Helping You Navigate Federal Aid

Annual Loan Eligibility Changes

• Annual Loan Eligibility
  Your annual federal loan eligibility is initially determined based on factors such as your year in school, lifetime borrowing limits, and any loans borrowed at other institutions during the same FAFSA year.
• Less-Than-Full-Time Enrollment
  Beginning with the 2026–2027 award year, federal regulations require schools to reduce annual loan eligibility when a student is enrolled less than full time. Because your funding estimate assumes full-time enrollment, reducing your enrollment (even in future terms) may result in a reduction to your loan eligibility.
• Graduating Master’s Students
  Graduate students expected to complete their degree during the award year may see these required reductions reflected in their initial funding estimate based on their anticipated enrollment through graduation.

  Example: A master’s student expected to graduate after completing 9 credits during the 2026–2027 award year would only be enrolled in three of the five terms available. As a result, their annual loan limit of $20,500 would be reduced by 40% to $12,300, or approximately $4,100 per enrolled term.

Pell Grants

• New Eligibility Rules
  Even though fewer students may qualify under the new federal formula, Unity makes it easy to see where you stand. Just use our Net Price Calculator to get a quick, personalized estimate of your aid.
• Full-Time Enrollment Requirement
  At Unity, you can qualify for full-time Pell Grant benefits by taking as few as 3 credits per term (one course).

Student Loan Repayment

• Repayment Plans Are Changing
  Although some income-driven options like SAVE and PAYE are being phased out starting July 1, 2026, Unity can help you borrow smarter from the start.
• Fewer Deferment Options
  Deferments for hardship and unemployment may no longer be available for loans dispersed after July 1, 2027. That’s why Unity’s flexible learning model is more important than ever. Need a break? You can take a term off without disrupting your long-term goals.

Graduate Loan Limits

• Annual Borrowing Limit
  Beginning with the 2026–2027 award year, most graduate students may borrow up to $20,500 per year in Direct Unsubsidized Loans. The good news is, all of our graduate degrees fall under the new limit.
• Lifetime Borrowing Limit
  Graduate students are subject to a new $100,000 aggregate borrowing limit for graduate-level federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans. Undergraduate federal loans do not count toward this graduate-specific limit.
• Graduate PLUS Loans
  Beginning July 1, 2026, Graduate PLUS Loans are no longer available for new borrowers. Students who previously borrowed a Graduate PLUS Loan may qualify for a limited transition period if they remain enrolled in the same program.