Annual and Aggregate Student Loan Limits

How much student loan funding can I get for college? The answer depends on a few factors, but you can find a general maximum by looking at annual and aggregate loan limits.

Annual loan limits specify the maximum amount of money you (parent or student) can borrow from a student loan program per year. Aggregate loan limits specify the maximum amount of money you can borrow in total from a student loan program.

Annual and aggregate student loan limits vary depending on the type of loan, the student’s degree level, year in school, dependency status, the college’s cost of attendance, other aid received by the student, and the loan program’s individual policies.

Federal student loan limits are specified by the Higher Education Act of 1965 and are adjusted by Congress about once a decade. Private lenders and other financial institutions like banks and credit unions set their own undergraduate and graduate student loan limits, and tend to adjust them more frequently.

When students reach the annual or aggregate loan limits for federal student loans, they may need to borrow from a private or parent loan program to cover remaining college costs. These loans have higher borrowing limits to meet students’ financial needs; however, they may also contribute to over-borrowing by students and parents.

Cost of Attendance Caps

The Federal Direct Stafford Loan and Federal Direct PLUS Loan are subject to cost of attendance caps. The amount borrowed may not exceed the cost of attendance, less other financial aid.

Most private lenders also base annual loan limits on the college’s cost of attendance.

The cost of attendance includes:

• Tuition and fees
• Room and board
• Books, supplies, and equipment
• Transportation
• Miscellaneous/personal expenses

A student with above-average expenses, special needs expenses, or dependent care costs may need to appeal to the college financial aid office for a documented increase in the cost of attendance.

The cost of attendance cap is reduced by the amount of other financial aid received by the student. Financial aid may include grants, scholarships, tuition waivers, student employment and student loans, and may reduce the eligible federal loan amounts below the legal maximum.

Subsidized loans, such as the subsidized Federal Stafford Loan, may also be limited by the student’s demonstrated financial need. Demonstrated financial need is the difference between the cost of attendance and the student’s Student Aid Index (SAI), as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Annual Loan Limits

In addition to the cost of attendance caps, federal law prescribes specific maximum annual amounts for Federal Direct Stafford Loans. Private student loans may also have annual dollar limits, typically $40,000 or more. The annual limits on private student loans are generally higher than the limits on federal student loans.

Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans

Federal Student Aid offers subsidized and unsubsidized loans capped depending on your dependency and year of study.

Federal Direct loans don’t have a direct annual loan limit for unsubsidized loans. Rather, they combine the annual and aggregate loan limits for both subsidized and unsubsidized, and specify the subsidized loan limits within the overall amount. Subsidized loans have a separate, lower annual limit considered within the Federal Direct loan overall limit. After a student reaches the limit for direct subsidized loans, they may borrow more funds as unsubsidized loans.

Subsidized loan limits are the same for dependent and independent students. Unsubsidized loan limits are logically equal to the overall direct loan limit, less any subsidized loan received.

The annual loan limits for independent students are higher than those for dependent students. If a dependent student’s parent is ineligible for the Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan because of adverse credit history, the student becomes eligible for the increased unsubsidized Federal Direct Stafford Loan limits available to independent students.

Graduate and professional school students are not eligible for subsidized federal loans — only unsubsidized loans.

The table below displays the annual loan limits for Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans. All graduate students are considered independent, as you’ll note their loan limits in the independent student column.

*Note: Health professional students studying medicine, veterinary medicine, pharmacy studies, and other specializations may be eligible for greater Direct unsubsidized loan limits than those listed above. To find out if you’re eligible for additional Direct loan funding, contact your school’s financial aid office.

Federal Direct PLUS Loans

Currently, the annual limit for Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loans and Federal Direct Grad PLUS Loans is the cost of attendance minus any other financial aid received. There is no specified annual or aggregate dollar limit for Direct PLUS Loans at this time.

Starting July 1, 2026: Parent PLUS Loans will be capped at $20,000 per year, with a $65,000 lifetime limit per child. Graduate PLUS Loans will be discontinued. Students who relied on Grad PLUS loans to cover costs above the Stafford limits will need to consider private loans or other financing options. See the 2025 Tax Act changes summary for more detail.

Private Student and Parent Loans

Most private student loan lenders limit annual borrowing to the cost of attendance less all other financial aid received, including federal loans. However, some lenders do have an annual cap that might be less than the cost of attendance.

If you’ve decided a private student loan is right for you, check out our list of the best private loans for college.

