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The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB) was signed into law on July 4, 2025. It introduces major changes to federal student loans and repayment plans starting July 1, 2026. Stay informed about the big updates from the new law.
This information and related policies are subject to change as rulemaking continues, and more details are released by the Department of Education. We appreciate your patience as we continue to receive new information and additional details that will allow us to better assist you.
Students who have borrowed federal student loans prior to July 1, 2026 may qualify for different borrowing limits under the Legacy Provision within the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. To learn more about who may qualify, visit our One Big Beautiful Bill Act Impacts webpage.
Details and other loan limit information for legacy students is available on our Legacy Provision Borrowing Limits webpage.
Legacy Provision Borrowing Limits webpageThe maximum amount you can borrow each year varies depending on your grade level and dependency status as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Annual amounts encompass the fall, spring, and summer semesters for the aid year. Please note if you borrow your maximum annual amount during fall and spring, you would not have federal loan eligibility remaining for summer (even if you choose to enroll at least half-time during the summer semester at any institution).
If you are approaching or have met your aggregate limit, you may not be eligible for the amounts below. Visit the Borrowing Limits by Degree Level section for more information.
Check your Financial Aid Information via your WVU Portal to calculate if you have already borrowed your annual limit in federal student loans. Financial aid - including loans - cannot exceed your estimated cost of attendance (budget).
Students enrolled in the PharmD program or are a Non-degree seeking student should refer to their specific information in the table below for the most accurate information.
| Student Rank or Degree Level | Dependent Students (except those whose parents are unable to obtain PLUS Loans) | Independent Students (including dependent students whose parents are unable to obtain PLUS Loans) |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 29 Earned Hours = Freshman | $5,500
No more than $3,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. |
$9,500
No more than $3,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. |
| 30 to 59 Earned Hours = Sophomore | $6,500
No more than $4,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. |
$10,500
No more than $4,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. |
| 60 to 89 Earned Hours = Junior | $7,500
No more than $5,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. |
$12,500
No more than $5,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. |
| 90+ Earned Hours = Senior | $7,500
No more than $5,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. |
$12,500
No more than $5,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. |
| Non-degree seeking student taking courses required for admission into an undergraduate program.* | $2,625 | $8,625
No more than $2,625 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. |
| First Two Years of Pharmacy (PharmD) - Undergraduate Pharmacy | $7,500
No more than $5,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. |
9 month aid budget: $25,000
12 month aid budget: $29,167 No more than $5,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. |
| Graduate (with the exception of those listed below) | N/A | $20,500 in unsubsidized loans only |
| Non-degree seeking student taking courses required for admission into a graduate program.* | $5,500 | $12,500
No more than $5,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. |
| Teacher Certification/ Re-certification* | $5,500 | $12,500
No more than $5,500 of this amount may be in subsidized loans. |
| Professional: Medicine (MD), Doctor of Pharmacy (last 2 years of PharmD), Law, & Dentistry (DDS) | N/A | $50,000
Unsubsidized loans only |
| Professional Doctor of Pharmacy (last 2 years of PharmD), Public Health, Clinical Psychology, & Health Administration (last 2 years) | N/A | 9 month aid budget: $33,000
12 month aid budget: $37,167 Unsubsidized loans only |
*Loan eligibility for non-degree students is limited to a single consecutive 12-month period for students in preparatory coursework (for a degree-seeking program). This limitation does not apply to those seeking teacher certification/re-certification. Those seeking teacher certification/re-certification are considered undergraduate for aid purposes. Students will be monitored throughout the enrollment period to ensure they remain eligible.
There are three types of loan limits for the time you are in school:
Students must maintain a certain level of satisfactory academic progress in order to maintain eligibility for aid — including student loans, parent loans, Federal Work-Study, some scholarships, and grants. At the end of spring semester the academic record of each student will be reviewed to determine if the student is meeting minimum academic progress standards.
These standards include:
Students not meeting academic progress standards will be suspended from aid eligibility immediately. This includes federal loans. More details on satisfactory academic progress and options to appeal can be found on the Satisfactory Academic Progress webpage.
Aggregate loan limit refers to the maximum amount of federal loans a student may borrow during particular levels of their education. There are different aggregate limits based on if the student is at an undergraduate, graduate, or professional level.
| Student Type | Aggregate Limits |
|---|---|
| Dependent undergraduate (excluding non-degree seeking students and first two years of PharmD below) | $31,000
No more than $23,000 of this amount can be in subsidized loans. |
| Independent undergraduate (excluding non-degree seeking students and first two years of PharmD below) | $57,500
No more than $23,000 of this amount can be in subsidized loans. |
| Dependent, non-degree seeking student taking courses required for admission into an undergraduate program | $31,000
No more than $23,000 of this amount can be in subsidized loans. |
| Independent, non-degree seeking student taking courses required for admission into an undergraduate program | $57,500
No more than $23,000 of this amount can be in subsidized loans. |
| First two years of Pharmacy (PharmD) (undergraduate Pharmacy) | $224,000
No more than $23,000 of this amount can be in subsidized loans. Please note this aggregate limit is for the entire PharmD program, including the professional years. |
As of July 1, 2026, the Federal Graduate PLUS Loan program will no longer be available to new borrowers — borrowers that do not qualify for the legacy provision.
| Student Type | Aggregate Limits |
|---|---|
| Graduate student (excluding the students and programs listed below) | $100,000
This includes any federal loans borrowed as an undergraduate. |
| Non-degree seeking student taking courses required for admission into an graduate program. Those seeking TEACH certification/recertification review the table above for non-degree seeking student taking courses required for admission into an undergraduate program. | $100,000
This includes any federal loans borrowed as an undergraduate. |
| Medicine (MD) and Dentistry (DDS) | $224,000
This includes any federal loans borrowed as an undergraduate. |
| Public Health, Clinical Psychology, Health Administration, and last two years of Pharmacy (PharmD) | $224,000
This includes any federal loans borrowed as an undergraduate. |
| Student Type | Aggregate Limits |
|---|---|
| Graduate/Professional student (excluding the students and programs listed below) | $138,500
This includes any federal loans borrowed as an undergraduate. |
| Non-degree seeking student taking courses required for admission into an graduate program. Those seeking TEACH certification/recertification review the table above for non-degree seeking student taking courses required for admission into an undergraduate program. | $138,500
This includes any federal loans borrowed as an undergraduate. |
| Medicine (MD), Pharmacy (PharmD), Law, and Dentistry (DDS) | $200,000
This includes any federal loans borrowed as an undergraduate. |
| Public Health, Clinical Psychology, Health Administration, and last two years of Pharmacy (PharmD) | $224,000
This includes any federal loans borrowed as an undergraduate. |
For subsidized loans borrowed on or after July 1, 2013, there is a limit on the maximum period of time (measured in academic years) that students can receive Direct Subsidized Loans and how long the government will pay the interest.
Students may not receive these loans for more than 150% of the published length of their program. Example: If a student is enrolled in a four-year bachelor's degree program, the maximum period they can receive subsidized loans is six years (4 x 1.5 = 6).
In addition, if students continue to be enrolled in any undergraduate programs after reaching the 150% limit, the federal government will no longer pay the interest on any subsidized loan debt. Click here to view additional information on the 150% Subsidized Loan Limit.
Students may only borrow up to $257,500 in federal student loans.
The federal loan programs included in this calculation are:
This borrowing limit includes on the funds listed above and does not include Parent PLUS Loans. For borrowing details for Parent PLUS Loans, visit our Parent PLUS Loan webpage.