$138,500 for graduate or professional students-No more than $65,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. The graduate aggregate limit includes all federal loans received for undergraduate study. Notes: The graduate aggregate limit includes all federal loans received for undergraduate study.
Federal Pell Grants usually are awarded only to undergraduate students who display exceptional financial need and have not earned a bachelor's, graduate, or professional degree. (In some cases, however, a student enrolled in a postbaccalaureate teacher certification program might receive a Federal Pell Grant.)
Grad PLUS Loans
Typically, graduate students can borrow $20,500 per year of Federal Direct Unsubsidized loans up to a cumulative aggregate limit of $138,500, including loans received for undergraduate study.
To see your aid, log in to your StudentAid.gov account using your account username and password combination (also called your FSA ID). Select “View Details” in the My Aid section of your account Dashboard. You can view your loan types and servicer(s) for each loan under the Loan Breakdown section of the My Aid page.
Graduate students are considered independent and have a lifetime loan limit of $138,500 for federal Subsidized and Unsubsidized loans. No more than $65,500 of this amount can be in subsidized loans. Annual limits for Direct Unsubsidized Loans for graduate students are set at $20,500.
Note: You can request an increase in the amount of a Direct PLUS Loan you previously requested if it's for the same school and same award year. The loan can't exceed the cost of attendance (COA) minus other aid.
The amount of Federal Pell Grant funds you may receive over your lifetime is limited by federal law to be the equivalent of six years of Pell Grant funding. Since the amount of a scheduled Pell Grant award you can receive each award year is equal to 100%, the six-year equivalent is 600%.
Federal grants for graduate students
Pell Grants are generally for undergraduate students only. However, there are several federal programs that offer money to graduate students. Federal grants are generally need-based, but they can also be available for a student who is studying to fill a special need or discipline.
Your annual Federal Direct Loan limit will be prorated for your final term. The financial aid office will receive an official graduation list from the registrar's office and your loans may be adjusted which could result in a bill with the University.
Eligibility for Pell Grants
For the 2024-2025 FAFSA, a family of four living in the 48 contiguous states making up to $52,500 in AGI qualified for the Maximum Pell Grant.
The maximum amount of money you can get from a Pell Grant is: $7,395 (2024–25). The amount granted depends on your Student Aid Index (SAI), cost of attendance, your status as a full-time or part-time student, and your plans to attend school for a full academic year or less.
Absolutely. Anyone pursuing their education should apply for FAFSA whether you're just looking for scholarships, or a combination of scholarships, work-study, and federal loans.
Interest accrual, interest capitalization, fees, deferment, forbearance, and grace periods can all increase your student loan balance. Paying more than the minimum each month, making extra payments, and paying interest while in school can help reduce your loan costs.
You can borrow up to the full amount of cost of attendance
The maximum amount you can borrow under the federal Direct unsubsidized loan program for graduate school is $20,500 a year, with a maximum lifetime limit of $138,500.
If your credit report indicates you are 90 days or more delinquent on any debt, are in default, have a bankruptcy, foreclosure, repossession, tax lien, wage garnishment or a write-off of any Title IV federal financial aid during the last five years, you will not be eligible to borrow a Grad PLUS Loan.
Graduate students can borrow as much as $20,500 per year in federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans, with a lifetime limit of $138,500, including undergraduate loans.
Graduate students are eligible to borrow up to $20,500 per academic year, provided they fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Students can fill out the FAFSA as early as Oct. 1 for the following calendar year, but they can also apply for a loan after the semester has started if the need arises.
Cal Grant — max $5742, don't have to repay, must be a California resident attending a college in California.
Contact the financial aid office at your school to find out when you'll receive your federal student aid. We don't determine when your aid is disbursed. Once we process your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form, we send the information to your school, and your school handles the rest.
Typically, the school first applies your grant or loan money toward your tuition, fees, and (if you live on campus) room and board. Any money left over is paid to you directly for other education expenses.