Aggregate Loan Limits

Aggregate loan limits describe the maximum amount of money students can borrow throughout their entire education. Students later in their degree programs are more likely to reach their aggregate student loan limits than students just starting their degree. Once a student reaches their aggregate loan limit, they cannot borrow more money from the specified loan program. However, an aggregate loan limit is not a lifetime limit. If a student pays back some of their loans, they’ll reduce their outstanding loan debt and therefore come below the aggregate limit, allowing them to borrow more.

Typically, graduate aggregate loan limits include debt taken on as an undergraduate student.

Likewise, the aggregate loan limits for private student loans usually count amounts borrowed through federal loan programs toward those limits.

As with annual loan limits, federal law sets aggregate loan limits for subsidized and unsubsidized Direct Loans.

Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans

The aggregate limits for Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans are determined by the student’s degree program and whether the student is dependent or independent. The year of study is irrelevant because aggregate loan limits apply to the entire duration of the degree. Dependent students whose parents are ineligible for a Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan are eligible for the same aggregate unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan limits as independent students.

Undergraduate aggregate loan limits for Direct loans is $31,000 for each dependent student. The aggregate limit for independent undergraduate students and dependent students whose parents are unable to obtain Direct PLUS Loans is nearly twice as much at $57,500. Up to $23,000 of undergraduate Direct Loans may be subsidized — this limit applies to both dependent and independent students. The unsubsidized loan limit is equal to the overall limit, less the value of subsidized loans received.

Graduate aggregate loan limits do not include subsidized loans (graduate students are not eligible for subsidized loans) and currently amount to $138,500. Remember, graduate students are considered independent students.

Similar to annual loan limits, aggregate loan limits may be higher for students enrolled in certain health professional programs. Contact your school’s financial aid office for more details, as the amount varies in these scenarios.

The aggregate loan limits for Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans are shown in this table.

Starting July 1, 2026: The aggregate limit for graduate students will decrease from $138,500 to $100,000.

Federal Direct PLUS Loans

Currently, there is no aggregate limit for Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loans or Federal Direct Grad PLUS Loans.

Starting July 1, 2026: Parent PLUS Loans will carry a $65,000 lifetime limit per child. Graduate PLUS Loans will be discontinued entirely.

Private Student and Parent Loans

Most private student loan lenders have aggregate limits based on the combined total amount borrowed from private and federal loan programs.

Aggregate limits for private student loans can be up to $120,000 to $150,000 for undergraduate students and up to $350,000 to $500,000 for graduate and health professions students. Graduate students pursuing an MBA, law degree or certain health professions are usually subject to higher aggregate borrowing limits.

Upcoming Changes: Federal Student Loan Limits Starting July 1, 2026

The 2025 Tax Act significantly restructures federal student loan programs. Here is a summary of what is changing for loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2026:

• Graduate aggregate limit reduced: The aggregate borrowing limit for graduate students decreases from $138,500 to $100,000.
• Professional school aggregate limit: Borrowing for professional school programs is capped at $200,000.
• Parent PLUS Loans capped: Parent PLUS Loans are limited to $20,000 per year with a $65,000 lifetime limit per child, down from the current cost-of-attendance limit with no dollar cap.
• Grad PLUS Loans discontinued: Graduate PLUS Loans will no longer be available. Graduate students who previously used Grad PLUS to bridge the gap between Stafford limits and their actual costs will need to turn to private loans or other financing.
• Fewer repayment options: Federal loans will offer just two repayment plans — a standard fixed payment plan (10–25 year term) or the new income-based Repayment Assistance Plan (1–10% of income). Many existing income-driven repayment plans will be eliminated.

These changes make it more important than ever for families to plan ahead. With tighter borrowing limits and fewer repayment options, savings, particularly through 529 plans, play a larger role in covering college costs. See our full breakdown of the 2025 Tax Act changes for more detail.

Interest Rates for Student Loans

Interest rates for undergraduate and graduate student loans vary depending on your credit history, lender, and whether the loan is private or offered by Federal Student Aid.

Rates vary each year as well, but you can secure a fixed rate instead of a variable rate if you’d like.

For the 2025–2026 academic year, the interest rates for federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized loans are as follows:

Interest rates for private loans vary and can change frequently. You can find current rates offered by various private lenders on Saving for College, along with other information and lender ratings.

Conclusion

Learning the annual and aggregate loan limits for federal and private student loans can help you better plan your finances for college. With significant changes to federal loan limits taking effect July 1, 2026, now is a good time to revisit your college financing strategy. Interested in finding private student loans to fund your college education? Learn more about the best student loans for college.