GSW Website Search
- Apply
- About
- Academics
- Admissions
- Financial Aid
- Athletics
- Student Life
- myGSW
- A-Z Index
- Directory
- Map
- Visit
- Give
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) was signed into law on July 4, 2025 and includes changes to federal student financial aid programs. Most changes will take effect beginning with the 2026-2027 aid year (starting July 1, 2026).
While the law covers many areas, this page highlights what Georgia Southwestern State University students need to know. It is important to note that federal guidance is still being finalized, and details may change. The GSW Office of Student Financial Aid will continue to update this page as new guidance becomes available.
Office of Student Financial Aid
Canes Central
229-928-1378 phone
229-931-2061 fax
finaid@gsw.edu
Monday – Friday: 8:00am – 5:00pm
| Policy Area | Updates |
|---|---|
| Student Loan Proration | Borrowers enrolled less than full-time (12 hours) will only be able to borrow a prorated maximum loan offer based on enrolled hours. |
| Federal Pell Grant Eligibility | Ineligible to receive Pell if your cost of attendance is already covered by other non-federal grants and/or scholarships. Cost of attendance includes tuition, fees, housing, food, books, course materials, supplies, and equipment, transportation, and miscellaneous living expenses. |
| Parent PLUS Limits | $20,000 annual limit/$65K lifetime per dependent student |
*If the student or parent borrower has a Federal Direct Loan made before July 1, 2026, while the dependent student is enrolled in a program of study, the parent may be able to borrow under the old loan limits for 3 academic years or the remainder of their dependent student’s expected time to credential, whichever is less.
| Policy Area | Updates |
|---|---|
| Student Loan Proration | Borrowers enrolled less than full-time will be offered a prorated maximum unsubsidized loan based on enrollment. |
| Student Loan Limits | $20,500 academic year/$100K lifetime for graduate students |
| Borrowing Cap | $257,500 borrowing cap on all federal loans (Excludes Parent Plus loans, includes undergraduate federal loans and Graduate PLUS Loans) |
*Current graduate students can continue under the existing loan limits but only for a limited time. This eligibility lasts until the earlier of: (1) the end of their current academic program, or (2) three academic years. To determine how much eligibility a student has left, we must take the total length of their program and subtract the time they’ve already been enrolled. A “current borrower” is a student who borrowed at least one Direct Unsubsidized Loan before July 1, 2026, and who stays in the same academic program after that date.
Income-driven repayment plan options are changing: