Guides / The new federal loan cap
The new federal loan cap, explained for optometry applicants
If you start optometry school in fall 2027, you'll be among the first classes borrowing under new federal rules. Most programs now cost more than the government will lend.
What changed
For new borrowers starting July 1, 2026, Grad PLUS loans are no longer available. Grad PLUS used to let professional students borrow up to the full cost of attendance. Now, federal loans for optometry students are capped at $50,000 a year and $200,000 in total.
Anything above that has to come from somewhere else: scholarships, savings, family help, or private loans, which usually carry market interest rates and fewer repayment protections than federal loans.
What it means school by school
The table estimates four years of tuition plus a living allowance. Public schools are shown at the out-of-state rate, with the in-state total alongside where we have it.
| School | Est. 4-yr, out-of-state | Above the cap | Est. 4-yr, in-state |
|---|---|---|---|
| UAB | $248,048 | $48,048 | $210,580 |
| NSU Oklahoma | $256,700 | $56,700 | — |
| Ferris State (MI) | $257,376 | $57,376 | Same rate |
| Incarnate Word | $260,748 | $60,748 | Same rate |
| Southern (SCO) | $267,608 | $67,608 | Same rate |
| Pikeville (KY) | $269,000 | $69,000 | Same rate |
| Detroit Mercy | $282,000 | $82,000 | Same rate |
| UMSL | $285,856 | $85,856 | $206,240 |
| Indiana | $288,704 | $88,704 | $238,572 |
| Houston | $292,816 | $92,816 | $214,016 |
| Nova Southeastern | $292,848 | $92,848 | Same rate |
| Rocky Mountain | $295,176 | $95,176 | Same rate |
| Ohio State | $295,208 | $95,208 | $210,984 |
| Chicago (Midwestern) | $298,536 | $98,536 | Same rate |
| Arizona (Midwestern) | $300,148 | $100,148 | Same rate |
| Illinois College (ICO) | $301,200 | $101,200 | Same rate |
| Pennsylvania (Drexel) | $306,240 | $106,240 | Same rate |
| Pacific | $316,672 | $116,672 | Same rate |
| Western U | $321,744 | $121,744 | Same rate |
| MCPHS | $335,040 | $135,040 | Same rate |
| New England (NECO) | $350,384 | $150,384 | Same rate |
| SUNY | $350,960 | $150,960 | $272,800 |
| Berkeley | $363,760 | $163,760 | $314,780 |
| SCCO/Ketchum | $365,520 | $165,520 | Same rate |
In-state figures marked approximate on each school's page are derived from published nonresident differentials or per-credit rates.
Ways to close the gap
- Apply to your in-state public school. It's usually the cheapest option by a wide margin.
- Ask about merit awards before you rule a school out. UAB's nonresident merit award, for example, goes to about 98% of out-of-state students.
- Look into service scholarships. Military (HPSP) and Indian Health Service programs pay tuition in exchange for years of service.
- Weigh cost of living as much as tuition. The same tuition costs $60,000 more over four years in a very high cost city than in a low-cost one.
- Ask about residency reclassification. A few public schools let students qualify for in-state tuition after the first year, but rules are strict and approval isn't guaranteed.
This is general information, not financial advice. Loan rules can change; confirm current limits with each school's financial aid office and studentaid.gov. Source: AOA summary of federal student aid changes for optometry students.