FAFSA and Medical School loan availability (Fall 2026)

[Anonymous]

It appears that only military vets are exempted from including parents income/assets for FAFSA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We paid for kid’s medical school and let me tell you it is expensive. Help them if you are able to.

+1. Schools need the parent information to determine who **genuinely** needs financial aid from the school.

They can still get their federal loans and go onto the private market for more. If you, as a parent who has the means to help chooses not to-- well, you do you.

[Anonymous]

The change you’re referring to for federal student loans — specifically for professional students — goes into effect July 1, 2026 for the 2026-2027 academic year.
myUSF
+4
UC Law SF
+4
Office of Student Financial Aid
+4
Here are the key details:
Under the new law, for students first borrowing federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans (or other relevant federal student loans) on or after July 1, 2026, the annual borrowing limit for “professional” students (programs like law, medicine, dentistry, etc.) will be $50,000 per year.
TICAS
+3
myUSF
+3
UC Law SF
+3
The lifetime (aggregate) limit for professional students will be $200,000.
Holland & Knight
+2
UC Law SF
+2
This change is part of a broader reform package (sometimes referred to in reporting as the “Big Beautiful Bill”) that also eliminates the Grad PLUS loan program for new borrowers as of July 1, 2026.
Drake University
+1
There is a “legacy provision” (grandfather) for students who already took out loans before July 1, 2026: they may continue under the prior rules for up to three academic years (or until program completion) in some cases.
UC Law SF
So in answer to your direct question: the switch to the “$50,000 annual limit for professional students” applies to loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2026 (i.e., for the 2026-2027 academic year).
If you like, I can check how this affects students who matriculate in 2026 but borrowed earlier, or what “professional” specifically means for different programs. Would you like that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

it's not crazy – every single family who could pay would say their 24-year-old cannot possibly attend without scholarships and loans if that was the case.


This. I worked at a top private law school. All the rich kids want to claim their parents aren’t helping. Doesn’t matter, their income is taken into account.

Even if it’s true that families who can afford to pay would claim that - why shouldn’t they do that? If you support your kid through college and they are a self-sufficient adult, 25 years old with no financial connection to their parents, why do we assume the parents should pay for medical school (or law school, etc.)? At what point is it ok for parents to bear no financial obligation for their kids, so that financial aid is an option? I think if a kid has been financially independent for years, there should be no attribution of parental ability to pay.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

it's not crazy – every single family who could pay would say their 24-year-old cannot possibly attend without scholarships and loans if that was the case.


This. I worked at a top private law school. All the rich kids want to claim their parents aren’t helping. Doesn’t matter, their income is taken into account.

Even if it’s true that families who can afford to pay would claim that - why shouldn’t they do that? If you support your kid through college and they are a self-sufficient adult, 25 years old with no financial connection to their parents, why do we assume the parents should pay for medical school (or law school, etc.)? At what point is it ok for parents to bear no financial obligation for their kids, so that financial aid is an option? I think if a kid has been financially independent for years, there should be no attribution of parental ability to pay.

We aren’t expecting you to pay, but your kid isn’t getting need based aid either. Don’t worry - there is way less need-based aid in grad programs. It’s not like undergrad because the assumption is that the post schooling job will cover the debt. And kids of rich families are still privileged - they usually have no undergrad debt, a car is just given to them, free vacations, they often receive large monetary gifts, rent deposits, cell phones, insurance payments, etc. So just because you aren’t helping them with grad school doesn’t mean they aren’t coming from a place of privilege over a poor kid.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, OP, but all professional schools look at parents' income. My kid is going to Harvard Law at $120K a year, and we are on the hook and file the FAFSA even though DS is 27. No one has mentioned it, but there is a total lifetime cap, too, of $200K, which includes previously taken undergrad loans:

Starting July 1, 2026: Professional students (for example, those in medicine, law, or similar licensure-based programs) may borrow up to $50,000 per year, with a lifetime limit of $200,000 in federal Unsubsidized Loans. Other graduate students may borrow up to $20,500 per year, with a lifetime limit of $100,000.

[Anonymous]

At what age do they no longer look at parents assets? I'm 51. If I were to go to med school, I doubt anyone would ask about my mom's pension and assets. So when do the strings get cut?

[Anonymous]

Just to say the obvious, if wealthy parents aren't expected to pay then who exactly does pay?

And don't get started on a 500k income and 5 mil net worth isn't wealthy.

