"[Scholarships] were a literal lifeline. They particularly came in handy helping to pay for my books and freeing up enough money to buy the required scrubs."
Christine Bonaventure
Nursing Degree, Class of 2016
Do not let cost keep you from attending college and moving forward with your educational and career goals. Wake Tech can help you navigate the financial aid system to make costs more manageable and higher education more accessible. Our Financial Aid specialists can help you identify sources of assistance – some of which does not have to be repaid – answer questions about applying for aid and help you keep your aid as you progress toward your degree, diploma or certificate.
Wake Tech also has partnered with Inceptia, a nonprofit organization, to provide free assistance regarding student loan obligations to ensure you feel comfortable and can be successful in your loan repayment. Its counselors are there to help with every step by staying in touch via phone calls, letters or emails, and they will not be collecting money from you.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law on July 4, 2025, includes changes to federal financial aid programs that may affect students beginning with the 2026-27 academic year.
Wake Tech is reviewing guidance from the U.S. Department of Education. The information below reflects what we know at this time and may change as additional federal guidance becomes available.
Please check this page regularly for updates.
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:
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.
Students enrolled less than full time
Beginning in 2026-27, federal student loans will be based on your actual enrollment. Students must be enrolled in at least 6 credit hours to receive federal student loans. Students who enroll in fewer than 12 credits per semester will receive less than the annual maximum loan amount.
For financial aid purposes, undergraduate students are considered full-time when enrolled in and successfully complete a total of 24 credits during the Fall and Spring semesters.
Beginning with the 2026-27 academic year, students who receive W (Withdrawal) and/or F (Failing) grades may experience a reduction in their federal student loan eligibility if those grades cause their enrollment to fall below full-time status for the semester. Students are encouraged to carefully consider any enrollment changes and seek guidance from Academic Advising and the Financial Aid Office before withdrawing from a course.
Example: A student receives the maximum annual loan amount and enrolls in 12 credits in Fall and 12 credits in Spring. If the student withdraws from 6 Fall credits, the student's Spring loan eligibility will be reduced because total annual enrollment has decreased.
Your loan eligibility will be reviewed after the financial aid census date each semester.
If you drop classes, withdraw from courses and/or complete fewer credits than originally planned, your federal loan eligibility will be reduced.
Example: A student who completes 9 credits in Fall and 15 credits in Spring, for a total of 24 credits, will have no loan reduction. But a student who completes 9 credits in Fall and 12 credits in Spring, for a total of 21 credits, will have his or her federal loan amounts reduced.
Federal student loan repayment plans will be simplified into two primary options:
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.
In addition to financial aid to reduce the cost of attendance, Wake Tech offers a Tuition Payment Plan to split each semester's tuition and fees among multiple payments to make it easier on your budget.
If you are interested in non-degree workforce training, learn what financial support options are available at through Wake Tech's Propel program.
If you have questions or need assistance, please reach out through one of these methods:
Be sure to keep track of important deadlines throughout the aid application process, and make use of the available videos, links and other resources as you research and apply for aid.
"[Scholarships] were a literal lifeline. They particularly came in handy helping to pay for my books and freeing up enough money to buy the required scrubs."
Christine Bonaventure
Nursing Degree, Class of 2016
