Staying on Track
Research and plan
Default Prevention and Debt Management
Before taking on any debts, decide what you really need and understand the fundamentals, and what you can realistically pay back.
Loan Forgiveness
Yes,听your loans could be completely paid off through these programs.
Volunteer Work
Serve your community and be rewarded with help towards your loans.
Financial Wellness Program
Factors To Consider When Borrowing
When you are trying to bridge the gap between your expenses, income, and other forms of aid, consider the following before deciding how much to borrow.
Loan Amount
Evaluate your In-school budget.听You may not want to borrow the full amount for which you qualify. You should never borrower more than what you need.
Annual Loan Limits
Annual loan limits are the听 maximum amount you can borrow during a single academic year.
- These limits depend on factors like:
- Your听 year in school 听(freshman, sophomore, etc.)
- Your听 dependency status 听(dependent or independent student)
- The limit 听resets each academic year, meaning you may borrow up to the allowed amount again the following year if needed.
Aggregate Loan Limits
Aggregate loan limits are the 听total amount you can borrow over your entire academic career.
- This is a 听lifetime cap 听across all years you receive federal student loans.
- It includes all federal loans you鈥檝e borrowed.
- Once you reach your aggregate limit, you听 cannot borrow additional federal student loans, even if you鈥檙e still enrolled.
Annual Loan Limits vs. Aggregate Loan Limits
When you borrow federal student loans, there are limits on how much you can take out. These limits are broken into听 annual limits 听and听 aggregate limits .
Key Difference
- Annual limit: How much you can borrow听 each year
- Aggregate limit: How much you can borrow 听in total over time听
Why This Matters
Understanding these limits can help you:
- Plan how to fund your education across multiple years
- Avoid borrowing more than you鈥檙e eligible for
- Make informed decisions about budgeting and repayment
Undergraduate Students
| Dependency Status | Annual Limit | Aggregate Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Dependent |
Freshman: $5,500 (no more than $3,500 can be subsidized) Sophomore: $6,500 (no more than $4,500 can be subsidized) Junior, Senior and 2nd Bachelor: $7,500 (no more than $5,500 can be subsidized) |
$31,000 |
| Independent |
Freshman: $9,500 (no more than $3,500 can be subsidized) Sophomore: $10,500 (no more than $4,500 can be subsidized) Junior, Senior and 2nd Bachelor: $12,500 (no more than $5,500 can be subsidized) |
$57,500 |
Graduate Students
| Annual Limit (Before OBBB* Through 6/30/2026) | 听Aggregate Limit (Before OBBB* Through 6/30/2026) | Annual Limit (After OBBB* On/After 7/1/2026) | Aggregate Limit (After OBBB* On/After 7/1/2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $20,500 Direct Unsubsidized + Grad PLUS up to Cost of Attendance | $138,500 (incl. undergrad loans) | $20,500 Direct Unsubsidized only | $100,000 (graduate loans only) |
Per the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB*), Graduate PLUS Loans are
听eliminated for new borrowers听
beginning July 1, 2026 (limited legacy exceptions may apply).
To view more details, visit听
听and go to the听
Loan Limits Exception Section.
Professional Degree Students
| Annual Limit (Before OBBB* Through 6/30/2026) | 听Aggregate Limit (Before OBBB* Through 6/30/2026) | Annual Limit (After OBBB* On/After 7/1/2026) | Aggregate Limit (After OBBB* On/After 7/1/2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $20,500 Direct Unsubsidized听+ Grad PLUS up to Cost of Attendance | $138,500听 | $50,000 Direct Unsubsidized | $200,000听minus any amount that was received as a graduate student |
Graduate PLUS Loans are 听eliminated for new borrowers听 beginning July 1, 2026 (limited legacy exceptions may apply).
To view more details, visit听 听and go to the听 Loan Limits Exception Section.
Parent PLUS Loans
| Annual Limit (Before OBBB* Through 6/30/2026) | 听Aggregate Limit (Before OBBB* Through 6/30/2026) | Annual Limit (After OBBB* On/After 7/1/2026) | Aggregate Limit (After OBBB* On/After 7/1/2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to Cost of Attendance (no cap) | No limit | $20,000 per dependent student | $65,000 per dependent student |
Additional Limits (All Students)
- Overall lifetime federal student loan limit (excluding Parent PLUS): $257,500 听(not more than $23,000 can be subsidized) and includes subsidized and unsubsidized loans received regardless of grade level.
- Institutions may establish听 lower program level loan limits 听under the new law.
Repayment Period
The Federal Direct Loan Program offers a variety of loan repayment options with repayment periods of 10-25 years. If you choose a shorter repayment period, you will pay less in interest charges. You can review your Federal Direct Lending repayment choices听 . For more information visit our听 Loan Repayment 听page.
Borrowers Rights and Responsibilities
Review and understand your rights and responsibilities for each loan program. Keep a copy of all paperwork associated with your loans for future reference.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness Options
You may be eligible to have some鈥攐r even all鈥攐f your student loans forgiven!听 Eligibility often depends on your career field, employer, or the repayment plan you鈥檙e enrolled in. Learn more about these opportunities to see if you qualify at听 .
Disclosure Statement
Federal student loan limits and eligibility rules are subject to change based on federal legislation, regulation, or U.S. Department of Education guidance. For the most current and accurate information, visit StudentAid.gov:
.听听