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Financial aid basics

Federal borrowing limits guide

The federal annual and lifetime caps that matter before you borrow for one more year.

June 9, 20261 min read

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Federal borrowing limits shape how much of next year's gap can stay in the lower-friction federal lane before private loans even enter the picture. Undergrads should know those caps before senior year starts.

This guide walks through the annual and lifetime limits that matter, how dependency status changes the ceiling, and why that cap should anchor your next-year borrowing plan.

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