As colleges across the country prepare for major changes to federal student aid, Rockhurst University leaders say the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will introduce new financial challenges for some students, but should not bring about sweeping disruption.

The bill, signed into law on July 4, touched on many policy areas: increasing tax cuts and spending on military and immigration enforcement, while cutting funding in areas like health coverage, food assistance, clean energy and higher education. Student debt, particularly at the graduate level, is one of the main areas impacted by the law. Beginning July 1, 2026, federal borrowing limits for graduate students will tighten and the federal Grad PLUS loan will be eliminated for new borrowers.

Under the bill, students in standard graduate programs will be limited to $20,500 per year and $100,000 lifetime in federal loans beyond what they borrowed as undergraduates. Rockhurst President Sandra Cassady explained that these changes will affect students differently depending on their program.

“Tuition and fees for a majority of Rockhurst’s graduate programs are below $45,000,” Cassady said. “Doctoral programs and some master’s degrees are higher.”

Cassady added that the federal list of “professional programs,” which are allowed higher borrowing limits, is still evolving and may change as legal challenges are filed. A recent proposal by the Department of Education omitted nursing—a graduate program at Rockhurst—from professional programs eligible for federal loans.

Cassady emphasized that current students and those enrolling before the transition deadline still have access to the existing loan system. “The good news is that students entering this summer remain eligible to apply for Grad PLUS loans before June 30, 2026,” she said. “We will ensure students know about these opportunities.”

When asked whether departments might lower tuition, restructure programs or expand assistantships in response to the law, Cassady said Rockhurst already plans programs with cost and access in mind.

“At Rockhurst, we keep factors such as affordability, time to degree and return on investment in mind when establishing and revising programs,” Cassady said, pointing to early-entry graduate pathways as one example.

The bill also imposes new caps on Parent PLUS loans, a change that could affect families who rely heavily on federal aid. Cassady noted that only “6–7% of families have used the Parent PLUS loan in recent years,” but said the university has begun preparing students and parents for the shift.

“We proactively educate our families about federal loans, new caps and private lending opportunities,” she said. The university’s financial aid office is gathering additional information to help families understand their alternatives.

Rockhurst is also watching new federal rules that will measure programs based on graduates’ earnings. The university expects to meet the reporting requirements without major changes. “Rockhurst’s Office of Institutional Effectiveness has experience in tracking earnings for gainful employment,” Cassady said. “We will continue to build the database for monitoring and reporting this required data.”

Another portion of the new law expands federal taxes on university endowments, but Cassady said Rockhurst will not be affected. “To be taxed, a college or university needs to have an endowment that exceeds $500,000 or more per full-time equivalent student,” she said. “This will not impact Rockhurst.”

Rockhurst’s endowment stood at $36 million at the end of the 2023 fiscal year, according to data it submitted to the National Center for Education Statistics.

The new law also encourages colleges to offer short-term credential programs that qualify for new Workforce Pell Grants. Cassady explained that Rockhurst is evaluating opportunities but remains early in the process.

“We are at the early stages of considering how best to serve more adult learners in mission-centric programs,” Cassady said. Adding that the university is already creating shorter-term micro-credentials focused on skill development.

Despite the wide reach of the federal changes, Rockhurst does not expect to eliminate academic programs. “Currently, we are not foreseeing the need to close a program due to the implementation of this new legislation,” Cassady said.

As the 2026 rollout approaches, Cassady said the university’s response will continue to prioritize affordability and student support. “We will ensure students know their options.”