BOSTON—May 9, 2026—AbeSM, which takes a transparent, built-for-real-life approach to private student lending, announces new policies and programs to help keep graduate students and their families on a steady path toward achieving their goals. The changes apply to students enrolled in or repaying Abe loans for master’s and doctoral degree programs, graduate-level certificate programs, or specialty programs such as medical and dental school.
New Abe policies and initiatives include a scholarship sweepstakes, higher maximum aggregate student loan debt limits, and loan repayment deferment options during authorized leaves of absence.
“Our goal is to help students pursue an education without interruption and with peace of mind,” said Steve Winnie, Chief Operating Officer, Monogram LLC, which created and administers Abe.
Abe’s New Scholarship Option
Abe will award a $5,000 scholarship‡ to the winner of Abe’s Graduate Scholarship Sweepstakes, which launched May 1, 2026 and closes July 31, 2026.
The no-essay sweepstakes is open to legal residents of the U.S./District of Columbia, age 18-plus, who are enrolled in a graduate-level program at an eligible institution, or the parents of these students. Entrants do not need an Abe student loan to be eligible and there are no GPA requirements.
To enter, please click this link. For the sweepstakes rules, click here.
New Debt Limits1
Abe has raised its maximum aggregate student loan debt limits, which account for applicants’ total federal and private debt, to:
- $300,000 for applicants applying for undergraduate loan programs, up from $225,000
- $350,000 for applicants applying for graduate and graduate certificate loan programs, up from $225,000
- $500,000 for applicants applying for graduate medical and dental school loan programs, up from $350,000
The aggregate student loan debt limit for applicants applying for MBA, law or healthcare professional loan programs remains at $350,000.
Extended Deferment Due to Leaves of Absence
For the first time, Abe will recognize an extended authorized leave of absence, whether students are pursuing specialized opportunities, or a research project before finishing their studies.
The maximum extension for those with Abe medical school, dental school or healthcare professional loans is 12 months. The maximum for those with Abe graduate school, MBA or law school loans is six months. 2
About Abe
AbeSM student loans bring a plain, honest, “built-for-real-life” approach to private student lending. Abe covers up to the full cost of an education, and offers a unique combination of repayment plans, loan terms and deferment/forbearance options. Abe was created by Monogram LLC, the leader in data-driven private student lending products and programs. More information can be found at abestudentloans.com, Facebook or Instagram.
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‡ NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open to legal residents of the 50 U.S./D.C., age 18+ who are currently a student or parent of a student enrolled in a graduate program at an Eligible Institution. Void where prohibited. Ends 07/31/26. Click for Official Rules.
- The minimum loan amount is $1,000, except for (a) student applicants who are permanent residents of Iowa in which case the minimum loan amount is $1,001, and (b) student applicants or cosigners who are permanent residents of Massachusetts in which case the minimum loan amount is $6,001. The maximum loan amount to cover in-school expenses for each academic year is determined by the school’s cost of attendance, minus other financial aid, as certified by the school. The requested loan amount cannot cause an individual applicant’s aggregate student loan debt (which includes federal and private student loans) to exceed $300,000 per applicant applying for an undergraduate loan, $350,000 per applicant applying for a graduate, graduate certificate, Healthcare Professionals, Law or MBA loan, or $500,000 per applicant applying for a Medical or Dental loan.
- For borrowers enrolled at an approved school and during an in-school period, grace period, or additional deferment period, if the school grants the borrower an authorized leave of absence (“LOA”), the loan will remain in the current deferment status. The school must certify that the LOA has been granted to the student or the LOA must be validated through the National Student Clearinghouse (“NSC”). Any such LOA may not exceed 12-months in length for Abe Medical, Dental or Healthcare Professionals borrowers, or six months in length for all other Abe borrowers and shall not cause the loan to be in an in-school or grace period beyond the date that is sixty-six (66) months from the first disbursement date or an additional deferment period beyond forty-eight (48) months. If, after the aforementioned approved LOA, the student borrower is not re-enrolled in a graduate certificate or degree seeking program at an approved school, the repayment term will begin.