Federal Direct Loan Program Maximums
The U.S. Department of Education sets borrowing limits, both annual and lifetime, for the Federal Direct Loan program. The following chart provides annual and aggregate limits.
|
Year |
Dependent Undergraduate |
Independent Undergraduate* |
Graduate and Professional |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Freshman 0-24 credits earned |
$5,500—No more than $3,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans |
$9,500—No more than $3,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. |
$20,500 |
|
Sophomore 25-54 credits earned |
$6,500—No more than $4,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. |
$10,500—No more than $4,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. |
|
|
Junior & Senior 55+ credits earned |
$7,500—No more than $5,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. |
$12,500—No more than $5,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. |
|
|
Aggregate Loan Limits (maximum loan debt) ** |
$31,000—No more than $23,000 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. |
$57,500—No more than $23,000 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. |
$138,500 - graduate students are only eligible to borrow unsubsidized loans. |
* These limits also apply to dependent students whose parents are unable to borrow under the PLUS program.
** The graduate aggregate loan limit includes loans borrowed as an undergraduate.