Kansas City, MO – Commercial truck driving schools across the country are preparing for major shifts in federal financial aid eligibility as new student loan and grant rules become active in 2026. Because many CDL programs operate as short-term, clock-hour training courses, they fall into one of the most affected categories under the updated federal standards.
According to federal guidance, CDL programs that are unaccredited, fewer than 150 clock hours, or offered as rapid, non-credit “fast track” trainings are not eligible for federal financial aid. Programs between 150 and 600 hours must now meet the Workforce Pell criteria, which require a minimum 70% completion rate, 70% job placement rate within 180 days, and program costs that do not exceed graduates’ value-added earnings measured three years after completion.
Starting July 1, 2026, CDL schools also face new pressure under the “low earnings outcomes” test. The Department of Education will compare the median earnings of graduates four years after completion to the earnings of adults with only a high school diploma. If CDL graduates earn the same or less for two out of three years, the program automatically loses access to federal Direct Loans.
In regions with lower freight demand or lower starting wages, many schools warn that these changes could reduce enrollment or force consolidation.
