Court Halts Loan Caps on Some Grad Degrees. What Does It Mean for You?

June 26, 2026 – In a USA Today article about the recent news that parts of the graduate student loan caps are temporarily paused, even as broader July 1 changes move forward, Stacey MacPhetres, senior director of education finance at Bright Horizons, shares insights on the topic.

The court pause makes eligibility for higher loan caps "temporarily uncertain until further guidance is issued," said Stacey MacPhetres, senior director of education finance at Bright Horizons. "While the guidance is unclear, it appears institutions may continue to rely on the prior definition of professional degree unless or until the court rules otherwise. Given the timing, students should proceed as planned for the upcoming academic year."

Read the full article here.