Your Estimated Uncovered Cost
Based on Master of Arts at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo and the projected 2026 federal loan limits, you will face a significant funding shortfall. Below is a detailed breakdown.
Total Funding Gap
$43,026
Over 2 years · $21,513/year uncovered · ~$1,793/month
Cost & Funding Breakdown
Source: IPEDS 2024 · Reconciliation Act of 2025, effective 2026-07-01
Bridge the Gap
Federal aid no longer covers $21,513/yr for graduate programs. Compare private lenders.
Loan Cliff may earn a commission if you refinance through these links. This does not affect our data or calculations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Grad PLUS funding cliff?
The Reconciliation Act of 2025 eliminates Grad PLUS loans on July 1, 2026 and replaces them with statutory caps: $20,500/year (aggregate $100,000) for graduate programs and $50,000/year (aggregate $200,000) for professional programs. Students who previously relied on Grad PLUS to cover the full cost of attendance now face an uncovered gap that no federal program fills.
How was the $43,026 figure calculated?
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo's published Cost of Attendance for the Master of Arts program is $42,013 per year (IPEDS 2024). The new statutory cap for graduate programs is $20,500 per year. The annual uncovered gap is $21,513. Over the standard 2-year program length, the total uncovered amount is $43,026 — capped at the aggregate limit of $100,000.
Is MA classified as graduate or professional?
Master of Arts is classified as a graduate program under the Reconciliation Act of 2025. Graduate programs (MBA, MS, MA, MEd, PhD) carry the lower cap of $20,500/year and a $100,000 aggregate — the same limit that has applied to unsubsidized loans for years.
What options exist to cover the $21,513/year gap?
The most common options are private student loans (multiple lenders are actively targeting this gap with competitive rates), institutional scholarships and fellowships, graduate research or teaching assistantships, income-share agreements, and in some cases deferring enrollment by one year to build personal savings.
When does the change take effect?
July 1, 2026. Loans first disbursed on or after that date are subject to the new caps. Students already enrolled before July 1, 2026 may still be affected for disbursements in academic years 2026–27 and beyond.