Federal Direct Loans have annual and lifetime borrowing limits set by the Department of Education. Graduate students can learn more about annual loan limit changes and legacy provisions on our Graduate Students financial aid page.
If you are a first-time borrower of subsidized or unsubsidized loans:
Federal loan changes
Starting July 1, 2026:
New lifetime loan limit
- Total federal loan limit: $257,500
- Includes all federal loans (undergraduate + graduate)
Loan proration (new)
- Loan amounts will be based on your enrollment level
- You must be enrolled at least half-time
- If you take fewer credits, your loan eligibility will be reduced proportionally
We are awaiting final federal guidance on exact proration details.
New loan limits for graduate and professional students
| Degree Type |
Annual Loan Limit |
Aggregate Loan Limit |
Aggregate Loan Limit (Legacy Provision) |
| Graduate students |
$20,500 |
$100,000 |
$138,500 |
|
Professional students
(Clinical Psychology, Theology)
|
$50,000 |
$200,000 |
Clinical Psych - $224,000 |
*Aggregate loan limits do not include undergraduate loans
Graduate and professional students who meet BOTH of the following criteria may continue to borrow under the current loan structure for up to 3 additional years or for the remainder of their current published program length, whichever is shorter.
- Students enrolled in the same credential program before July 1, 2026
- Students who have previously borrowed a federal loan for that program