The VIN Foundation has launched a new initiative to help prospective veterinary students navigate changes to federal student loan borrowing limits set to take effect later this year.
The project, titled 40 Veterinary School Loan Estimations in 60 Days, or “40 in 60,” will provide detailed loan projections for the 40 veterinary schools located in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and the Caribbean. The effort comes in response to the One Big Beautiful Bill, which will cap federal student loan amounts at $50,000 per year and $200,000 total per professional program, beginning July 1, 2026.
For many veterinary students entering programs this fall, the new limits will not fully cover the cost of attendance (COA), including tuition, fees, and living expenses, which at most schools exceeds $50,000 annually. The VIN Foundation’s estimations are designed to illustrate the gap between federal student loan caps and total program costs, which may require students to rely on private loans with higher interest rates and fewer repayment protections.
“For pre-veterinary students evaluating offers of admission, school choice and financial planning have never been more critical,” said Dr. Tony Bartels, the VIN Foundation’s student debt education expert. “Our goal is to help students understand the impact of these decisions to set themselves up for success, ideally minimize their reliance on private student loans, and enter the profession with a clear understanding of their future repayment obligations.”
The VIN Foundation will release school-specific loan estimations in weekly batches through April 1, 2026. Each report will include resident and non-resident costs, estimates of private loan needs when COA exceeds federal caps, and projected post-graduation monthly payments, including federal and private debt.
The project also offers expert guidance in identifying “Apply Smarter” and “Borrow Better” opportunities, such as applying to schools that offer resident tuition pathways, health professions student loans (HPSL), loans for disadvantaged students (LDS), and dependable grant or scholarship funding. Specific message board threads for each veterinary school will also allow applicants to review additional information and ask questions about borrowing and repayment.
Preliminary findings from the project show that for many veterinary programs, projected costs substantially exceed the new federal loan limits. In some cases, students may need to borrow more than $100,000 from private lenders, which can significantly increase long-term repayment risk.
Of the eight estimates currently available, projected costs above federal student loan limits range from $5,000 (North Carolina State University) to $101,000 (University of Arizona). Estimated monthly student loan payments range from $66 to approximately $3,000.
The VIN Foundation encourages pre-veterinary students to use the new estimations in conjunction with the foundation’s In-School Loan Estimator as well as its Apply Smarter and Borrow Better resources. As federal lending policies change, informed planning will be essential to ensuring education remains financially feasible for future veterinarians.
To access the 40 in 60 loan estimations, visit vinfoundation.org/40in60.