Dependent Status

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

Independent Status

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.