Federal Direct Loans
Loan Limits
Federal regulations set a maximum amount of loans that a student can borrow over their academic lifetime. You cannot borrow more than the maximum loan limit for all subsidized and unsubsidized loans at all schools.
Loan awards are based on federal regulations, your dependency status, number of credits enrolled for each term, and grade level. Your total financial aid, including Federal Direct Student Loans, cannot exceed your cost of attendance. Your USF award offer will include the Federal Subsidized and/or Federal Unsubsidized loan amount you are eligible to borrow at the time the aid offer is made.
The annual loan limits below are the federal maximums that you can receive during two semesters of enrollment (subject to change) based on a full time enrollment status. Students must be at least half time for the term to receive Federal Direct loans. Students borrowing a Federal Direct Subsidized loan, Federal Direct Unsubsidized loan, or Graduate PLUS loan who do not enroll full time will have their award reduced based on their enrollment intensity.
Only borrow what you need. You are not required to accept the full amount you are awarded in Student Self-Service. You may accept a partial amount.
Undegraduate Students (Dependent)
- Annual Loan Limit:
- Freshman: $5,500 (not more than $3,500 can be subsidized)
- Sophomore: $6,500 (not more than $4,500 can be subsidized)
- Junior: $7,500 (not more than $5,500 can be subsidized)
- Senior: $7,500 (not more than $5,500 can be subsidized)
- Aggregate Loan Limit: $31,000
Undergraduate Students (Independent)
- Annual Loan Limit:
- Freshman: $9,500 (not more than $3,500 can be subsidized)
- Sophomore: $10,500 (not more than $4,500 can be subsidized)
- Junior: $12,500 (not more than $5,500 can be subsidized)
- Senior: $12,500 (not more than $5,500 can be subsidized)
- Aggregate Loan Limit: $57,500
Parent PLUS Loans
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Limits for parents of students that qualify for an interim exception (legacy):
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Annual Loan Limit for parents of students that qualify for an interim exception (legacy): Cost of attendance minus other aid.
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Aggregate Loan Limit for parents of students that qualify for an interim exception (legacy): No limit.
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Limits for parents of students that do not qualify for an interim exception (non-legacy):
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Annual Loan Limit for parents of students that do not qualify for an interim exception (non-legacy): $20,000 per dependent student.
- Lifetime Loan Limit for parents of students that do not qualify for an interim exception (non-legacy): $65,000 per dependent student
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Graduate Student: Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans - Has Never Been a Professional Student
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Limits for students that qualify for an interim exception (legacy):
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Annual Loan Limit for students that qualify for an interim exception (legacy): $20,500
- Aggregate Loan Limit for students that qualify for an interim exception (legacy): $138,500
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Limits for students that do not qualify for an interim exception (non-legacy):
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Annual Loan Limit for students that do not qualify for an interim exception (legacy): $20,500
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Lifetime Loan Limit for students that do not qualify for an interim exception (legacy): $100,000 (does not include prior undergraduate borrowing)
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Graduate Student: Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans - Has Been a Professional Student
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Limits for students that qualify for an interim exception (legacy):
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Annual Loan Limit for students that qualify for an interim exception (legacy): $20,500
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Aggregate Loan Limit for students that qualify for an interim exception (legacy): $138,500
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Limits for students that do not qualify for an interim exception (non-legacy):
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Annual Loan Limit for students that do not qualify for an interim exception (legacy): $20,500
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Lifetime Loan Limit for students that do not qualify for an interim exception (legacy): $100,000 (excluding amount up to $100,000 borrowed as a professional student; does not include prior undergraduate borrowing)
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Professional Student: Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans
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Limits for students that qualify for an interim exception (legacy):
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Annual Loan Limit for students that qualify for an interim exception (legacy): $20,500
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Aggregate Loan Limit for students that qualify for an interim exception (legacy): $138,500*
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*Certain Health Professional students may have qualified for additional Federal Direct Unsubsidized loans up to $ 224,000 based on their program.
- Limits for students that do not qualify for an interim exception (non-legacy):
- Annual Loan Limit for students that do not qualify for an interim exception (legacy): $50,000
- Lifetime Loan Limit for students that do not qualify for an interim exception (legacy): $200,000 (excluding amounts borrowed as a professional student; does not include prior undergraduate borrowing.)
Graduate PLUS Loans
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Limits for students that qualify for an interim exception (legacy):
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Annual Loan Limit for students that qualify for an interim exception (legacy): Cost of attendance minus other aid, adjusted based on enrollment intensity.
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Aggregate Loan Limit for students that qualify for an interim exception (legacy): no limit.
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Students who do not qualify for an interim exception (non-legacy) will not be eligible for Graduate PLUS loans.
Definitions
- Aggregate loan limit: The maximum amount of unpaid principal balance minus any capitalized interest that you can have outstanding at any point in time on all of your subsidized and unsubsidized loans for undergraduate, graduate, or professional study.
- Lifetime loan limit: The maximum amount you can receive, regardless of any amount paid or discharged, in any combination of subsidized loans, unsubsidized loans, and Grad PLUS loans.
- Enrollment Intensity: If you are enrolled less than full-time, your federal loan eligibility may be reduced proportionally based on your enrollment rather than awarding the full annual loan limit.
- Interim Exception: Students who remain continuously enrolled in the same program of study at the same institution as they were enrolled as of June 30, 2026 are not subject to the new loan limits, and will be considered a legacy student, if they have also received a Direct Loan for that program of study prior to July 1, 2026. The maximum timeframe for this exception is up to three academic years or the remainder of the student’s expected time to credential, whichever is less. For more information about interim exception, visit the Department of Education’s website.