Federal Loan Limits
The federal government restricts the amount a student may borrow in federal loans, both on an annual basis and in the aggregate. Please review the following for guidelines related to loan limits:
Undergraduate Students: Direct Loan Maximums*
Grade Level |
Dependent Undergraduate Student |
Independent Undergraduate Student |
Year 1* (0-29 credits) |
$5,500-Only $3,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. |
$9,500-Only $3,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. |
Year 2* (30-59 credits) |
$6,500-Only $4,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. |
$10,500-Only $4,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. |
Years 3-4*(60 + credits) |
$7,500-Only $5,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. |
$12,500-Only $5,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. |
Lifetime Maximum Total Debt from Stafford and Direct Loans (in each status) |
$31,000-Only $23,000 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. |
$57,500-Only $23,000 of this amount may be subsidized loans. |
*Dependent undergraduate students whose parents have been denied a Federal Parent Loan are eligible to borrow at the independent undergraduate level.
Graduate Students: Direct Loan Maximums
|
Per Academic Year |
Lifetime Maximum Total Debt from Direct Loans |
|
Graduate -Master's, Doctoral |
$20,500- in direct unsubsidizedloans. |
$138,500-Only $65,500 of this amount may be subsidized loans. |
|
Teacher Certification Students |
Dependent Students |
$7,500-Only $5,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans |
$31,000-Only $23,000 of this amount may be subsidized loans. |
Independent Students |
$12,500-Only $5,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. |
$57,500-Only $23,000 of this amount may be subsidized loans. |
|
To MONITOR your student loan activity and limits, please log into: www.nslds.gov and sign in with your FSA ID. If you need help contacting your loan servicer, please visit https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/repayment/servicers for their contact information.
