# New Graduate and Professional Loan Limits: What Students Can Borrow

> New federal rules starting July 1, 2026, cap graduate student borrowing at $20,500 annually and eliminate Grad PLUS loans, forcing families to find alternative funding sources.

- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/blog/new-graduate-and-professional-loan-limits-what-students-can-borrow
- Category: College Guides
- Author: CollegesRef Editorial
- Published: 2026-11-04
- Updated: 2026-11-06

Under new federal rules starting July 1, 2026, graduate students can borrow up to $20,500 annually in Direct Unsubsidized Loans, with a lifetime aggregate limit of $100,000. Professional students, such as those in medical or law programs, face a higher annual cap of $50,000 and a lifetime limit of $200,000. These figures represent the absolute ceiling for federal borrowing, as detailed by [studentaid.gov](https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/loans/subsidized-unsubsidized).

These limits matter most for students entering expensive master's or doctoral programs who previously relied on Grad PLUS loans to cover the full cost of attendance. Under the new framework, Grad PLUS loans are eliminated for new borrowers. Many applicants mistakenly believe they can still borrow up to their school's total cost of attendance using only federal funds. If tuition, fees, and living expenses exceed the $20,500 annual cap, students must now find alternative funding sources to bridge the financial gap.

## Key takeaways

- Starting July 1, 2026, graduate students face a strict annual federal limit of $20,500 and a lifetime aggregate limit of $100,000.
- Professional students in programs like law or medicine can borrow up to $50,000 annually, with a lifetime cap of $200,000.
- The elimination of Grad PLUS loans means students must find alternative funding if their costs exceed the new federal caps.
- Dependent undergraduates can borrow a maximum of $27,000 over four years, according to studentaid.gov guidelines.
- Parent PLUS loans face new restrictions, capping annual borrowing at $20,000 and lifetime borrowing at $65,000 per student.

## The New Federal Borrowing Framework for Graduate Students

### The Elimination of Grad PLUS Loans

The Department of Education is implementing a fundamental shift in how graduate education is financed. For new borrowers taking out loans on or after July 1, 2026, the Federal Direct Graduate PLUS loan program will no longer exist. This change, detailed on [studentaid.gov](https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/loans/subsidized-unsubsidized), removes the credit-based federal borrowing option that previously allowed graduate students to cover their entire cost of attendance.

Under the old system, students routinely used the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to access unlimited federal debt up to the school-defined budget. Now, the elimination of Grad PLUS loans establishes a hard ceiling on federal borrowing. Students can no longer rely on the federal government to bridge the gap between basic unsubsidized loans and high tuition rates. If you are planning a course of study, you must check your prospective school's financial aid portal for the "Award Offer" page to see how the institution plans to package your aid under these restricted terms. You can also use the [CollegesRef College Fit Quiz](https://www.collegesref.com/quiz) to identify institutions that align with your realistic borrowing capacity.

### New Annual and Aggregate Direct Unsubsidized Limits

In place of the open-ended PLUS program, the federal government relies entirely on fixed Direct Unsubsidized Loans. The annual and aggregate limits now depend strictly on whether the Department of Education classifies the program as graduate or professional.

According to [studentaid.gov](https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/loans/subsidized-unsubsidized), standard graduate students are limited to $20,500 per year in Direct Unsubsidized Loans. The lifetime aggregate limit for these graduate borrowers is capped at $100,000. This aggregate limit includes any federal loans accumulated during undergraduate study.

Professional students, such as those enrolled in medical, dental, or law programs, have access to higher thresholds. These students can borrow up to $50,000 annually. The lifetime aggregate limit for professional students is capped at $200,000, which also incorporates all prior undergraduate federal debt.

To calculate your remaining federal borrowing capacity, find your cumulative outstanding loan balance on the "My Aid" dashboard after logging into your account at studentaid.gov. Subtract this outstanding balance from the aggregate limit of your target program. For example, according to studentaid.gov, a dependent student can borrow at most $27,000 over four years of undergraduate study. If that student enters a standard graduate program, they have exactly $73,000 in remaining federal loan eligibility.

If the total cost of your multi-year program exceeds this remaining amount, you must secure alternative funding. You can read more about managing these funding gaps in our comprehensive [College Guides](https://www.collegesref.com/blog?category=college-guides). When communicating with a university financial aid office, ask the administrator specifically how many credits of your program are classified under the professional rate versus the standard graduate rate, as this classification dictates which annual cap applies to your FAFSA package.

## Comparing Undergraduate and Graduate Federal Loan Limits

### Dependent vs Independent Undergraduate Limits

Undergraduate borrowing limits depend heavily on whether the federal government considers a student dependent or independent. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) determines this status through a series of dependency questions on the form. Most students under the age of 24 who are unmarried and do not have dependents of their own are classified as dependent.

According to studentaid.gov, a dependent undergraduate can borrow up to $5,500 in Direct Loans during their first year. This limit rises to $6,500 in the second year, and caps at $7,500 for the third year and beyond. Over a standard four-year degree, a dependent student can borrow a maximum of $27,000, while the absolute lifetime aggregate limit for dependent undergraduates is $31,000. No more than $23,000 of this total may be in subsidized loans, which do not accrue interest while the student is enrolled at least half-time.

Independent undergraduates, who are typically older, married, veterans, or active-duty military, have access to higher limits to compensate for the lack of expected family contribution. First-year independent students can borrow up to $9,500, second-year students can borrow up to $10,500, and third-year students and beyond can borrow up to $12,500 annually. The lifetime aggregate limit for independent undergraduates is $57,500.

These undergraduate limits often fall short of the actual cost of attendance. Families frequently look at other options, such as choosing an in-state public university to lower the overall bill. To see how these borrowing limits align with actual costs, families can [compare colleges side by side](https://www.collegesref.com/compare) to evaluate tuition, fees, and average net prices.

### The Step Up to Graduate and Professional Caps

Once a student transitions to graduate or professional school, the federal borrowing structure changes completely. All graduate and professional students are automatically considered independent for federal financial aid purposes, regardless of their age or parental support.

According to studentaid.gov, graduate students can borrow up to $20,500 annually in Direct Unsubsidized Loans, with a lifetime aggregate limit of $100,000. For students enrolled in professional degree programs, such as medicine, law, or dentistry, the annual limit steps up to $50,000, with a lifetime aggregate limit of $200,000. These graduate and professional limits include any federal loans borrowed during undergraduate study.

To calculate your remaining borrowing capacity, locate your cumulative loan history on your studentaid.gov dashboard or request a Financial Aid Review (FAR) document from your undergraduate school. Subtract your outstanding undergraduate principal from the graduate aggregate limit. For example, if an independent undergraduate borrowed the maximum aggregate of $57,500, they would have exactly $42,500 in remaining eligibility for graduate school before hitting the $100,000 lifetime cap.

These higher caps reflect the increased costs of advanced degrees, but they also mean graduate students must manage much larger debt loads. This is especially true when comparing public programs to private institutions, where tuition differences can be substantial. Students can research how residency affects these costs by reading about [In-State vs Out-of-State College: Is Leaving Home Worth the Cost?](https://www.collegesref.com/blog/in-state-vs-out-of-state-college-is-leaving-home-worth-the-cost) to plan their borrowing strategy.

## How School Sector and Tuition Costs Impact Your Borrowing Needs

### Analyzing Costs Across Public, Nonprofit, and For-Profit Sectors

Graduate and professional students must align their borrowing with the specific sector of their chosen institution. The tuition and fees you encounter vary wildly depending on whether you enroll in a state university, a private nonprofit institution, or a proprietary school.

According to CollegesRef data shown in the table below, public colleges carry a median in-state tuition of $6,034 and a median out-of-state tuition of $12,715. For a state resident, the annual graduate Direct Unsubsidized Loan limit of $20,500 easily covers this tuition. The remaining funds can pay for housing, books, and insurance.

Private sectors present a more difficult math problem. The table below shows that private nonprofit colleges have a median in-state tuition of $48,723. If you enroll in a master's program at a private nonprofit school, the $20,500 annual federal loan limit leaves a tuition deficit of $28,223 before you even calculate living expenses. Private for-profit colleges present their own challenges. They have a median average net price of $30,181, which still exceeds the annual federal borrowing limit for non-professional graduate students by nearly $10,000.

