Student Loan Limits
There are limits on the amount of loans that you may be eligible to receive each academic year, as well as the total amounts that you may borrow over the course of your undergraduate and graduate education.
Federal Direct Stafford Loan Annual Loan Limits
Students must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 academic credits to be eligible for federal loans.
- Dependent Students
- First year: $5,500 (No more than $3,500 of this amount may be in Subsidized loans.)
- Second year: $6,500 (No more than $4,500 of this amount may be in Subsidized loans.)
- Third year and above: $7,500 (No more than $5,500 of this amount may be in Subsidized loans.)
- Independent Students
- First year: $9,500 (No more than $3,500 of this amount may be in Subsidized loans.)
- Second year: $10,500 (No more than $4,500 of this amount may be in Subsidized loans.)
- Third year and above: $12,500 (No more than $5,500 of this amount may be in Subsidized loans.)
Students must be enrolled in a minimum of 4.5 academic credits to be eligible for federal loans.
- $20,500 Unsubsidized
- Graduate students may also be eligible for a Federal Direct Graduate PLUS loan
Aggregate Federal Stafford Loan Limits
Once the above Federal Direct Stafford Loan limits are reached, students can no longer borrow Federal Direct Stafford Loans. Students should exercise caution regarding borrowing excessive amounts.
- Dependent students can borrow a maximum of $31,000 and up to $23,000 can be subsidized.
- Independent students can borrow a maximum of $57,500 and up to $23,000 can be subsidized.
- Graduate students can borrow up to a maximum of $138,500 and up to $65,500 can be subsidized.
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