Student Loan Planner

How Much You Should Borrow for Grad School is Totally Different Now


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Graduate and professional school just got a lot trickier to finance. With the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) Act slashing federal loan limits in 2026, figuring out how much you should borrow and whether private loans make sense is a whole different ballgame.

We examine old vs. new borrowing math, which degrees might justify taking out private loans, where the ROI completely falls apart, and how the profession you choose could make or break your financial future.

Key moments:

(01:13) Why borrowing used to function like a 10% “income tax”

(04:50) Who benefits from the old system vs. new 2026 rules

(06:40) Careers where high borrowing still makes financial sense

(10:08) Professions where private loans require careful planning

(22:02) Fields where private loans can seriously hurt your finances

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Feeling helpless when it comes to your student loans?

  • Try our free student loan calculator
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  • Get profession-specific financial planning

Do you have a question about student loans? Leave us a voicemail here or email us at [email protected] and we might feature it in an upcoming show!

Mentioned in this episode:

Want more? Check out our other podcast

Starting to think beyond your student loans? Check out our other show, Financially Free Era. It's about what comes next, investing, building wealth, and designing a life you actually want. Find "Financially Free Era by SLP Wealth" in your podcast app.

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Student Loan PlannerBy Travis Hornsby

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