Start Strong Center FAQs

How are the borrowing amounts for Federal Direct Loans determined?  

Your school determines the loan type(s), if any, and the actual loan amount students are eligible to receive each academic year. However, there are limits on the amount in subsidized and unsubsidized loans that students may be eligible to receive each academic year (annual loan limits) and the total amounts that a student may borrow for undergraduate and graduate study (aggregate loan limits). The actual loan amount a student is eligible to receive each academic year may be less than the annual loan limit. These limits vary depending on

• what year a student is in school (freshman, sophomore, etc.) and
• whether a student is dependent or independent

Check out the Student Aid (www.studentaid.gov) website for more information