Beginning with 2026–27, federal law requires applicable federal student loan limits to be adjusted for students enrolled less than full-time.
This is called the Schedule of Reductions (SOR).
At UCF, full-time enrollment is generally:
- Undergraduate: 12 or more credit hours per term
- Graduate: 9 or more credit hours during fall and spring or 6 or more during summer
Certain graduate students completing thesis or dissertation requirements may qualify as full-time with fewer hours based on applicable requirements.
Students must still meet federal half-time enrollment requirements to receive a Direct Loan.
Related FAQs
Students should make enrollment decisions based on their academic plan and progress toward their degree—not solely for financial aid purposes. After the regular add/drop period, students must follow UCF’s normal Late Add process. Approval is not guaranteed, and adding a course does not guarantee additional financial aid eligibility.
Some federal student loans requiring SOR processing may require additional processing time while UCF completes the federally required calculation.
This is not a general financial aid disbursement delay. Full-time students are not part of the SOR population.
For an affected student, other eligible aid—including Pell Grants, Bright Futures, scholarships, and other state and institutional aid—will continue through the normal disbursement process.
Yes, depending on your individual circumstances. If your federal student loan is reduced and your remaining financial aid is not enough to cover your charges, you could have an outstanding balance on your student account.
Review your financial aid and student account carefully and contact Student Financial Assistance if you need help understanding your options.
Yes. Federal Pell Grant eligibility rules changed beginning with 2026–27.
Among the changes:
- Certain foreign earned income is now considered when determining Pell Grant eligibility.
- Students whose Student Aid Index meets or exceeds the federal maximum threshold for Pell eligibility generally cannot receive a Pell Grant.
- Students generally cannot receive a Pell Grant when their non-federal grants and scholarships equal or exceed their full Cost of Attendance.
Individual eligibility varies, and applicable federal exceptions may apply.
The existing annual and aggregate Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loan limits for undergraduate students did not change.
Yes. Accepting a federal student loan does not guarantee that the full accepted amount will ultimately be eligible for disbursement. Federal eligibility must be confirmed before funds are disbursed.
For students who are subject to SOR, enrollment level is now one of the factors that can affect the final eligible loan amount.
No. Students enrolled full-time are not subject to an SOR reduction based on their enrollment level.
UCF’s SOR processing will not cause financial aid for full-time students to be held.
UCF must apply the required federal calculation to determine the amount of federal student loan for which you are eligible based on your enrollment and individual circumstances.
If you are affected, UCF will provide additional information about your federal student loan eligibility.
Yes. For student borrowers subject to the new rules, there is a $257,500 lifetime maximum aggregate limit on applicable federal student loans. The lifetime student limit does not include Parent PLUS Loans borrowed by a parent on behalf of a dependent student.
No. SOR is a federal student loan requirement. UCF is required to apply the federal eligibility rules when determining the amount of an affected student’s federal student loan.
Possibly not immediately. Federal law (One Big Beautiful Bill) provides a temporary exception for certain continuing students and parent borrowers who meet the eligibility requirements.
If the exception applies, a parent may temporarily remain eligible under the previous Parent PLUS borrowing rules for the shorter of the federally permitted exception period or the student’s remaining expected time to complete the program.
UCF will determine whether the exception applies based on the student’s and borrower’s federal aid records.
For graduate students subject to the new federal rules:
- New Graduate PLUS Loans are no longer available beginning July 1, 2026.
- The annual Direct Unsubsidized Loan limit is generally $20,500.
- The graduate aggregate limit is $100,000.
Some continuing graduate students may qualify for a temporary federal exception allowing certain previous loan provisions to continue for a limited period.
For students in programs meeting the federal definition of a professional program and who are subject to the new rules:
- The annual Direct Unsubsidized Loan limit is generally $50,000.
- The professional aggregate limit is $200,000.
- New Graduate PLUS borrowing is no longer available.
At UCF, the Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) is currently the program classified as a professional program under the applicable federal definition.
The 2026–27 FAFSA includes changes to how certain family assets are treated when calculating the Student Aid Index.
Certain assets are no longer included in the FAFSA asset calculation, including qualifying family-owned small businesses, family farms on which the family resides, and qualifying family-owned commercial fishing businesses.
These changes may affect the Student Aid Index for some families but do not guarantee that a student will receive additional financial aid.
New federal legislation (One Big Beautiful Bill) changes several federal student aid requirements beginning with the 2026–27 academic year.
Changes affect areas including:
- The FAFSA and Student Aid Index (SAI)
- Federal Pell Grant eligibility
- Federal student loan eligibility for less-than-full-time enrollment
- Parent PLUS Loan limits
- Graduate and professional student borrowing
- Federal student loan lifetime limits
- Federal student loan repayment options
Not every change affects every student. Your individual financial aid eligibility depends on your circumstances.
For parent borrowers subject to the new federal limits beginning July 1, 2026:
- Parent PLUS borrowing is limited to $20,000 per year for each dependent undergraduate student.
- The aggregate Parent PLUS limit is $65,000 per dependent undergraduate student.
The aggregate limit applies to borrowing on behalf of that student, including applicable prior Parent PLUS borrowing.
Adding, dropping, or withdrawing from a course can affect financial aid eligibility.
Under the new federal requirements, a reduction in enrollment may require federal student loan eligibility to be reviewed or recalculated. In some circumstances, a change after disbursement could result in loan funds being returned and a balance being created on your UCF account.
Before changing enrollment, students are encouraged to consider both the academic and financial consequences.
Students awaiting financial aid may be eligible to apply for UCF’s Short Term Advance.
The advance can help with eligible immediate educational expenses such as books and supplies and, in some circumstances, housing and food. The advance is repaid when the student’s financial aid disburses. Eligibility requirements apply.
Federal law provides a temporary exception from certain new loan limits for eligible continuing borrowers. Eligibility depends on factors including whether the student was enrolled in the applicable program and had qualifying federal loan activity before July 1, 2026.
Eligible students will have a tuition and fee deferment, protecting them from receiving an initial late fee and being dropped from classes for nonpayment while eligible financial aid is being processed. Students should review their individual account to confirm their deferment status during the second week of classes.