FEDERAL STUDENT LOAN LIMITS & ENROLLMENT REQUIREMENTS
Federal student loans help cover educational expenses, but there are limits on how much you can borrow each year and over your lifetime. Understanding these limits and enrollment requirements ensures you receive the aid you need while staying eligible.
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ENROLLMENT REQUIREMENTS PER DEGREE TYPE
To receive federal student loans, you must be enrolled at least half-time each semester:
Undergraduate & Post-Baccalaureate Students
- 6+ credits per semester
Graduate & Doctoral Students
- 3+ credits per semester
If your enrollment drops below half-time, you may lose eligibility for federal loans. Additionally, if you drop below half-time enrollment, you are required to complete Federal Loan Exit Counseling at studentaid.gov.
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ANNUAL LOAN LIMITS BY PROGRAM
An annual loan limit is the maximum loan amount you can borrow each academic year.
Starting July 1, 2026, eligibility for annual Federal Direct Loan amounts must be reduced for students who are enrolled less than full-time. For more information on loan proration visit:
Undergraduate Students (Dependent)
Credits Total Amount Subsidized Amount 0–29 $5,500 total ($3,500 subsidized max) 30–59 $6,500 total ($4,500 subsidized max) 60+ $7,500 total ($5,500 subsidized max) Additional Eligibility: If a Parent PLUS Loan is denied, dependent students with 0-59 credits may receive up to $4,000 extra in unsubsidized loans and dependent students with 60+ credits may receive up to $5,000 extra in unsubsidized loans.
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS (INDEPENDENT)
Credits Total Amount Subsidized Amount 0–29 $9,500 total ($3,500 subsidized max) 30–59 $10,500 total ($4,500 subsidized max) 60+ $12,500 total ($5,500 subsidized max) POST-BACCALAUREATE STUDENTS
Student Type Total Amount Subsidized Amount Dependent: $7,500 total ($3,500 subsidized max) Independent: $12,500 total ($4,500 subsidized max) Post-baccalaureate students CANNOT:
- Receive additional unsubsidized loans if a Parent PLUS Loan is denied
- Borrow a Parent PLUS Loan or a Graduate PLUS Loan, even if approved
Graduate & Doctoral Students
Student Type Annual Eligibility Nonprofessional Graduate Students $20,500 Professional Graduate Students $50,000 Millersville University does not currently offer “professional” level programs. For more information on Professional vs Nonprofessional graduate programs visit: Graduate & Professional Annual & Aggregate Loan Limits.
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AGGREGATE LIFETIME LOAN LIMIT
The Aggregate Lifetime Loan Limit is the maximum amount of unpaid principal balance minus any capitalized interest that you can have outstanding at any point in time on a combination of all of your subsidized and unsubsidized loans for undergraduate, graduate, or professional study.
- If you reach this limit, you cannot receive additional loans until you repay enough to bring your outstanding balance below the cap.
- Loan eligibility may be restored once you repay a portion of your loans.
UnderGraduate Aggregate Loan Limits
Student Type Aggregate Limit Disclaimer Dependent Students
$31,000 MAX Of which $23,000 can be subsidized Independent Students
$57,500 MAX Of which $23,000 can be subsidized Graduate & Professional Aggregate Loan Limits
Starting July 1, 2026, the Federal Direct Loan limits are different for graduate and professional students. Before this, the limits were the same.
Student Type Aggregate Loan Limit before July 1, 2026 Aggregate Loan Limit after July 1, 2026 Nonprofessional Graduate Students
$138,500 MAX (of which $23,000 can be subsidized) $100,000 Professional Graduate Students $138,500 MAX (of which $23,000 can be subsidized) $200,000 Millersville University does not currently offer “professional” level programs.
In certain circumstances, if you have borrowed federal loans before July 1, 2026, you may be eligible to borrow under the previous loan limits. To learn more about this visit: Graduate & Professional Annual & Aggregate Loan Limits.
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LIFETIME MAXIMUM LOAN LIMIT
Effective July 1, 2026, the new lifetime borrowing limit for federal student loans is $257,500 for a combination of all undergraduate, graduate, or professional student loans, excluding Parent PLUS loans.
Once a borrower reaches the $257,500 lifetime maximum loan limit, the borrower will no longer be eligible to receive additional federal loans, even if the borrower’s loans have been repaid, forgiven, or discharged.
In certain circumstances, students may be eligible to borrow under the previous loan limits if they have had a Direct Loan disbursed for that same program before July 1, 2026. For more information on this visit: New Lifetime Maximum Loan Limit.
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LOAN LIMIT REVIEW (LLR) PROCESS
When you approach your Aggregate Lifetime Loan Limit, your school is notified through the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS), and a Loan Limit Review (LLR) is conducted.
LLR Processing Time: 1–4 weeks, depending on:
- The time of year
- When your FAFSA was received