Unsubsidized Loan Limits

Attention: ADEA Members
Your Voice Is Needed—Act Now!

Congress is considering changes to unsubsidized loans that could dramatically restrict access to dental education and other professional programs. Under proposed changes, beginning July 1, 2026, first-time borrowers would be faced with annual loan limits tied to the median cost of a student’s program—regardless of their actual tuition, locality or living expenses. The following new lifetime borrowing caps would also be imposed: 

• $50,000 for undergraduates, 
• $100,000 for graduate students and 
• $150,000 for professional students. 

The maximum borrowing limit for professional students would be $200,000, which represents $50,000 in unsubsidized undergraduate loans and $150,000 in unsubsidized professional student loans. There are no exceptions to the borrowing limits for health care professions.

For many oral health students, these changes would not come close to covering the true cost of their education. It could potentially force them to delay or forgo their education and undermine the future oral health workforce.

TAKE ACTION TODAY!
Send the Action Alert below to your U.S. Representative. Tell Congress to protect federal loan access and ensure that students can continue to pursue dental and other professional education without unreasonable financial barriers.

You can find your Representative’s contact information here, under the “View Your Election Center” section.

Thank you for standing up for oral health students and the future of oral health care.

Tim Leeth, ADEA Chief Advocacy Officer
leetht@adea.org 

ACTION ALERT

The future of oral health is at risk! You can make a difference.

Proposed changes to unsubsidized loans could severely limit access to education for countless students. New rules could cap annual loan amounts based on the median cost of a student’s program and set new aggregate limits—$50,000 for undergraduates, $100,000 for graduate students and $150,000 for professional programs.

These restrictions do not reflect the real costs of oral health education and could force students to delay or abandon their academic and career goals, especially in health care fields. This would have a devastating impact on the future oral health workforce and the communities they serve.

I urge you to oppose these limits and protect access to federal student loans.

A fair and flexible loan system is essential to ensuring that all students can pursue the education they need to succeed.

Thank you for standing up for oral health students, oral health education and greater access to oral health care!