Federal Direct Stafford Loan Max Amounts
There are limits on the maximum amount you are eligible to receive each academic year
(annual loan limit) and in total (aggregate loan limit). The actual amount you can
borrow each year depends on your year in school, whether you are a dependent or independent
student and other factors, and may be less than the maximum amounts shown in the loan
limit chart. The Office of Financial Aid will determine what types of loans and how
much you may borrow.
Beginning July 1, 2026, Federal Direct Loans will be reduced based on the number of
credits in which a student is enrolled/academically engaged. This process is called
the Schedule of Reductions (SOR).
Under Schedule of Reductions (SOR), a student鈥檚 annual federal loan eligibility will
be prorated (reduced) based on actual enrollment intensity (number of credits enrolled/academically
engaged).
For more information on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) and how these changes
may impact your financial aid, please visit page.
Undergraduate Student Annual Loan Limits
Depending on your financial need, your Base Limit amount may be subsidized or unsubsidized. If you have education expenses in excess of the Base Limit plus other aid, you may also borrow the additional unsubsidized loan (as long as you don't exceed the total annual loan limits).
Dependent Students
| Base Limit for Subsidized and/or Unsubsidized | Additional Unsubsidized | Total Annual Loan Limit | |
| Freshman (0-24 earned credit hours) |
$3,500 | $2,000 | $5,500 |
| Sophomore (25-48 earned credit hours) |
$4,500 | $2,000 | $6,500 |
| Junior, Senior (49 or more earned credit hours) |
$5,500 | $2,000 | $7,500 |
Independent Students*
| Base Limit for Subsidized and/or Unsubsidized | Additional Unsubsidized | Total Annual Loan Limit | |
| Freshman (0-24 earned credit hours) |
$3,500 | $6,000 | $9,500 |
| Sophomore (25-48 earned credit hours) |
$4,500 | $6,000 | $10,500 |
| Junior, Senior (49 or more earned credit hours) |
$5,500 | $7,000 | $12,500 |
Undergraduate Student Aggregate Loan Limits
Once you have reached the lifetime maximum total limit, you are no longer eligible to borrow in the Direct Stafford Loan program as an undergraduate student, until that loan debt has been repaid.
| Subsidized Loan Limit | Total Limit for Subsidized and Unsubsidized | |
| Dependent | $23,000 | $31,000 |
| Independent* | $23,000 | $57,500 |
Graduate Student Annual Loan Limit
Please note: beginning July 1, 2012, Congress has eliminated the Subsidized Loan for graduate students. As a graduate student, the only type of loan you may now receive in the Direct Stafford Loan program is unsubsidized.
| Total Annual Limit | |
| Graduate Student | $20,500 |
Graduate Student Aggregate Loan Limit
Previous Direct Stafford Loan borrowing, such as at the undergraduate level, is included
in your Aggregate Loan Limit. Any amount that has been repaid, however, is no longer
included and is available to borrow again.
Starting July 1, 2026, the aggregate limit is capped at $100,000 for graduate students.
It does not include amounts borrowed as an undergraduate.
| Total Lifetime Limit | |
| Graduate Student | Pre-OBBB Limit: $138,500 New Limit: $100,000 |
Need Additional Funding?
If you've exhausted your annual or lifetime limits in the Federal Direct Stafford Loan program, you may want to consider one of the following credit-based loan programs: