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, 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 amount you are eligible to borrow, at the time of packaging.

The loan limits indicated in the chart below are the federal maximums that you can receive during two semesters of enrollment.

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.

Year	Dependent Students	Independent Student (and dependent undergraduate students whose parents are unable to obtain PLUS loans)
Freshman	$5,500 – No more than $3,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans.	$9,500 – No more than $3,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans.
Sophomore	$6,500 – No more than $4,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans.	$10,500 – No more than $4,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans.
Junior and Beyond	$7,500 – No more than $5,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans.	$12,500 – No more than $5,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans.
Graduate or Professional	Not applicable (all graduate and professional students are considered independent)	$20,500 (unsubsidized only)
Subsidized and Unsubsidized Aggregate Loan Limit	$31,000 – No more than $23,000 of this amount may be subsidized loans.	$57,500 for undergraduates – No more than $23,000 of this amount may be subsidized loans. $138,500 for graduate or professional students – No more than $65,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. The graduate aggregate limit includes all federal loans received for undergraduate study. $224,000 for Health Professions Students (Doctor of Pharmacy, graduate in Public Health, Doctor of Chiropractic, Doctoral Degree in Clinical Psychology, Masters or Doctoral Degree in Health Administration). Health Professions students must contact the Office of Financial Aid to submit a request to receive additional unsubsidized loans up to the $224,000 aggregate loan limit.