Federal student loan programs provide low-interest loans and advantageous services for eligible students and parents.

For detailed loan requirements, please refer to the Student Loan FAQ.

Federal Direct Loans


  • Federal Direct Subsidized Loans

    Available to undergraduate students with financial need, with specific annual and aggregate loan limits. No interest accrues during eligible periods of enrollment; interest accrual and repayment begins six months after graduation or after the student is no longer enrolled half-time.

  • Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans

    Available to both undergraduate and graduate/professional students, are not need-based and have predetermined annual and aggregate loan limits. Interest begins accruing from the disbursement date, and repayment begins six months after graduation or when the student is no longer enrolled half-time.

Students must complete Entrance Counseling and Master Promissory Note (MPN) before disbursement. Federal student loan borrowers who graduate or drop below half-time enrollment must complete Exit Counseling. Repayment schedules are provided by your federal loan servicer after the grace period ends.

  • Annual Loan Limits (combined maximum for subsidized and unsubsidized) under the Direct Loan Programs:

    • Dependent Undergraduate students

      • Freshmen - $5,500, no more than $3,500 Subsidized

      • Sophomores - $6,500, no more than $4,500 Subsidized

      • Juniors and Seniors - $7,500, no more than $5,500 Subsidized

    • Independent Undergraduate students

      • Freshmen - $9,500, no more than $3,500 Subsidized

      • Sophomores - $10,500, no more than $4,500 Subsidized

      • Juniors and Seniors - $12,500, no more than $5,500 Subsidized

    • Graduate Students - $20,500 Unsubsidized.

    • Veterinary Medicine students: $20,500 Unsubsidized plus the maximum increased Unsubsidized amount of $20,000 for a 9 month academic year or plus $26,667 for a 12 month academic year, limited to cost of attendance.

    • Pharmacy students: $20,500 Unsubsidized plus the maximum increased Unsubsidized amount of $12,500 for a 9 month academic year, or plus $16,667 for a 12 month academic year, limited to cost of attendance.

  • Aggregate loan limits

    Aggregate loan limits refer to the maximum amount of federal student loans that a student can borrow over their academic career.

    • Undergraduate Dependent Students: $31,000 (no more than $23,000 of which can be subsidized)

    • Undergraduate Independent Students: $57,500 (no more than $23,000 of which can be subsidized)

    • Graduate Students: $138,500 (includes undergraduate amounts)

    • Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy students: $224,000 (includes undergraduate amounts)

Federal PLUS Loans

  • Federal Parent PLUS Loan

    Available to parents of dependent students. The maximum borrowing amount is $20,000 per academic year OR the estimated Cost of Attendance minus other aid received by the student, whichever is less. Parents who previously borrowed under this loan program for a student prior to July 1, 2026 may be grandfathered into former borrowing limits for a period of time. Please reach out to us at finaid7@auburn.edu to determine your maximum eligibility. Additional information and application instructions are located on our Forms page.

  • Federal Graduate PLUS Loan

    As o fJuly 1, 2026, the Federal Graduate PLUS Loan program is going away for new borrowers.  Students who previously borrowed under this loan program prior to July 1, 2026 may be grandfathered into former borrowing limits and eligibility for a period of time.  If you previously borrowed under the Graduate PLUS Loan program at Auburn University and have not changed programs of study, please reach out to us at finaid7@auburn.edu to determine your eligibility. It is advised that you maximize your annual Direct Unsubsidized eligibility before you apply for the Graduate PLUS Loan. Additional information and application instructions are located on our Forms page.

Non-federal Private Loans

While federal loans are recommended, private loans may be needed to supplement shortfalls between the Cost of Attendance and federal aid/loans. We maintain a list of lenders who have been active with Auburn University over the past 3 calendar years, but will process through any lender of your choice, pending general and lender-specific eligibility requirements.  Please review the list of historical lenders here: Auburn University Historical Private Lender List 

 

  • Preferred Lender Arrangements

    Auburn University does not maintain a preferred lender list, but rather utilizes a historical list that dates back 3 calendar years. 

Health Professions Student Loan

Available to Pharmacy and Veterinary Medicine students demonstrating financial need, with a 5% interest rate and repayment starting 12 months after half-time enrollment ends.

Parental Financial Data Requirement: Even for independent students, parental financial data must be provided to be considered for this loan program.

Who Services My Federal Direct Loans?

Students and parent borrowers may access your loan servicer and payment information by logging into your StudentAid.gov account.

FSA Student Loan Ombudsman Group

If you have experienced issues with your federal student loan servicer re: repayment or consolidation and you've not been able to resolve the issues with your servicer, you may contact the Federal Student Aid Ombudsman Group as a last resort. Contact information is listed on their website. 

Student Loan Code of Conduct

The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships has established a set of principles and policies to govern educational lending practices for undergraduate, graduate and professional students. Our staff will follow this Code of Conduct to ensure the integrity of the student loan process. 

 

Federal Cohort Default Rate

Auburn University Federal Student Loan Cohort Default Rate (CDR)

  • Fiscal Year 2019 Draft Cohort Default Rate: 0.5%
  • Percentage of student borrowers 38.4%
  • Federal Student Loan Cohort Default Rate (CDR) National Average
  • Fiscal Year 2019 Draft Cohort Default Rate National Average: 2.3%