Planning to enroll less than full-time? You will only be eligible for a reduced percentage of your maximum loan eligibility. Use this calculator to estimate your maximum loan eligibility as a less than full time student. Note: Your loan may be further reduced due to financial need or meeting annual or aggregate loan limits.
Tell us about your enrollment
This calculator can estimate your eligibility if enrolled at least half-time in both terms. For information about one term loan eligibility, including the summer semester, contact the Office of Student Financial Aid.
All fields are required. Full-time is 24 credits/year for undergraduates (12 + 12) and 18 credits/year for graduate students (9 + 9).
Your Estimated Loan Eligibility
Estimated annual Direct Loan limit for the Fall/Spring academic year.
Amount will be divided between fall and spring.
Dependency status used in this calculator is based on the dependency questions defined by federal student aid regulations and the FAFSA.
Dependency status is determined when students complete the FAFSA per Federal Student Aid guidelines. When using this calculator, please keep in mind that dependency status is self-reported. The actual amounts will differ if incorrect dependency status is used.
Selecting “Independent” in this calculator does not automatically mean you qualify as an independent student for federal financial aid purposes. Your dependency status will be determined based on your FAFSA responses and institutional review, when applicable.
Loan eligibility estimates are based on the grade level selected in the calculator. Actual grade level for federal aid purposes is determined by the institution based on your academic record on earned credits rather than years attended and applicable federal regulations.
Federal Direct Loan eligibility is dependent upon enrollment status. Students must be enrolled at least half-time in eligible coursework to receive Direct Loan funds. Estimated loan amounts may be based on full-time enrollment assumptions. Actual loan eligibility and disbursement amounts may be adjusted if enrollment is less than full-time.
Loan disbursements are subject to enrollment verification and may be reduced, canceled, or adjusted based on changes in enrollment status.
Undergraduate Students
- Full-time enrollment: 12 or more credits per semester
- Minimum enrollment for Direct Loan eligibility: 6 credits per semester
Graduate Students
- Full-time enrollment: 9 credits in fall and spring semesters; 6 credits in summer
- Minimum enrollment for Direct Loan eligibility: 4.5 credits in fall and spring semesters; 3 credits in summer
Estimated loan amounts are subject to federal annual and aggregate Direct Loan borrowing limits. Students who have reached or are approaching these limits may qualify for lower amounts than those displayed by the calculator. See Factors to Consider when Borrowing.
Federal Direct Loan eligibility may be limited by your Cost of Attendance (COA) and other financial assistance received.
If additional aid is awarded or your COA changes, loan amounts may be reduced to comply with federal aid regulations. In some cases, previously disbursed funds may need to be returned, resulting in a balance owed to the institution.
The Financial Aid Office reserves the right to adjust, reduce, cancel, or deny loan eligibility based on federal regulations, institutional policies, verification requirements, satisfactory academic progress, enrollment status, remaining eligibility, or other factors affecting financial aid eligibility as listed per Terms and Conditions.