How Much in Student Loans Can I Get?

According to the College Board, the average annual cost of a private four-year college is now $45,000 for tuition and fees. So, if you really want to attend a private university, on average you’ll need to be prepared to pay about $180,000 for your education.And that’s if you don’t plan to attend graduate school.For instance, consider the extra cost that medical students deal with.According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the average annual cost for an in-state public medical school is another $44,158 for the 2026-27 academic year.

How do you pay for all this? The simple answer may seem to be, “Well, I’ll just take out student loans.” But, contrary to what some may think, student loans aren’t just blank checks.There are limits to how much you can borrow, especially when it comes to federal student loans.Federal student loan limits became even more restrictive for graduate and professional students starting July 1, 2026, with new borrowing caps and the elimination of Grad PLUS Loans for new borrowers.So the question many students want answered is, “How much in student loans can I get?” We’ll provide the answers to how much you can borrow in this guide.

Let’s take a look at the student loan limits you’ll face through each stage of your college career.Federal vs.private student loan borrowing strategy Federal student loans come with many built-in benefits that private student loans can’t match.For example, federal student loan borrowers are eligible to join an Income-Driven Repayment plan.

They’re also eligible for federal forgiveness programs like Public Service Loan Forgiveness.Another perk of federal student loans is that you can typically take them out on your own without a cosigner, regardless of your credit standing. But one of the few downsides to federal student loans is that their student loan limits can be more restrictive than private student loans.In most cases, you should max out your federal student loans first before moving to private student loans.Below, we’ll take a look at the student loan limits for both undergraduate and graduate students.

Undergraduate student loan limits How many student loans can you get as an undergraduate student? That will mostly depend on your answers to two questions: Are you a dependent or independent student? And, what year of school are you in? Here’s how that information can affect your borrowing options.Federal student loan limits There are two main types of federal student loans for undergraduate students: Direct Subsidized and Direct Unsubsidized loans.Both types come with an interest rate of 6.52% for the 2026-27 academic year and are eligible for federal student loan benefits.But there are key differences: Direct Subsidized Loans: The government will pay your interest charges for you in some circumstances.

To qualify, you’ll need to prove financial need.Direct Unsubsidized Loans: You’ll be responsible for all the interest charges yourself, but you can qualify for this loan type regardless of financial need.Direct Subsidized and Direct Unsubsidized loans also have different student loan limits.As you can see in the table below, the federal student loan limits on Direct Subsidized loans are much lower for each academic year. Overall loan limits are the total amount of federal student loans a borrower can take out per year.

This combines subsidized and unsubsidized student loans.Undergraduate Annual Student Loan Limits Academic yearUndergrad loan limit:Dependent studentsUndergrad loan limit:Independent studentsFirstSubsidized: $3,500Overall: $5,500Subsidized: $3,500Overall: $9,500SecondSubsidized: $4,500Overall: $6,500Subsidized: $4,500Overall: $10,500Third+Subsidized: $5,500Overall: $7,500Subsidized: $5,500Overall: $12,500Aggregate loan amountSubsidized: $23,000Overall: $31,000Subsidized: $23,000Overall: $57,500 For dependent students (most students under age 24), your four-year federal student loan limit ($31,000) is lower than the average cost of one year at a private university.That’s a recipe for a funding deficit unless you’re able to receive financial assistance from other places.Independent students have a bit more wiggle room, with up to $57,500 of federal student loans available.

But if you attend a private college or even an out-of-state public college, you could still easily max out your federal student loan limits.Private student loan limits If you’ve hit your federal student loan borrowing cap, private student loans could help bridge the gap.In most cases, private student loans can be borrowed up to the cost of attendance, minus other financial aid received. And your “cost of attendance” can include books, supplies and living expenses in addition to tuition and fees.Most private lenders will have aggregate loan limits.

But these are usually very high, ranging from $150,000 to $500,000.In most cases, you shouldn’t need to worry about the aggregate limit, especially if you maxed out your federal funding before moving to private loans.Graduate loan limits Graduate loans are a bit different when it comes to student loans, especially in regards to your federal student loan options.New borrowing limits took effect July 1, 2026, making it especially important to understand how much federal aid is available for graduate and professional programs.

Here’s what you need to know.Stafford student loan limits for graduate school Direct Subsidized loans are unavailable to graduate students, but you’re still able to take out Direct Unsubsidized loans of up to $20,500 per year.As of July 1, 2026, graduate students are subject to a $100,000 aggregate borrowing limit for graduate-level federal loans.Professional students (e.g., medical and dental) can take out up to $50,000 per year and $200,000 overall.

These limits generally exclude federal loans borrowed from undergraduate education.That said, a new $257,500 lifetime federal student limit also applies across undergraduate, graduate and professional education (even if they've already been repaid, forgiven or otherwise discharged).However, students who were already enrolled in their programs and received a Direct Loan before July 1, 2026, may qualify for a temporary exception that allows them to continue borrowing under the previous rules for up to three years or the remaining length of their program (whichever comes first).Grad PLUS Loans are no longer available to new borrowers As of July 1, 2026, Grad PLUS Loans are no longer available to new graduate and professional student borrowers.

However, some existing students may continue borrowing under the temporary exception to the new rules.For eligible borrowers, Grad PLUS Loans allow students to borrow up to the cost of attendance, minus other financial assistance.However, Grad PLUS loans are more expensive, with higher interest rates and an additional loan disbursement fee.Plus, if you have an adverse credit history, you may not be able to obtain a Grad PLUS loan without a cosigner.

Related: Should Professional Students Avoid Grad PLUS Loans in 2026? Private loan limits for graduate students Due to the elimination of Grad PLUS Loans for new borrowers and stricter federal borrowing limits, private student loans may be an attractive alternative for grad students who have maxed out their Direct Unsubsidized loans.As with undergraduate private student loans, you’ll typically be able to borrow up to the cost of attendance annually.Some lenders may also have higher lifetime loan limits for graduate students than undergrads.And you may qualify for even higher aggregate limits if you’re pursuing a degree that’s known for being expensive, like medical, law or MBA programs.

Related: Grad PLUS Elimination Guide: How to Fund Grad School in 2026 Other ways to pay for college In this guide, we’ve focused on figuring out, “How much student loan can I get?” But a better question to ask may instead be, “How can I minimize my student debt?” Before you rush to take out student loans, look at all your “free money” options — money that you don’t have to pay back — first.Make sure to fill out your Free Application for Federal Student Aid to see if you qualify for federal aid or grants.Second, use sites like Scholarships.com, FastWeb and the College Board (Big Future) to help find and apply for scholarships.And, finally, find a part-time job opportunity that is willing to work around your school schedule to help reduce student debt.

If you’re thinking about attending a graduate school or professional program that could put you in six figures of student debt, you may want to talk to one of our student loan advisors first.Book a pre-debt consultation today.