Stafford US Loan Limits

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

Dependent undergraduates

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

Independent undergraduate

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

Graduate

Year	Subsidized ($)	Additional unsubsidized ($)	Combined max ($)
Graduate	0	20500	20500

Worked Examples of Loan Combinations

Total amount borrowed	Stafford	PLUS*	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.