To understand how these upfront costs translate into long-term financial outcomes, families should evaluate [College ROI: How Long Until a Degree Pays for Itself](https://www.collegesref.com/blog/college-roi-how-long-until-a-degree-pays-for-itself) before signing promissory notes. For example, CollegesRef data shows that Texas A & M University-College Station, a large public institution, has median student earnings of $78,159 ten years after entry. This return profile differs significantly from sectors where tuition is high but median post-graduation earnings are lower.

### Matching Loan Limits to Real-World Net Prices

Net price represents the actual cost a student pays after subtracting all federal, state, and institutional grants or scholarships. It is the most accurate figure to use when calculating your funding gap.

To find your actual out-of-pocket exposure, request the official Cost of Attendance (COA) breakdown from the financial aid office of each school on your list. This document separates direct costs, like tuition billed directly to your student account, from indirect costs, such as off-campus rent and groceries.

Subtract your total grants and scholarships from the COA to determine your net price. If you are a graduate student with a net price of $27,167, which is the median for private nonprofit colleges in the CollegesRef dataset, you can subtract the maximum annual Direct Unsubsidized Loan of $20,500 to find your exact shortfall. In this scenario, your annual funding gap is $6,667.

You must calculate this gap for each year of your program. If the gap exceeds your personal savings, you must ask the financial aid office if they offer institutional work-study positions or graduate assistantships that include tuition waivers. Securing a teaching or research assistantship can reduce your net price to a level that fits entirely within the federal loan limits.

| Sector | Colleges | Median net price | Median in-state tuition | Median out-of-state tuition | Median graduation rate | Median earnings (10 yrs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public | 1,041 | $10,437 | $6,034 | $12,715 | 38% | $49,461 |
| Private nonprofit | 323 | $27,167 | $48,723 | $48,702 | 70% | $69,656 |
| Private for-profit | 44 | $30,181 | $18,367 | $18,367 | 41% | $47,524 |

*Source: CollegesRef analysis of [IPEDS](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/) and [College Scorecard](https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/) data for 1,408 published U.S. colleges with at least 2,000 students (latest data year 2025). Net price is the average paid by first-time, full-time students who receive grant aid.*

## The Impact of Parent PLUS Loan Caps on Family Financing Plans

### The New Annual and Lifetime PLUS Limits

For parent borrowers, the federal safety valve of borrowing up to the full cost of attendance has vanished. For loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2026, Parent PLUS borrowing is capped at $20,000 per year and $65,000 in total per dependent student, according to rules detailed on https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/loans/plus/parent. Previously, parents could use these loans to cover any remaining gap on the financial aid award letter, regardless of the total balance.

This policy change forces families to calculate their funding gaps much earlier. To find your specific exposure, locate the "Estimated Cost of Attendance" on your student's financial aid offer and subtract the "Total Grants and Scholarships" along with the maximum $5,500 first-year student Direct Loan. If the remaining gap exceeds $20,000, you cannot rely solely on federal parent loans to cover the difference.

Families must now look for institutions where the net price aligns with these new federal boundaries. When a preferred school becomes financially out of reach due to these caps, you can learn [how to find colleges similar to a school you love](https://www.collegesref.com/blog/how-to-find-colleges-similar-to-a-school-you-love) that might offer better merit aid or lower baseline costs.

### How PLUS Caps Shift the Burden to Graduate Planning

The restrictions on undergraduate borrowing create a domino effect that directly impacts graduate school financing. Because parents can no longer absorb unlimited undergraduate debt, many families are forced to preserve their private savings for the undergraduate years. This shifts the entire financial burden of advanced degrees directly onto the student.

Undergraduate students who exhaust their own federal limits, which studentaid.gov lists as a maximum of $27,000 over four years for dependent students, will graduate with baseline debt. If their parents also max out the new $65,000 Parent PLUS limit, the family unit enters the graduate planning phase already carrying $92,000 in federal education debt.

When these students transition to graduate school, they must navigate the system as independent borrowers. Because the Grad PLUS program has been eliminated for new borrowers starting July 1, 2026, these students cannot look to unlimited federal graduate loans to solve undergraduate shortfalls. They must fit their master's or professional degree costs strictly within the new Direct Unsubsidized annual limits of $20,500 or $50,000.

