Key Takeaways The Grad PLUS program will be sunset starting in the 2026-2027 school year. At the same time, some graduate students will see the amount they can borrow at the federal level reduced.Before taking out loans, graduate students should explore grants and scholarships, as well as opportunities to work for their school and federal tax breaks. If those options are exhausted, state-based and private lenders provide alternative options to federal student loans. Starting with the 2026-2027 school yea ...