The maximum amount you can borrow each year under the direct Stafford subsidized and unsubsidized loans will vary depending on (1) grade level, (2) your status as either dependent or independent student and (3) financial need.
The following table shows the maximum amount of money you may borrow each academic year in direct subsidized and unsubsidized loans. The actual loan amount you are eligible to receive for an academic year will be determined by the school and may be less than the maximum annual amounts shown in the chart below.
|
Dependent Undergraduate
Student |
Independent Undergraduate Student |
Freshman
(completed 1-29 hours)
|
$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. |
Sophomore
(completed 30+ hours) |
$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. |
Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Aggregate Loan Limits
Federal regulations set aggregate, or total, loan limits in addition to the annual loan limits. Over the course of your college career, you cannot borrow more than the aggregate loan limit for all subsidized and unsubsidized loans at all schools.
The aggregate loan limits are:
- $31,000 for dependent undergraduate students (no more than $23,000 may be subsidized
- $57,500 for independent undergraduate students (no more than $23,000 may be subsidized)
The aggregate limits above include both direct subsidized and unsubsidized loans and any subsidized and unsubsidized federal Stafford loans received through the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program.
View Your Federal Student Loan Borrowing History
If you’re concerned you may be close to reaching the aggregate (total) loan limit, you can check to see how much you have borrowed at the U.S. Department of Education’s National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) website.