Key Information

Legacy Status Requirements

How long does the legacy status last?

The legacy status for eligible students lasts for the student’s calculated remaining time to credential* or 3 years (Fall 2026 through Spring 2029), whichever is less.

*Please note that this calculation is based on how long the student has been in the program at HT (based on time in the program, not credit hours attempted or earned at HT). If a student transfers into HT from the same program, the terms attended at the prior school are factored into the time to credential calculation.

Can a student lose their legacy status?

Yes – There are 3 ways a student can lose their legacy status:

• A student changes their program
  • Undergraduate student loss of legacy: the student would have to change their program type. Example: Switching from a Bachelor of Science to an Associates of Arts
  • Graduate/Doctoral student loss of legacy: the student would have to switch to a program outside of their current program’s four-digit Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code.
• Failing to maintain continuous enrollment – A student must be enrolled every fall and spring semester in each academic year. The summer semester is considered optional.
• Completing a Total Withdrawal 

What is a CIP Code and how do I find the CIP Code for my program?

Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) codes are used by the U.S. Department of Education to identify and standardize academic programs.

Will I lose my legacy status if I receive grades or “F” or “NP” for all of my classes in a term?

No – failing/not passing all classes in a term is not considered ceasing enrollment, completing a total withdrawal, or changing programs.

I am only enrolled in one course in a term. Can I withdraw from it and still keep my legacy status?

No – you would lose your legacy status, because withdrawing from your only course in a term would be considered ceasing enrollment or completely withdrawing from the term. This applies to capstone/dissertation courses as well.

Will I lose my legacy status if I have to repeat a course I have failed or didn’t meet the minimum grade requirement for?

No – repeating a course is not one of the 3 reasons a student can lose their legacy status. However, the course may not be eligible for financial aid, depending on how many times it has been repeated.

If I just transferred into Huston-Tillotson, and I qualified for the legacy status at my last school, will I still qualify at Huston-Tillotson?

No – transferring into Huston-Tillitson or to another school from Huston-Tillotson will cause of loss of legacy status.

Can I skip the summer term and still maintain my legacy status?

Yes – A legacy student can take the summer semester off because the U.S. Department of Education (ED) considers the summer term as optional.Note: If a student chooses to attend in a summer term, but then completes a total withdrawal from the same term, the student will lose their legacy status, just like they would have during the fall or spring terms.

I was a graduate legacy student but recently changed to a different program under a different CIP code. If I switch back to the exact same program I was in at the time I was established as a legacy student, can I regain my legacy status?

It depends – If you matriculated (i.e.: attended) into the new program, you cannot regain legacy status. There are no exceptions.

However, if you did not matriculate into the new program and you have also not ceased enrollment or completed a total withdrawal in your last term, you should be able to re-enroll in your past program and regain your legacy status. This will have to be manually reviewed by the Financial Aid Office.

I am legacy student but was not able to borrow Graduate PLUS Loans in the 2025-26 academic year, due to there being no room in my cost of attendance. Am I eligible to borrow a Graduate PLUS Loan in the 2026-27 academic year?

Yes – as long as you had another federal student loan disburse prior to July 1, 2026, for the same academic program that established your legacy status, you are eligible to borrow. It did not have to specifically be a Graduate PLUS Loan. The loan would still have to fit into your cost of attendance to be eligible.

Does losing legacy status affect my student loan repayment options?

No – loss of legacy status has no bearing on the repayment plan options available to you. However, there are changes to the federal student loan repayment plans as of July 1, 2026, and you can read about them at this U.S. Department of Education website.

Why would my PLUS loan application be approved by the government, but Huston-Tillotson is saying I am not eligible?

The U.S. Department of Education’s system is not set up to pre-determine whether an applicant is eligible for the legacy status. Once a PLUS loan approval is sent to the Financial Aid Office, it is then determined whether you are eligible based on legacy status.

Parent PLUS

For non-legacy students, what is the annual loan limit for Parent PLUS Loan borrowing?

A parent-borrower can borrow up to $20k for each dependent child, annually.

Can a student have both of their parents borrow up to the $20,000 annual limit, in order to have more than $20,000 borrowed on their behalf in an academic year?

No – a student can only have up to the $20,000 borrowed on their behalf by one parent-borrower in an academic year.

Can a parent-borrower borrow up to $20,000 annually for more than one dependent child? 

Yes – A parent can borrow up to the $20,000 limit for more than one dependent child in a year.

Example: A parent has 3 dependent students in college. The parent (if approved for the loan) could borrow up to $20,000 for each student for the academic year.

Is there an aggregate limit on Parent PLUS Loan borrowing?

Yes – only for non-legacy students. Non-legacy students have an aggregate limit of $65,000 in Parent PLUS loans borrowed on their behalf. Students under a legacy status continue to have no aggregate limit.

I’ve reached my aggregate limit of $65,000 in Parent PLUS loans borrowed on my behalf. Can I receive additional unsubsidized loans, similar to when a parent is denied a Parent PLUS loan?

No – reaching the aggregate limit will not qualify a student for additional unsubsidized student loans.

Time to Credential

What does “time to credential” mean?

A student’s time to credential is the published program length of their program minus the number of required semesters (fall and spring) that have passed since the student began the program. Whether or not the student actually enrolled in classes during these semesters does not change the time to credential period. This calculation also includes any transfer hours earned for the program.

I began a bachelor’s degree (4 year) program in the Spring 2024 term, but I skipped the Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 terms. I am still attending the program. Will the Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 terms be factored into my time to credential?

Yes – per the new regulations, whether you were actually enrolled in classes during these semesters does not change the time to credential period. Your period would start at the Spring 2024 term and end at the Fall 2027 term.

Schedule of Reduction

I am a legacy student. Does the new schedule of reduction rule apply to me?

Yes – Beginning with the 2026-27 academic year, all Federal Student Loans, regardless of legacy status, are subject to the schedule of reduction.

Note: Parent PLUS Loan are not subject to the schedule of reduction.

How many credit hours do I need to be enrolled in each semester to be eligible for my full annual loan eligibility?

• Undergraduate: 12 credit hours
• Graduate: 9 credit hours

If I only plan to attend one semester, can I receive full annual loan eligibility if I enroll full-time?

No – A student can only receive up to 50% of their annual loan eligibility in one semester.

How do I calculate my loan eligibility?

Please review the examples on our webpage under, “Schedule of Reduction Examples.” (HT/FA webpage)

Annual Loan Limits

Are the annual student loan limits changing for undergraduate students after July 1, 2026?

No – the below limits remain in effect for all students, whether legacy or non-legacy:

Is the annual student loan limit changing for graduate/doctoral (non-professional) students after July 1, 2026?

No – the $20,500 annual limit remains in effect for all students, whether legacy or non-legacy.

For legacy students who are still eligible to borrow Graduate PLUS loans, are there any new annual or aggregate loan limits?

No – eligible legacy students are still able to borrow up to their cost of attendance, while under the legacy status.

Aggregate Loan Limits

Are undergraduate aggregate loan limits remaining the same?

Yes – there are no changes to these federal student loan limits, which are $31,000 for a dependent student and $57,500 for an independent student.

I’m a non-legacy, non-professional student. What are my aggregate federal student loan limits at each level?

• Dependent Undergraduate student: $31,000

• Independent Undergraduate student: $57,500
• Graduate/Doctoral Student: $100,000 (borrowed specifically at the GR/DR level)
• Overall eligibility: $157,500

I’m a legacy, non-professional student. What are my aggregate federal student loan limits at each level?

• Dependent Undergraduate student: $31,000
• Independent Undergraduate student: $57,500
• Graduate/Doctoral Student: $138,500 (including any sub/unsub loans borrowed at the UG level)
• Overall eligibility: $138,500

I was previously a legacy student that reached my aggregate limit of $138,500 in subsidized/unsubsidized student loans. I want to come back to Huston-Tillotson and attend a new program at the graduate level. Will I qualify for any additional federal student loans?

It depends – The Financial Aid Office will have to determine how much of the $138,500 borrowed previously was borrowed specifically at was at the graduate level. For example, in his scenario, if a student had only borrowed $80,000 at the GR level, they could still receive $20,000 at the GR level, bringing them to the new aggregate limit of $100,000.

Regarding the aggregate loan limits, are PLUS loans factored into the total amount borrowed?

It depends – regarding legacy students, PLUS loans are not factored into the aggregate limits mentioned.

For non-legacy students, past borrowed Graduate PLUS Loans are factored into the $257,500 lifetime limit. Parent PLUS Loans are not factored in.