Federal Direct Loan Limits
The Office of Scholarships & Financial Aid (OSFA) is responsible for determining the types of loan(s) and the amount students and parents are eligible to receive each academic year. However, there are limits on the amount of Federal Direct Loans borrowers may be eligible to receive each academic year (annual loan limits) and the total amounts that you may borrow for undergraduate, graduate, and professional study (aggregate and lifetime loan limits).
The actual loan amount you are eligible to receive each academic year may be less than the annual loan limit, depending on many factors, including your Student Aid Index, other financial aid you receive and your enrollment status (full-time or less than full-time).
There are three different types of loan limits:
- Annual loan limit—The maximum loan amount that can be borrowed each academic year (fall, spring, summer).
- Aggregate loan limit—The maximum amount of unpaid principal balance, minus any capitalized interest, that can be borrowed at any point. This includes all Direct Loans for undergraduate, graduate, or professional study
- Lifetime maximum loan limit*—The maximum amount that can be borrowed in a student’s lifetime. This includes all Direct Loans for undergraduate, graduate or professional study, regardless of whether the amounts have been repaid or discharged.
*Note: The Parent PLUS loan does not count towards a student's lifetime maximum, however, accepted amounts are tracked for a parent's PLUS aggregate limit.
The amounts included on this page refer to loan limits applicable for students who do not meet the qualifications for Limited Exception Provisions.
Annual Limits for Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loans
Your annual loan limit depends on your year in school, whether you’re a dependent or independent student (according to your FAFSA form) and your enrollment. If your dependency status, academic level and/or enrollment changes mid-year, your maximum loan borrowing eligibility may change.
Note: All undergraduate annual loan amounts are subject to proration and limitations based on cost of attendance minus other financial aid. In addition, the amount in student loans that can be borrowed for each academic year will be reduced for students enrolled less than full-time. Increased loan eligibility is available for those students who advance to the sophomore or junior grade level at the end of their fall term. Students must self-identify by contacting our office at the start of the spring term.
Dependent Undergraduates (excluding dependent students whose parents were denied the Parent PLUS Loan)
| GRADE LEVEL IN COLLEGE | SUBSIDIZED | TOTAL (SUBSIDIZED & UNSUBSIDIZED) |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | $3,500 | $5,500 |
| Second Year | $4,500 | $6,500 |
| Third Year and Beyond | $5,500 | $7,500 |
Independent Undergraduates & Dependent Students whose parents were denied the Parent PLUS Loan
| GRADE LEVEL IN COLLEGE | SUBSIDIZED | TOTAL (SUBSIDIZED & UNSUBSIDIZED) |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | $3,500 | $9,500 |
| Second Year | $4,500 | $10,500 |
| Third Year and Beyond | $5,500 | $12,500 |
Lifetime/Aggregate Loan Limits for Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loans
| DEPENDENT/ INDEPENDENT | SUBSIDIZED | TOTAL (SUBSIDIZED & UNSUBSIDIZED) |
|---|---|---|
| Dependent Undergraduates (excluding those whose parents were denied Parent PLUS) | $23,000 | $31,000 |
| Independent Undergraduates & Dependent Students whose parents were denied Parent PLUS | $23,000 | $57,500 |
Annual Limits for Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loans
Note: the amount in student loans that can be borrowed for each academic year will be reduced for students enrolled less than full-time
| GRADUATE LEVEL | TOTAL |
|---|---|
| All Graduate Levels | $20,500 |
Aggregate Loan Limits for Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loans
| GRADUATE LEVEL | TOTAL (SUBSIDIZED, UNSUBSIDIZED, GRADUATE PLUS BORROWED AT GRADUATE LEVEL) |
|---|---|
| All Graduate Levels | $100,000 (includes all subsidized & unsubsidized loans received for graduate and/or professional study) This does not include any amount that was received as an Undergraduate student. |
Students who have not completed a Bachelor's Degree or at least 90 college-level units
Per federal regulations, students must have completed at least 90 college-level units in order to be eligible for graduate-level loans. Students are encouraged to submit all transcripts for review during the application process. Students who have not yet completed at least 90 college-level units will be eligible for Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan funding based on the following:
COLLEGE-LEVEL UNITS COMPLETED | UNSUBSIDIZED LOAN ELIGIBILITY (ACADEMIC YEAR: FALL-SPRING-SUMMER) |
|---|---|
| 0-29 | $9,500 |
| 30-59 | $10,500 |
| 60-89 | $12,500 |
Annual Limits
Note: The amount in student loans that can be borrowed for each academic year will be reduced for students enrolled less than full-time.
| PROFESSIONAL LEVEL | TOTAL - UNSUBSIDIZED LOAN |
|---|---|
| Annual Limit | $50,000 (unsubsidized loan only) |
| Aggregate Limit | $200,000 (includes all subsidized & unsubsidized loans received for graduate and/or professional study) This does not include any amount that was received as an Undergraduate student. |
Lifetime Loan Limits for Student Borrowers (Undergraduate, Graduate & Professional)
AMOUNT | |
Total Amount | $257,500 (includes loan amounts forgiven, repaid, canceled, or otherwise discharged for Graduate, Professional, and Undergraduate loan borrowing) This does not include the Parent PLUS Loans. |
Annual & Lifetime Limits for Parent PLUS Loans
PLUS Loans require a credit check and are only available for parents of dependent undergraduate students.
| Limit per academic year | $20,000 |
|---|---|
| Limit per lifetime | $65,000 per dependent student |