States Sue Over Graduate Student Loan Limits: States of Play

May 19, 2026, 6:32 PM UTC

States Sue Over Grad Student Loan Limits

A coalition of Democratic-controlled states is suing the Education Department over new caps on graduate student loans that critics say could cut the supply of candidates to fill jobs in demand, Tiana Headley reports.

The 2025 tax-and-spending law treated “professional” and “graduate” students differently. Professionals were given a $50,000 annual loan cap, up to $200 000 overall, while graduate students would be capped at $20,500 a year and $100,000. Only 11 degree programs—excluding many health-related fields—were deemed “professional” in the final department regulations.

Democratic and Republican lawmakers have raised concerns with Education ...

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