living costs.

Yes, for new borrowers starting July 1, 2026, Parent PLUS Loans are now capped:

• Annual Limit: $20,000 per student.
• Lifetime Limit: $65,000 total per student.
• Note: If your parents borrowed a PLUS loan for you before July 1, 2026, they may be "grandfathered" into the old, uncapped rules for up to three years while you remain in the same program.

If you currently have loans and are required to choose a new plan (for example, you're on SAVE)

If you don't choose a new repayment plan by the deadline your loan servicer gives you, your servicer will generally move you to a default repayment plan rather than leaving your loans without a plan.

For many borrowers, that means:

• You'll be placed into a standard repayment plan (or the applicable standard plan for your loans).
• Your monthly payment may be significantly higher than it would be under an income-driven plan.
• You could lose the opportunity to make payments under a plan that's better suited to your income until you switch again (if you're eligible).

Under the new rules:

If your loans were first made on or after July 1, 2026

• You have two primary repayment options:
  • Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP), or
  • Tiered Standard Repayment Plan.
• If you don't make a choice, the Department of Education will automatically place you in the Tiered Standard Repayment Plan.

If your loans were made before July 1, 2026

• Borrowers with older Direct Loans generally retain access to different repayment options during the transition period, depending on their circumstances. If you're being required to leave SAVE or another phased-out plan, your servicer will notify you of your deadline. Failing to choose a new plan typically results in assignment to a standard repayment plan rather than an income-driven option. 

You won't automatically default

Simply failing to select a new repayment plan does not by itself put your loans into default. However:

• You'll still be responsible for making the payments required under the plan you're assigned,
• and missing those payments can eventually lead to delinquency and default