MBA programs nationwide are slashing tuition following federal loan limits imposed by the 2025 tax bill. University of California, Irvine recently reduced its MBA tuition by $30,000 to $99,000, positioning below the $100,000 federal borrowing cap. The university frames this change as making their degree "truly attainable" for working professionals.

Graduate students previously enjoyed unlimited borrowing capacity, leading to unsustainable debt loads for degrees with uncertain returns. The Education Department highlighted NYU's film studies program where students average $168,000 in debt but earn just $47,000 post-graduation, exposing the disconnect between education costs and earnings.

The $100,000 borrowing cap represents a fundamental shift in higher education pricing models. Business schools can no longer assume students will take on unlimited debt. This policy change forces institutions to reevaluate their tuition structures and value propositions in a marketplace where affordability now competes with prestige.