Financial Aid

Beginning with the 2026-27 academic year, some students who previously qualified for a Federal Pell Grant may no longer be eligible.

You may not qualify for a Pell Grant if:

• Your Student Aid Index (SAI) is equal to or greater than twice the maximum Pell Grant amount for the year.
• You receive enough non-federal grants and scholarships (state, institutional, employer or private scholarships) to cover your full cost of attendance.
• Certain foreign income that was previously excluded from FAFSA^® calculations will now be considered when determining eligibility.

Example: If the maximum Pell Grant for 2026-27 is $7,395, students with an SAI of $14,790 or higher would not qualify.

Parent PLUS Loans

New Parent PLUS Loan borrowers will be limited to $20,000 per year and $65,000 total per dependent student.

Parents who borrowed a PLUS Loan before July 1, 2026, may continue under the current rules for up to three years if the student remains continuously enrolled or until the student graduates, whichever occurs first.

Lifetime limits

Beginning July 1, 2026, most federal student loans borrowed by a student will count toward a combined lifetime borrowing limit of approximately $257,500.

To be considered full-time for the academic year (Fall and Spring semesters), undergraduate students must complete 24 credit hours. For most students, this means taking 12 credit hours in the Fall and another 12 in the Spring.

Beginning in Fall 2026, your Federal Direct Loan amount is based on how many credit hours you plan to complete during the academic year. If you enroll in fewer than 24 credit hours combined in the Fall and Spring semesters, your loan amount may be reduced.

Example: You are a first-year dependent student who qualifies for the maximum annual Federal Direct Loan of $5,500. You initially plan to take 12 credit hours in the Fall and 12 in the Spring. Because you are full-time for the year, you qualify for the full annual loan amount.

Before your Fall loan is paid, you drop from 12 credit hours to 9 credit hours in the Fall semester. Because you are now planning to complete 21 of 24 full-time credit hours, you are completing 88% of a full-time academic year.

As a result, your annual loan eligibility is reduced to 88% of the original amount. So, instead of receiving the full $5,500, your new annual loan limit becomes $4,840.

The Wake Tech Financial Aid Office will reduce your Fall loan disbursement to match your new eligibility. Your Spring loan remains as originally offered until your Spring enrollment is confirmed.

Example: Now, suppose your Fall loan has already been paid based on being enrolled in 12 credit hours, but afterward, you drop to 9 credit hours. You are now completing only 88% of a full-time academic year, so your annual loan eligibility is reduced to $4,840.

Because part of your loan has already been paid, one of two things may happen:

• You may owe some of the loan money you already received
• Your Spring loan amount may be reduced

Before your Spring loan is paid, the Wake Tech Financial Aid Office will review your enrollment to make sure your loan matches the number of credit hours you are expected to complete.

NOTE: Although a Federal Direct Loan is based on the number of financial aid-eligible credit hours you are expected to complete during the entire academic year, you must be enrolled in at least 6 financial aid-eligible credit hours during a semester to be eligible to receive a Federal Direct Loan during that semester.

So, if you are thinking about changing your class schedule, please contact the Wake Tech Financial Aid Office first so we can explain how the change may affect your financial aid before you decide.

Adding or dropping classes can affect:

• Your loan eligibility
• The amount of your loan
• Whether you owe money
• The amount you receive in future semesters

Federal student loan repayment plans will be simplified into two primary options:

• A standard repayment plan
• A new income-based repayment plan called the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP)

Wake Tech recommends that students contact their loan servicer or review information available from the U.S. Department of Education concerning federal loan repayment options before entering repayment.

Review your borrowing plans

Consider how these changes may affect your future financial aid eligibility.

Stay enrolled

Dropping or withdrawing from classes may affect the amount of student loans you can receive.

Check your financial aid regularly

Review your financial aid information and your Wake Tech email frequently for updates. Students can access their financial aid status, outstanding requirements, award information and important messages through Self-Service. Regularly monitoring both Self-Service and your Wake Tech email helps ensure you do not miss important deadlines or requests that could affect your financial aid eligibility.

Stay informed

Federal guidance is still being released. Wake Tech will provide updates as additional information becomes available.

Workforce Pell is designed to expand access to training that prepares students for high-skill, high-wage, in-demand careers. Eligible students may use federal Pell Grant funds to help pay for certain short-term workforce training programs.

More information is available on the Workforce Pell webpage.