How Much Can I Borrow for a Student Loan?

Find out how much you can borrow for your student loan. This is based on many factors, including your dependency status, your year in school, and more.

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Student Loan Basics

A student loan is money that you borrow and must pay back with interest. If you decide to take out a student loan, you should first understand the basics about how student loans work. You can use this information to decide if taking out a student loan is the right decision for you.

Federal vs. Private Student Loans

There are two main types of student loans: federal student loans and private student loans.

Federal student loans are provided by the government and have fixed interest rates, meaning that the rate will never increase. They also offer income-driven repayment plans and loan forgiveness programs.

Private student loans are provided by private lenders, such as banks or credit unions. Private student loan interest rates can be either fixed or variable, meaning that the rate could increase over time. Private student loans typically do not offer income-driven repayment plans or loan forgiveness programs.

When considering how much to borrow for a student loan, it’s important to consider both the type of loan and the interest rate.

Student Loan Eligibility

In order to be eligible for a student loan, you must first complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form. You will also need to be enrolled in an eligible degree or certificate program at an accredited school, and you must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.

There are two types of student loans: federal student loans and private student loans. Federal student loans are provided by the government and have fixed interest rates, while private student loans are provided by banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions and have variable interest rates.

Pointing out the differences between these two types of loans is essential for understanding how much you can borrow for a student loan. Federal student loans generally have lower interest rates and more flexible repayment options than private student loans, so they should be your first choice when borrowing for college.

How Much Can I Borrow for a Student Loan?
The amount you can borrow for a federal student loan depends on your year in school, whether you’re an undergraduate or graduate student, and your dependency status. The table below shows the maximum amount you can borrow each year in federal Stafford Loans as well as the total amount you can borrow over your lifetime (known as your aggregate limit).

Dependent Undergraduate Students Independent Undergraduate Students (and Dependent Graduate Students)
Lifetime Limit (Aggregate Limit) $31,000 $57,500
Limited to Subsidized Stafford Loans $23,000 $23,000
Maximum Annual Limit (Subsidized and Unsubsidized Combined) $5,500 ($3,500 Subsidized Stafford Loan limit) $20,500 ($8,500 Subsidized Stafford Loan limit)

How Much Can I Borrow for a Student Loan?

Education can be expensive, and sometimes you need a little extra help to pay for it. That’s where student loans come in. But how much can you actually borrow? The answer depends on a few factors, including the type of loan you’re getting and the school you’re attending. Let’s take a closer look.

Federal Student Loan Limits

Federal student loan limits depend on the type of loan you receive as well as your year in school. The annual limit for Stafford Loans is $5,500 for first-year undergraduate students, increasing to $20,500 per year for graduate and professional students. For PLUS Loans, the annual limit is the cost of attendance minus any other financial aid you receive.

Private Student Loan Limits

Federal student loans have shown to be more beneficial than private student loans, so if you can borrow from the federal government first, do so. If you have reached your limit on federal student loans or if you are not eligible for them, you can apply for a private student loan.

There are two types of private student loans: those that are endorsed by the government and those that are not. Endorsed loans are backed by the government and made by private lenders, such as banks and credit unions. The government does not endorse non-endorsed private student loans.

The maximum amount that you can borrow for a private student loan varies by lender, but most lenders will allow you to borrow up to the cost of attendance less any other financial aid that you receive. So, if the cost of attendance at your school is $50,000 per year and you have received $5,000 in other financial aid, most lenders would allow you to borrow up to $45,000 in a private student loan. Some lenders may have stricter limits, so always check with the lender before applying for a loan.

How to Borrow the Maximum Amount for a Student Loan

Most students want to know how much they can borrow for their student loans before they start school. Depending on the type of student loan, the answer to this question can vary. For federal student loans, there are limits on how much you can borrow based on your year in school and whether you are a dependent or an independent student. This section will cover how much you can borrow for a student loan.

Understand Your Cost of Attendance

The first step in understanding how much you can borrow for a student loan is to understand your cost of attendance (COA). Your COA includes tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, transportation, and other miscellaneous expenses. It’s important to remember that your COA is not necessarily the same as your tuition bill. Your COA is an estimate of what it will cost you to attend school for one academic year and is used to determine your financial need.

To get an idea of what your COA might be, you can use the Department of Education’s Net Price Calculator. This tool will give you an estimate of your cost of attendance based on the information you provide about yourself and your family. You can also check with your school’s financial aid office for more information about your specific COA.

Once you have an idea of your COA, you can start to think about how much you’ll need to borrow in order to attend school. You’ll want to consider both federal and private student loans when determining how much to borrow. Federal student loans offer several benefits that private loans don’t, such as income-driven repayment plans and customer protections if you experience financial hardship.

Borrow Only What You Need

You can definitely borrow the maximum amount for a student loan, but that doesn’t mean you should. In fact, you should only borrow what you need to cover your educational expenses.

