# How much can you borrow in federal student loans? > Federal student loan limits for 2026–27 by year and dependency, the July 1, 2026 graduate and Parent PLUS caps, and what is left of a college's net price. - Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition - Page (interactive calculator): https://www.collegesref.com/tools/student-loan-limits - Rules: 2026–27 federal student aid year, checked 2026-11-05 - Results are estimates, not an official determination by the U.S. Department of Education or a college. ## How it works ### Undergraduate limits did not change A dependent first-year can borrow $5,500 (up to $3,500 subsidized), rising to $7,500 from the third year. Independent students, and dependent students whose parents are denied a Parent PLUS loan, can borrow $9,500 to $12,500. ### What changed on July 1, 2026 New graduate borrowers are capped at $20,500 a year and $100,000 in total; professional students at $50,000 and $200,000. Grad PLUS ended for new borrowers. Parent PLUS is capped at $20,000 a year and $65,000 per student, and every student has a $257,500 lifetime cap. ### Part-time and the college's own cap From 2026–27, annual Direct Loan limits shrink in proportion to how far below full-time you enroll. Separately, a college can never lend more than its cost of attendance minus your other aid. ## Worked example 1. A dependent first-year student at a college with an average net price of $18,000 a year can borrow up to $5,500 in Direct Loans. 2. That leaves $12,500 to cover from savings, work, other aid or a Parent PLUS loan (up to $20,000 a year). 3. Borrowing the maximum every year adds up to $27,000 over four years, within the $31,000 total limit. ## Assumptions and limits - Limits are federal ceilings for one academic year. Your college sets your actual offer and can lend less. - Subsidized Loans also require financial need; the tool shows the most that can be subsidized. - Graduate figures are for borrowers without the interim exception. Students enrolled in a program with a Direct Loan before July 1, 2026 keep the old limits for up to three academic years. - The college comparison uses the College Scorecard average net price for aided first-year students (in-state students at public colleges), not your own price. ## Frequently asked questions ### How much can a freshman borrow in federal student loans in 2026–27? A dependent first-year undergraduate can borrow up to $5,500, of which up to $3,500 can be subsidized. An independent first-year can borrow up to $9,500. ### What is the total federal loan limit for undergraduates? $31,000 for dependent students and $57,500 for independent students, with no more than $23,000 subsidized in either case. ### What are the new graduate student loan limits? For new borrowers from July 1, 2026: graduate students can borrow $20,500 a year and $100,000 in total; professional students (such as law and medicine) $50,000 a year and $200,000 in total. Only loans borrowed as a graduate or professional student count toward these totals. ### Are Grad PLUS loans ending? Yes, for new borrowers from July 1, 2026. Students who were enrolled in a program and had received a Direct Loan for it before that date can keep borrowing under the old rules, including Grad PLUS, for up to three academic years or the rest of the program, whichever is shorter. ### How much can parents borrow with a Parent PLUS loan now? Up to $20,000 a year and $65,000 in total per dependent student, and never more than the cost of attendance minus other aid. Before July 1, 2026, there was no fixed cap. ### Do part-time students get lower loan limits? Yes, from 2026–27. The annual Subsidized and Unsubsidized limits are reduced in proportion to how far below full-time you are enrolled, rounded to the nearest whole percent. Parent PLUS loans are not reduced. ### Is there a lifetime limit on federal student loans? Yes. From July 1, 2026, a student can borrow no more than $257,500 in federal loans in total, counting undergraduate, graduate and Grad PLUS loans but not Parent PLUS, and even if some has been repaid. ## Official sources - [Frequently Asked Questions – Loan Limits (Federal Student Aid, May 20, 2026)](https://fsapartners.ed.gov/sites/default/files/2026-05/FrequentlyAskedQuestionsLoanLimits.pdf) - [FSA Training Conference 2026: Loan Changes, Loan Limits and Exceptions, Part 1](https://fsapartners.ed.gov/sites/default/files/attachments/2026-03/Loan%20Changes%20Loan%20Limits%20and%20Exceptions%20-%20Part%201%20-%20Legislation%20and%20Provisions.pdf) - [Interest Rates for Federal Direct Loans First Disbursed Between July 1, 2026 and June 30, 2027 (GENERAL-26-33, June 4, 2026)](https://fsapartners.ed.gov/knowledge-center/library/electronic-announcements/2026-06-04/interest-rates-federal-direct-loans-first-disbursed-between-july-1-2026-and-june-30-2027) --- Source: CollegesRef, https://www.collegesref.com/tools/student-loan-limits. 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