Federal Direct Loan Schedule of Reductions (SOR)
Beginning July 1, 2026, Federal Direct Loans will be reduced based on the number of credits in which a student is enrolled/academically engaged. This process is called the Schedule of Reductions (SOR).
Similar to the Pell grant, students will now be offered the maximum amount of Federal
Direct Loan funding per year based on full-time enrollment. See below for an enrollment
guide detailing the number of credits in which a student must be enrolled/academically
engaged to be considered full-time for financial aid purposes.
| Fall/Spring | Summer | |
| Undergraduate Students | 12 Credits | 12 Credits |
| Graduate Students | 9 credits | 5 credits |
With the new Federal Direct Loan SOR requirement, full-time students will receive
the full amount of their annual loan offer. If a student is enrolled less than full-time,
they will not be eligible to receive the full-time amount of loans offered to them.
Instead, the university will calculate the amount of loan funding the student is eligible
to receive based on the number of credits in which they are enrolled/academically engaged.
See below for annual Federal Direct Loan limits.
*Please note that amounts offered to you could differ from amounts listed below based on your Cost of Attendance and total lifetime borrowing history. To view your total lifetime borrowing history, log into your account.
If dependent, your subsidized and unsubsidized Direct Loan annual eligibility is as follows:
|
|
0-31 Earned Credits
|
32-63 Earned Credits
|
64 and Above Earned Credits
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Subsidized
|
$3,500
|
$4,500
|
$5,500
|
|
Unsubsidized
|
$2,000
|
$2,000
|
$2,000
|
|
Total
|
$5,500
|
$6,500
|
$7,500
|
If independent, your subsidized and unsubsidized Direct Loan annual eligibility is as follows:
|
|
0-31 Earned Credits
|
32-63 Earned Credits
|
64 and Above Earned Credits
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Subsidized
|
$3,500
|
$4,500
|
$5,500
|
|
Unsubsidized
|
$6,000
|
$6,000
|
$7,000
|
|
Total
|
$9,500
|
$10,500
|
$12,500
|
Students may borrow up to $20,500 each academic year of a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan.
Utilize the calculator below to estimate your Federal Direct Loan eligibility based on the new SOR process.
*Please note that at minimum, students need to be enrolled at least half-time per semester to receive any Federal Direct Loan funding.
See below for an enrollment guide detailing the number of credits in which a student must be enrolled/academically engaged to be considered half-time for financial aid purposes.
| Fall/Spring | Summer | |
| Undergraduate Students | 6 Credits | 6 Credits |
| Graduate Students | 5 credits | 3 credits |