Here are a few things to consider when determining how much to borrow:
-Your future income. Will your future income be high enough to comfortably make payments on the loan?
-Your other debt. How much debt do you currently have? If you have a lot of other debt, you may want to consider borrowing less so that you can focus on paying off your other loans.
-Your job prospects. Are you confident that you will be able to find a job after graduation? If not, you may want to reconsider how much you borrow.

It’s also important to remember that you will have to pay back your student loans, plus interest. So, if you borrow more than you need, you will end up paying back more than what you borrowed initially.

If you’re still not sure how much to borrow, try using our Student Loan Calculator. This tool can help you estimate your monthly payments and total repayment amount for different loan amounts and interest rates.

Consider a Parent PLUS Loan

Parent PLUS Loans can help cover the remaining costs after you’ve maxed out your federal student loan options. PLUS Loans are available to parents of dependent undergraduate students as well as to graduate and professional degree students. The interest rate is a fixed 7.08% for loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2019, and before July 1, 2020.

To apply for a Parent PLUS Loan, fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form. If you’re approved, your child’s school will contact you with instructions on how to complete the process.

Because Parent PLUS Loans are credit-based, your child’s school may require you to complete additional steps before your loan is approved — such as providing evidence that you have an acceptable credit history. If you don’t have an acceptable credit history or if you want to avoid borrowing the maximum amount possible, consider a Direct PLUS Loan for Graduate and Professional Students instead.

How to Get a Student Loan with Bad Credit

There are a few things that you need to take into account when you are trying to get a student loan with bad credit. The first thing is that you need to make sure that you are looking at all of your options. You can get a federal student loan, a private student loan, or you can look into student loan consolidation. You will also want to make sure that you are looking at the interest rates and the repayment terms before you make a decision.

Apply with a Co-signer

A co-signer is someone who agrees to repay your loan if you can’t or stop making payments. Having a co-signer may help you get approved for a loan and may get you a lower interest rate and better terms. But, if you miss payments, your co-signer’s credit will be affected, and they may have trouble getting loans in the future.

If you don’t have anyone who can co-sign for you, there are other options for getting a student loan with bad credit. You can apply for a federal student loan, which doesn’t require a credit check. You can also look into private loans from banks or other lenders, although you may need a cosigner for these as well.

Consider a Private Student Loan

One option for students with bad credit is to apply for a private student loan. Private student loans are issued by banks, credit unions, and other private lenders. They are not backed by the federal government.

If you have bad credit, you may still be able to get a private student loan. But you will probably have to pay a higher interest rate than someone with good credit. You may also have to get a cosigner. A cosigner is someone who agrees to sign the loan with you and make the payments if you can’t.

If you’re thinking about taking out a private student loan, shop around and compare interest rates and terms from different lenders.

Alternatives to Student Loans

There are many alternatives to student loans that can help you finance your education. You can start by looking into grants and scholarships, which do not have to be repaid. You can also look into private student loans, which usually have lower interest rates than federal student loans. You can also look into student loan consolidation, which can help you lower your monthly payments.

Scholarships

There are a number of scholarships available to help students finance their education. Some scholarships are need-based, while others are merit-based. You may also be able to find scholarships that are specifically for students with certain majors or for students who plan to study abroad.

There are a number of private organizations that offer scholarships, as well as the government and individual colleges and universities. You can search for scholarships on websites like FastWeb and Scholarships.com. It’s also a good idea to talk to your guidance counselor or financial aid office about scholarship opportunities.

Some employers also offer tuition assistance programs or scholarships for employees or their dependents. You may want to check with your employer or human resources department to see if they have any programs that could help you finance your education.

Grants

Federal and state governments offer a variety of grant programs to help make college more affordable for students who demonstrate financial need. Grant programs do not need to be repaid, making them an attractive option for students who are looking for alternatives to student loans.

Federal Grant Programs

The federal government offers several grant programs that can help students pay for college, including the Pell Grant program. The Pell Grant program is the largest source of federal grant money for undergraduate students and provides need-based grants of up to $5,920 per year.

Other federal grant programs include the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) program and the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant program. The SEOG program provides grants of up to $4,000 per year to students who demonstrate exceptional financial need, while the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant program provides grants of up to $5,000 per year to students whose parents or guardians died as a result of service in Iraq or Afghanistan after September 11th, 2001.

State Grant Programs

In addition to federal grant programs, many states also offer grant programs that can help students pay for college. State grant programs typically have smaller award amounts than federal grant programs, but they can still be a helpful source of funding for college.

The California Student Aid Commission, for example, offers several different state grant programs, including the Cal Grants A and B programs. The Cal Grants A and B programs provide need-based grants of up to $12,630 per year to eligible California residents attending eligible colleges or career training facilities in the state.

Alternatives to Student Loans

Work-Study

Federal Work-Study is a program that helps students earn money to pay for college. Students who qualify can find part-time jobs on their campus or in their community. The program is based on financial need, and the amount of money you can earn depends on when you work, how many hours you work, and your state or school’s minimum wage. You can use your earnings to help pay for tuition, fees, room and board, books, supplies, and other education-related expenses.