Ep. 5: What 2026 Financial Aid Changes Mean for Graduate Students with Deb Spindler

In this episode of IMPACTful Conversations, Alliant University President & CEO Andy Vaughn sits down with longtime Alliant Director of Financial Aid, Deb Spindler, to unpack the sweeping federal financial aid changes coming in 2026 under the One Big, Beautiful Bill (OBBB). Andy draws from his experience as one of the federal negotiators crafting these regulations, while Deb breaks down what students—current and future—need to know about the elimination of the Grad PLUS loan, adjustments to Stafford Direct loan caps, and the new “professional” program designation for Clinical Psychology doctoral programs. Together, they clarify what qualifies students for “legacy” status, how loan limits will work moving forward, what steps students should take today to prepare, and how individual financial situations can receive personalized guidance from Alliant’s Student Finance team.