US Student Loan Rules Set to Tighten in 2026

Several articles describe changes and considerations affecting borrowers. U.S. federal student-loan rules taking effect mainly in July 2026 will cap borrowing for graduate and Parent PLUS loans, end Grad PLUS for new borrowers, and replace existing repayment options with two plans; existing students may qualify for a transition period. For personal loans, advertised rates and fees vary substantially across lenders, so borrowers are advised to compare total costs and assess their ability to repay rather than focus only on headline rates. Separately, a state-approved business loan program offers qualifying applicants up to 30 years to repay at 4% interest. In Greece, a proposed rule would generally cap overdue loan debt at three times the original capital, require creditors to recalculate existing balances, and apply the cap automatically.