Before signing any undergraduate loan master promissory notes, families should contact the university financial aid office to ask for a multi-year projection sheet. Ask the aid administrator specifically how the $20,000 annual Parent PLUS cap will affect your billing statement in years two, three, and four when tuition rates typically rise. Planning with these hard caps in mind prevents a student from getting stranded halfway through an undergraduate degree with no remaining federal borrowing capacity.

## How Financial Aid Offices Calculate Your Maximum Loan Eligibility

### The Cost of Attendance Equation

The financial aid office at your university determines your borrowing limit using a strict statutory formula. This calculation begins with the Cost of Attendance (COA), which is not just tuition and fees. The COA represents the total estimated cost for a student to attend the institution for one academic year. It includes allowances for housing, food, books, supplies, transportation, and personal miscellaneous expenses.

You can find this figure on your official financial aid offer letter or by requesting the detailed COA breakdown from the university aid office. Under federal rules, your total financial assistance, including all student loans, cannot exceed this established COA.

To find your maximum loan eligibility, the aid office subtracts your Student Aid Index (SAI) and any other financial aid from the COA. The remaining number is your financial need. For graduate and professional students, who are only eligible for unsubsidized federal loans, the calculation is simpler. The school subtracts your other financial aid directly from the COA. The resulting figure is the maximum amount you can borrow in federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans for that academic year, up to the annual federal limit.

Families can repeat this calculation at home. Take the school's published COA and subtract any scholarships, grants, or assistantships. The remaining balance is the maximum federal loan amount the school can legally certify for the year. If this balance is lower than the federal annual limit of $20,500 for graduate students, you can only borrow up to that lower balance.

### How Other Financial Aid Reduces Your Borrowing Capacity

Private scholarships, state grants, and institutional fellowships do not just lower your out-of-pocket costs. They directly reduce the amount of federal loans you are allowed to borrow. The federal government treats these resources as "estimated financial assistance."

For example, if a graduate student attends a private nonprofit university with a COA of $60,000, the maximum federal loan limit of $20,500 normally applies. If that student receives a $45,000 institutional fellowship, the remaining cost is $15,000. Because total aid cannot exceed the COA, the financial aid office must cap the student's federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan at $15,000. The student cannot borrow the full federal limit of $20,500.

This reduction is beneficial because it prevents students from over-borrowing and accumulating high-interest debt. When evaluating graduate programs, applicants should compare how different schools package these awards. You can analyze these trade-offs using the [Best Value Colleges: Graduate Earnings vs. Net Price (2026)](https://www.collegesref.com/blog/best-value-colleges-earnings-vs-net-price) tool to see how different aid packages impact long-term debt.

If you receive an outside scholarship after your financial aid package is packaged, you must report it to the financial aid office. The office will adjust your financial aid package. They will typically reduce your federal student loans first rather than cutting your institutional grants. You should email the aid office to confirm their specific policy on outside scholarship displacement.

## Alternative Funding Strategies When Federal Loans Fall Short

### Evaluating Private Student Loans

When the cost of attendance exceeds the new federal borrowing limits, private student loans represent one method to bridge the financial gap. Unlike federal loans, private lenders evaluate credit scores, debt-to-income ratios, and employment history. Most graduate students require a creditworthy cosigner to secure competitive interest rates.

Before signing a private promissory note, a borrower must compare the terms against federal standards. Private loans lack the flexible repayment protections found on federal options, such as Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) plans or Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). When researching lenders, request a sample disclosure statement to check if the interest rate is fixed or variable. A variable rate can increase the total cost of the loan significantly over a ten-year repayment term.

Families should calculate the cumulative interest of a private loan by multiplying the estimated monthly payment by the total number of months in the repayment term, then subtracting the original principal. Compare this total cost against the projected earnings for the chosen field of study. To identify programs that yield strong financial returns, students can consult the CollegesRef list of [colleges with the highest graduate earnings](https://www.collegesref.com/blog/colleges-with-the-highest-graduate-earnings) to weigh potential debt against future salary expectations.

### Securing Institutional Grants and Assistantships

Institutional aid offers a direct way to reduce the need for private borrowing. Graduate applicants should contact their academic department directly to ask about teaching assistantships (TAs), research assistantships (RAs), or graduate assistantships (GAs). These positions frequently provide a tuition waiver alongside a monthly living stipend.

