The following information applies universally to all students and all Federal Direct student loans, regardless of any prior borrowing history as of July 1, 2026.
Please contact the Financial Aid Office if you have questions about your federal loan eligibility.
MOST IMPORTANTLY: Contact us BEFORE you drop or withdraw from classes. If you change your schedule, you could end up with a bill to pay out of pocket.
| Student Level | Subsidized Loan Maximum | Total Loan Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Freshmen (0-29 credit hrs) | $3500 | $5500 |
| Sophomore (30-59 credit hrs) | $4500 | $6500 |
| Junior (60-89 credit hrs) | $5500 | $7500 |
| Senior (90+ credit hrs) | $5500 | $7500 |
| Student Level | Subsidized Loan Maximum | Total Loan Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Freshmen (0-29 credit hrs) | $3500 | $9500 |
| Sophomore (30-59 credit hrs) | $4500 | $10,500 |
| Junior (60-89 credit hrs) | $5500 | $12,500 |
| Senior (90+ credit hrs) | $5500 | $12,500 |
| Graduate | $0 | $20,500 |
Dependent vs. Independent Status
If you can answer yes to one or more of these criteria, you should be classified as an independent student:
- you will be twenty-four years old before January 1 of the year you are applying for financial aid.
- you are an orphan or you were a ward of the court until age eighteen.
- you are a veteran or on active duty other than training.
- you are a graduate student.
- you were married at the time the FAFSA was completed.
- you have a legal dependent other than a spouse.
- you support dependent children.
Undergraduate Students:
Undergraduate students who are enrolled in 12 or more credit hours:
Considered full-time enrollment
Eligible for full annual loan amounts.
Undergraduate students who are enrolled in 6 to 11 credit hours: Are not considered full-time students Federal loan eligibility will now be calculated by the enrollment percentage of full-time credit hours.
Example: Student A is enrolled in seven (7) credit hours as a freshman 7 / 12 = 58 percent $5500 total loan eligibility (subsidized plus unsubsidized) x 58% = $3190 of federal loan eligibility for the 2026-2027 aid year $3195 / 2 = $1595 total loan eligibility for Fall 2026
Undergraduate students enrolled in less than 6 credit hours are not eligible for Federal Direct Student Loans.
Graduate Students:
Graduate students who are enrolled in 6 or more credit hours:
Considered full-time enrollment
Eligible for full annual loan amounts.
Graduate students who are enrolled in 1 to 5 credit hours: Are not considered full-time students
Federal loan eligibility will now be calculated by the enrollment percentage of full-time credit hours
Example: Student B is enrolled in three (3) credit hours
3 / 6 = 50 percent $20,500 total loan eligibility x 50% = $10,250 of annual federal loan eligibility $10,250/three semesters = $3416 per semester
Student B is eligible for $3416 for Fall 2026
Graduate students enrolled in less than 3 credit hours are not eligible for Federal Direct Student Loans.
