PROFESSIONAL STUDENT OVERVIEW

One Big Beautiful Bill Act

This overview address common concerns about changes to financial aid for professional students. This page will be updated as we hear more questions and concerns and as we gain more federal guidance. For a fuller overview of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, please visit Legislative Updates.

What is a Professional Program?

A professional program is a graduate degree program that meets specific criteria set by the U.S. Department of Education. This designation is used to determine how much a student can borrow in federal student loans. This designation does not refer to the “professionalism” of a program or career. 

At Oregon State University, the following programs are considered professional programs:

• Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)

If you are enrolled in one of these programs, your federal loan limits are different from other graduate students. If you are not enrolled in one of these programs, please see Graduate Aid Basics. 

Legacy Provisions

Your specific loan limits depend on whether you qualify for legacy provisions. To qualify for legacy provisions, you must meet all of the following requirements. 

• Be currently enrolled in an eligible program
• Have began your program before July 1, 2026
• Have borrowed a federal student loan for this program before July 1, 2026
• Have continuously enrolled without taking a break (excluding summer term)

If you qualify, you can continue borrowing under legacy provisions for up to three years (through the end of the 2028-29 academic year) or until you are expected to complete your program - whichever comes first. 

You will lose your legacy status if you:

• Take a break from enrollment (excluding summer term), or
• Change your degree program on or after July 1, 2026

Loan Limits for Students with Legacy Status

Doctor of Pharmacy

Annual Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan limit or full-time students:

• $33,000 (years 1-3)
• $37,167 (year 4)

Aggregate lifetime limit for all Federal Direct Loans (subsidized and unsubsidized combined):

• $224,000 (includes undergraduate loans)

Grad PLUS Loans:

• Available up to your estimated cost of attendance, minus other aid
• No aggregate lifetime limit

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

Annual Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan limit or full-time students:

• $40,500 (years 1-3)
• $47,167 (year 4)

Aggregate lifetime limit for all Federal Direct Loans (subsidized and unsubsidized combined):

• $224,000 (includes undergraduate loans)

Grad PLUS Loans:

• Available up to your estimated cost of attendance, minus other aid
• No aggregate lifetime limit

Loan Limits for Students Without Legacy Status

Students in both PharmD and DVM programs are subject to the same rules. 

Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans:

• Up to $50,000 per academic year
• $200,000 aggregate lifetime limit (excluding any undergraduate loans)

Grad PLUS Loans:

• Not available

What Other Funding Options are Available?

Private or Alternative Student Loans may be another option to help cover your additional expenses.