I guess parents can also make loans themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, OP, but all professional schools look at parents' income. My kid is going to Harvard Law at $120K a year, and we are on the hook and file the FAFSA even though DS is 27. No one has mentioned it, but there is a total lifetime cap, too, of $200K, which includes previously taken undergrad loans:

Starting July 1, 2026: Professional students (for example, those in medicine, law, or similar licensure-based programs) may borrow up to $50,000 per year, with a lifetime limit of $200,000 in federal Unsubsidized Loans. Other graduate students may borrow up to $20,500 per year, with a lifetime limit of $100,000.

OP here...yes, I know all the new rules surrounding borrowing and lifetime/yearly caps on professional schools.

My DD has already filed her FAFSA...without our parental info.

Do we go back and edit the FAFSA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, OP, but all professional schools look at parents' income. My kid is going to Harvard Law at $120K a year, and we are on the hook and file the FAFSA even though DS is 27. No one has mentioned it, but there is a total lifetime cap, too, of $200K, which includes previously taken undergrad loans:

Starting July 1, 2026: Professional students (for example, those in medicine, law, or similar licensure-based programs) may borrow up to $50,000 per year, with a lifetime limit of $200,000 in federal Unsubsidized Loans. Other graduate students may borrow up to $20,500 per year, with a lifetime limit of $100,000.

OP here...yes, I know all the new rules surrounding borrowing and lifetime/yearly caps on professional schools.

My DD has already filed her FAFSA...without our parental info.

Do we go back and edit the FAFSA?

Yes. For a smart kid why did she do that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ My DD worked for two years after college and was not claimed as a dependent on our taxes. FAFSA still requires parental income information in order to qualify for aid. Our income was too high for her to qualify for aid, despite us believing that it’s crazy that our income mattered since she was a self-supporting adult.

it's not crazy – every single family who could pay would say their 24-year-old cannot possibly attend without scholarships and loans if that was the case.

I get that for undergrad, but for graduate school???? A 24 yo is an adult. The parents are not responsible for them!! The app stated their 24 yo had graduated and worked for 2 years. They are fully independent...doesn't matter what mommy and daddy are worth

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What the PPs have said. Think of med and law the same. Your parents have money? You pay-- Especially after BBB. The school should have an aid advisor but the days of 250k+ student loans for med/law school are gone.

Why should the PARENTS pay?!?!? A 22yo is no longer my responsibility. They are a full fledged adult.

This is ridiculous

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to med school at age 30 , after I had been making 6 figures for a few years. They still wanted my parents financial info.

Yep same and I was married!

And that is beyond stupid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We paid for kid’s medical school and let me tell you it is expensive. Help them if you are able to.

+1. Schools need the parent information to determine who **genuinely** needs financial aid from the school.

They can still get their federal loans and go onto the private market for more. If you, as a parent who has the means to help chooses not to-- well, you do you.

So a 24 yo who is independent, has worked a job for 2-3 years post undergrad should expect their parents to still fund education? Nope, they are an adult. If parents want to help great, but no parent should be required to help their 22-30+ kid with grad school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

it's not crazy – every single family who could pay would say their 24-year-old cannot possibly attend without scholarships and loans if that was the case.


This. I worked at a top private law school. All the rich kids want to claim their parents aren’t helping. Doesn’t matter, their income is taken into account.

Even if it’s true that families who can afford to pay would claim that - why shouldn’t they do that? If you support your kid through college and they are a self-sufficient adult, 25 years old with no financial connection to their parents, why do we assume the parents should pay for medical school (or law school, etc.)? At what point is it ok for parents to bear no financial obligation for their kids, so that financial aid is an option? I think if a kid has been financially independent for years, there should be no attribution of parental ability to pay.

We aren’t expecting you to pay, but your kid isn’t getting need based aid either. Don’t worry - there is way less need-based aid in grad programs. It’s not like undergrad because the assumption is that the post schooling job will cover the debt. And kids of rich families are still privileged - they usually have no undergrad debt, a car is just given to them, free vacations, they often receive large monetary gifts, rent deposits, cell phones, insurance payments, etc. So just because you aren’t helping them with grad school doesn’t mean they aren’t coming from a place of privilege over a poor kid.

Why shouldn't a 24 yo get need based aid based upon their own adult financial situation? They literally are an adult and don't have access to their parents money. It's not theirs to do with whatever they want.