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.
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.
| Total Lifetime Limit | |
| Graduate Student | $138,500 |
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: