Stafford US Loan Limits

Students are normally able to borrow up to the limits listed below.

Dependent undergraduates

YearSubsidized ($)Additional unsubsidized ($)Combined max ($)
Year 1 3500 2000 5500
Year 2 4500 2000 6500
Year 3 5500 2000 7500

Independent undergraduate

YearSubsidized ($)Additional unsubsidized ($)Combined max ($)
Year 1 3500 6000 9500
Year 2 4500 6000 10500
Year 3 5500 7000 12500

Graduate

YearSubsidized ($)Additional unsubsidized ($)Combined max ($)
Graduate 0 20500 20500

Worked Examples of Loan Combinations

Total amount borrowedStaffordPLUS*1st
Disbursement
2nd
Disbursement
3rd
Disbursement
55000
(graduate)
20500 34500 27500 27500 N/A
20500 (graduate) 20500 0 10250 10250 N/A
9500
(independent UG yr 1)
9500 0 3167 3167 3166
55000
(dependent UG yr 1
with Parent PLUS)
5500 49500** 18333 18333 18334
5500 (dependent UG yr 1) 5500 0 1834 1833 1833

All figures are in US dollars ($).

*Stafford and PLUS loans that are co-payable must be used to cover tuition and college accommodation fees in full before any payment is passed to the student.

Graduate students’ loans are disbursed in 2 equal amounts 6 months apart (eg for September starter September and March). Undergraduates loans are disbursed termly (September, January and April).

** Parent(s) may take out a PLUS Loan, private loan maximum will then be reduced.