In May 2026, the U.S. Department of Education released rules that created a difference in the amount of Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans that students in graduate and professional programs can borrow annually. Prior to this, there was no distinction between the limits for these programs, as students in both were eligible to borrow up to $20,500 per year. These final rules set the annual limit to $50,000 for programs that meet the professional program definition outlined in the regulations. At that time, JMU did not have any programs that met this definition.

On June 24, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia imposed a preliminary stay on the U.S. Department of Education’s definition of a professional degree program for purposes of eligibility for the $50,000 annual loan limit. This order added the following JMU programs as qualifying professional programs. 

•  Audiology (AuD)
•  Speech Language Pathology (SLP)
•  Physician Assistant (PA)
•  Athletic Training (MAT)
•  Occupational Therapy (OT)
•  Registered Nurse (MSN)

Under the authority granted to institutions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (a.k.a. Working Families Tax Cut Act), JMU is setting the loan limit for the following programs at $20,500, rather than the $50,000 limit possible under the court-ordered preliminary stay. This means all JMU graduate, professional, and doctoral programs have a $20,500 maximum annual limit for the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan. The primary reason for this decision is that the court order is preliminary and temporary, meaning it could be reversed, which would reduce loan limits for these programs back down to the $20,500 limit. Our concern is the potential harm to students if we award them $50,000 and then the stay is overturned; if that happens, it could put students in a challenging financial situation.

JMU will continue to monitor the situation. Should the order become permanent, we will re-evaluate the loan limits associated with these programs in relation to the $50,000 limit.