To apply for these opportunities, students must submit specific departmental applications, which often require a curriculum vitae, letters of recommendation, and a statement of purpose. These deadlines frequently fall much earlier than general admission deadlines.

If an initial financial aid offer is insufficient, a student can submit a formal appeal to the financial aid office. This process requires writing a formal letter requesting a professional judgment review. The applicant must present documented changes in financial circumstances, such as medical expenses or a change in employment status, or submit competing award letters from peer institutions.

Students should also search for external fellowships from private foundations, corporations, and government agencies. These awards do not require repayment and can be applied directly to the tuition bill, reducing the student's reliance on high-interest private debt. Always check with the financial aid office to ensure that external scholarships will not reduce the student's eligibility for institutional grants.

## How the New Limits Apply: Three Real-World Borrowing Scenarios

### A Master of Business Administration Student at a Private Nonprofit University

The household figures in this scenario are hypothetical. An applicant plans to enroll in a two-year MBA program at a private nonprofit university. According to CollegesRef data, private nonprofit colleges have a median in-state tuition of $48,723. The university financial aid office sets the annual cost of attendance at $72,000, which includes tuition, housing, books, and personal expenses.

First, the student completes the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The financial aid office processes the form and offers the maximum federal student aid package. Under the rules for new borrowers starting July 1, 2026, Grad PLUS loans are no longer available, as detailed on https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/loans/subsidized-unsubsidized. The student can borrow a maximum of $20,500 per year in Direct Unsubsidized Loans. Over the two-year program, this will total $41,000, well below the new $100,000 aggregate limit for graduate students.

Second, the student calculates the annual funding gap. Subtracting the $20,500 federal loan limit from the $72,000 cost of attendance leaves a deficit of $51,500 per year.

Third, the student evaluates funding options. They decide to use $15,000 from personal savings each year. They apply for a private education loan to cover the remaining $36,500 annual gap. The student chooses this path because federal limits prevent them from financing the entire degree through the Department of Education.

### A Medical Student at a Public University

The household figures in this scenario are hypothetical. A student is admitted to a four-year Doctor of Medicine program at a public university. The school estimates the annual cost of attendance at $68,000.

First, the student reviews the federal borrowing limits for professional students. According to https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/loans/subsidized-unsubsidized, professional students can borrow up to $50,000 annually in Direct Unsubsidized Loans, with a lifetime aggregate limit of $200,000.

Second, the student compares their annual limit to the cost of attendance. The $50,000 maximum federal loan leaves an annual shortfall of $18,000. Over four years, borrowing the maximum federal amount will result in $200,000 of debt, matching the exact lifetime limit allowed for professional borrowers.

Third, the student decides to accept the full $50,000 federal loan each year. To cover the $18,000 annual gap, they apply for an institutional scholarship from the medical school. The school awards them a $10,000 merit grant. The student works part-time as a graduate teaching assistant to earn the remaining $8,000. They choose this strategy to avoid high-interest private loans and to keep their total debt within the federal $200,000 ceiling.

### A Master of Education Student at a Public University

The household figures in this scenario are hypothetical. A teacher decides to pursue a one-year Master of Education degree online through a public university. The total cost of the program, including tuition and fees, is $18,500.

First, the student submits the FAFSA to determine their eligibility. The financial aid office confirms that the student qualifies for federal graduate loans.

Second, the student compares the program cost to the federal borrowing limits. Under the framework on https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/loans/subsidized-unsubsidized, the annual limit for a graduate student is $20,500. The program cost of $18,500 is fully covered by this limit.

Third, the student decides to borrow only $15,000 of the available $20,500. They pay the remaining $3,500 out of pocket using their monthly salary from teaching. The student chooses this option to minimize interest accrual on unsubsidized debt while ensuring they do not exceed their actual educational expenses.

## Frequently asked questions

### Can I still get a Grad PLUS loan if I am a new borrower after July 1, 2026?

No, new borrowers starting graduate school on or after July 1, 2026, are no longer eligible for Grad PLUS loans. According to studentaid.gov, the federal government has ended the Grad PLUS program for new borrowers as part of the updated federal borrowing framework. This change means you cannot use credit-based federal loans to cover costs above the standard unsubsidized limits. If you need additional funding beyond the basic federal caps, you must look to private lenders or institutional scholarships.

