The Yale School of Public Health has announced a new student loan program aimed at supporting students impacted by recent federal loan changes. This initiative follows the elimination of the federal Grad PLUS loan program, which is set to take effect on July 1 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
In a social media post dated December 9, 2023, the school shared that the new loan option will provide terms that are “comparable, if not more competitive” than the previous Grad PLUS loans. The announcement emphasized the school’s commitment to aiding future students in both their academic pursuits and career development as public health professionals.
The Grad PLUS program previously allowed graduate students to borrow up to the full cost of attendance for their respective programs. With the new legislation signed into law by President Donald Trump last summer, the program will be discontinued starting in July 2024. This change is expected to affect millions of borrowers, as new borrowing caps and eligibility criteria will be implemented. Those who have already utilized Grad PLUS loans will retain their existing terms.
Beginning with the 2026-27 academic year, new students at the Yale School of Public Health will no longer have access to Grad PLUS loans. The school’s admissions webpage indicated, “We also anticipate changes to annual and overall loan limits, though we’re still waiting on final guidance from the Department of Education.”
Without the Grad PLUS program, graduate students will face borrowing caps of $20,500 per year and a lifetime limit of $100,000. Professional students, on the other hand, will be limited to $50,000 per year and a lifetime cap of $200,000. Notably, the legislation excludes nursing, social work, and public health degrees from its list of professional degrees, meaning these lower caps will apply to students in these fields.
The school’s announcement, titled “Yale stepping up to fill federal loan gap,” indicated that additional information and application materials regarding the new loan program would be forthcoming. However, no further details have been provided since that initial post.
In addition to navigating changes to student loans, Yale University is also contending with cuts to research funding and an increased tax on endowment investment returns. In early December, the university warned of potential layoffs as a response to budget shortfalls.
As the situation continues to unfold, students and faculty at the Yale School of Public Health are watching closely for updates regarding the new loan program and its implications for future educational financing.
