There are limits on the amount of Subsidized, Unsubsidized, and Pell Grant funds you can receive in a given year and degree program.
Federal Grant Limits
Federal Grants
Federal Pell Grants are awarded annually based on financial need, enrollment, and cost of attendance. Amounts can change yearly.
- The maximum Federal Pell Grant award is $7,395 for the 2026 to 2027 award year.
- The Pell Grant is available for undergraduate students seeking their first bachelor's degree for up to the equivalent of 12 semesters or six full-time years of funding. Learn more about the limit and how usage is calculated.
- Review your Pell Lifetime Eligibility Usage (LEU) at StudentAid.gov.
Federal Educational Opportunity Grants are awarded annually based on exceptional financial need, enrollment, and availability of funds to undergraduate students seeking their first bachelor degree and enrolled at least half time.
Federal Work Study
Federal Work Study is a federally-funded program providing part-time jobs to undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at least half time and with demonstrated financial need. There is no Federal Maximum. Awards based on Cost of Attendance, Financial Need, and School Funding Allocation.
Student Loans
The One Big Beautiful Borrowing Act (OBBBA) makes major changes to federal student loans beginning July 1, 2026, introducing new annual and lifetime borrowing caps and phasing out Grad PLUS loans for many new borrowers. While undergraduate loan limits remain mostly unchanged, graduate, professional, health professions, and Parent PLUS borrowers will see significantly reduced federal borrowing eligibility under the new rules.
Determining your borrower status
You are considered a legacy borrower if you received a federal Direct Loan for your current program before July 1, 2026, and have remained continuously enrolled. Legacy borrowers may continue using the current federal loan limits for up to three academic years (2028-2029) or up to their remaining expected time to credential, whichever comes first.
Undergraduate Loan Limits
Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans help undergraduate students pay for educational expenses such as tuition, fees, housing, meal plans, books, supplies, transportation, and other school-related costs. Loan limits are based on dependency status and academic class level or student classification. These limits are standardized under federal regulations and do not include any legacy or new borrower classifications. Subsidized Loans are need-based and do not accrue interest while enrolled at least half-time, while Unsubsidized Loans begin accruing interest immediately after disbursement.
Dependent Student Limits
| Academic Year |
Annual Limit |
Lifetime Limit |
| First Year |
$5,500
(Max $3,500 in subsidized loans)
|
$31,000
(Max $23,000 in subsidized loans)
|
| Second Year |
$6,500
(Max $4,500 in subsidized loans)
|
$31,000
(Max $23,000 in subsidized loans)
|
| Third Year and Beyond |
$7,500
(Max $5,500 in subsidized loans)
|
$31,000
(Max $23,000 in subsidized loans)
|
Independent Student Limits
| Academic Year |
Annual Limit |
Lifetime Limit |
|
First Year |
$9,500
(Max $3,500 in subsidized loans)
|
$57,500
(Max $23,000 in subsidized loans)
|
|
Second Year |
$10,500
(Max $4,500 in subsidized loans)
|
$57,500
(Max $23,000 in subsidized loans)
|
|
Third Year and Beyond |
$12,500
(Max $5,500 in subsidized loans)
|
$57,500
(Max $23,000 in subsidized loans)
|
Federal Parent PLUS Loan Limits
Federal Parent PLUS loans are federal loans issued to parents of dependent students to help pay for their undergraduate education. Parents are responsible for payments and interest. A credit check is required and the borrower must not have adverse credit history.
Legacy Parent Borrower Limits
| Annual Limit |
Lifetime Limit |
| Total Cost of Attendance minus aid |
None |
New Parent Borrower Limits
| Annual Limit |
Lifetime Limit |
| $20,000 |
$65,000 |
Unsubsidized and Grad PLUS Loan Limits
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans and Grad PLUS Loans are types of federal student loans available to graduate and professional students to help cover tuition, fees, housing, and other educational expenses, with interest accruing while the student is enrolled. Direct Unsubsidized Loans offer fixed interest rates and do not require a credit check, while Grad PLUS Loans can help cover remaining educational costs after all other financial aid. For Grad PLUS, a credit check is required and the borrower must not have adverse credit history.
Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Federal Direct Grad PLUS Loans will no longer be available to new borrowers for loan periods beginning on or after July 1, 2026. They continue to be available for legacy borrowers. Learn more about Federal Direct Grad Plus Loans.
Graduate Student Borrowers
For federal student aid purposes, graduate students are students admitted to and actively enrolled in a post-baccalaureate program other than the Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.), Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) or Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) program.
Legacy Limits
| Loan Type |
Annual Limit |
Lifetime Limit |
| Unsubsidized |
$20,500 |
$138,500 |
| Grad PLUS |
Cost of Attendance minus any other aid |
None |
New Limits
| Loan Type |
Annual Limit |
Lifetime Limit |
| Unsubsidized |
$20,500 |
$100,000 |
| Grad PLUS |
Loan no longer exists |
Loan no longer exists |
Professional Student Borrowers
For federal student aid purposes, professional students are students admitted to and actively enrolled in the Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.), Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) or Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) program.
D.M.D. and M.D. Programs
Legacy Limits
| Loan Type |
Annual Limit |
Lifetime Limit |
| Unsubsidized |
$40,500-$47,167 |
$224,000 |
| Grad PLUS |
Cost of Attendance minus any other aid |
None |
New Limits
| Loan Type |
Annual Limit |
Lifetime Limit |
| Unsubsidized |
$50,000 |
$200,000 |
| Grad PLUS |
Loan no longer exists |
Loan no longer exists |
Pharm.D. Program
Legacy Limits
| Loan Type |
Annual Limit |
Lifetime Limit |
| Unsubsidized |
$33,000-$37,167 |
$224,000 |
| Grad PLUS |
Cost of Attendance minus any other aid |
None |
New Limits
| Loan Type |
Annual Limit |
Lifetime Limit |
| Unsubsidized |
$50,000 |
$200,000 |
| Grad PLUS |
Loan no longer exists |
Loan no longer exists |
