Help and Knowledge Base

Your grade level determines how much you can borrow each year through Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans.

Annual Loan Limits

Dependent Undergraduate Students

• 1st Year: Up to $5,500 (max $3,500 subsidized)
• 2nd Year: Up to $6,500 (max $4,500 subsidized)
• 3rd Year and Beyond: Up to $7,500 (max $5,500 subsidized)
• Parent PLUS: $20,000 per dependent ($65,000 per dependent lifetime)

Independent Undergraduate Students (or Dependent students whose parents are ineligible for PLUS loans)

• 1st Year: Up to $9,500 (max $3,500 subsidized)
• 2nd Year: Up to $10,500 (max $4,500 subsidized)
• 3rd Year and Beyond: Up to $12,500 (max $5,500 subsidized)

Graduate or Professional Students

• Up to $20,500 (unsubsidized only)
• Aggregate (Total) Loan Limits
• Dependent Undergraduates: $31,000 (no more than $23,000 subsidized)
• Independent Undergraduates: $57,500 (no more than $23,000 subsidized)
• Graduate/Professional Students: $257,500 (includes undergraduate, graduate, graduate PLUS, repaid, forgiven, and cancelled borrowing)

Loans will also be adjusted based on how many credits you are enrolled in over the academic year, compared to full-time enrollment for your academic period.

For more information, visit the Federal Direct Loan webpage.