### What is the maximum amount a graduate student can borrow in Direct Unsubsidized Loans?

A graduate student can borrow a maximum of $20,500 per year in Direct Unsubsidized Loans. This annual limit is set by federal guidelines detailed on studentaid.gov. Unlike undergraduate loans, this amount does not increase as you progress through your degree program. The financial aid office at your university will award this money up to the annual limit, provided the total does not exceed your school's official cost of attendance.

### How do the new professional student loan limits differ from graduate limits?

Professional students can borrow up to $50,000 annually in Direct Unsubsidized Loans, which is more than double the $20,500 annual limit for standard graduate students. According to studentaid.gov, this higher threshold accommodates the steep tuition costs of specific programs like medicine, law, and dentistry. The federal government defines professional degrees separately from general master's or doctoral programs. Your school financial aid office determines your classification based on your specific degree code.

### Are graduate student loans subsidized or unsubsidized?

All federal Direct Loans for graduate and professional students are entirely unsubsidized. The federal government eliminated subsidized loans for graduate students in 2012, meaning interest begins to accumulate as soon as the school receives the funds. You can find this policy outlined on studentaid.gov. While you can defer payments while enrolled at least half-time, the unpaid interest will capitalize and add to your principal balance when you enter repayment.

### What are the new lifetime borrowing limits for graduate students?

The new lifetime aggregate borrowing limit for graduate students is $100,000, while professional students have a lifetime limit of $200,000. These caps, detailed on studentaid.gov, include any federal loans you borrowed during your undergraduate education. If you reach this aggregate limit before finishing your degree, the Department of Education will not disburse further federal loans to your school. You can track your cumulative outstanding balance by logging into your account dashboard on the federal student aid website.

### How does the new Parent PLUS loan cap affect undergraduate financing?

For loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2026, Parent PLUS borrowing is capped at $20,000 per year and $65,000 in total per dependent student. According to studentaid.gov, this cap forces families to find alternative funding if the college's net price exceeds these limits. For example, CollegesRef data shows the median average net price for private nonprofit colleges is $27,167. A family relying solely on Parent PLUS loans to cover this median net price would face a yearly shortfall of over $7,000.

### What happens if my graduate school tuition is higher than the annual federal loan limit?

If your tuition and living expenses exceed the annual federal limit, you must cover the remaining balance using private student loans, institutional aid, or personal savings. Because Grad PLUS loans are no longer available to new borrowers, the financial aid office cannot increase your federal loan package beyond the $20,500 or $50,000 caps. Many graduate schools offer departmental assistantships or fellowships that include tuition waivers to help bridge this gap.

### Do these new loan limits apply to students who already have existing Grad PLUS loans?

No, the elimination of Grad PLUS loans and the new borrowing caps apply specifically to new borrowers who enter graduate programs on or after July 1, 2026. According to studentaid.gov, existing borrowers who have already received Grad PLUS loans prior to this date are grandfathered into the old system. These returning students may continue to access Grad PLUS funding to complete their current degree programs, subject to the credit check and cost of attendance limits.

## How we put this guide together

This guide is organized around the questions students and families ask most about the topic, and aims to help with a real decision rather than repeat general advice.

College figures in this guide come from the federal IPEDS and College Scorecard records CollegesRef imports and checks; the table and chart are CollegesRef calculations from those records. The analysis covers IPEDS and College Scorecard data for 1,408 published U.S. colleges with at least 2,000 students (latest data year 2025). Net price is the average paid by first-time, full-time students who receive grant aid.

Federal aid rules and amounts were checked against studentaid.gov and the other official sources below on 2026-11-03.

## Sources

- [National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/)
- [U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard](https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/)
- [studentaid.gov: Subsidized Unsubsidized](https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/loans/subsidized-unsubsidized)
- [studentaid.gov: Parent](https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/loans/plus/parent)

*Editorial note: CollegesRef publishes research guidance, not individualized financial, legal, or admissions advice. College figures come from federal IPEDS and College Scorecard data imported into CollegesRef. Federal aid amounts can change each award year, so confirm them on studentaid.gov before acting. Last reviewed November 4, 2026 by CollegesRef Editorial.*

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Source: CollegesRef, https://www.collegesref.com/blog/new-graduate-and-professional-loan-limits-what-students-can-borrow. When citing a figure, include the data year stated next to it.