Federal Student Loan Amounts and Terms for Loans Issued in 2018-19

Oct 15, 2026

Summarizes federal student loan interest rates, limits, fees, and key borrower terms for loans issued from July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019. Covers basic eligibility, Stafford (subsidized and unsubsidized) and PLUS (Parent PLUS and Grad PLUS) types, annual and aggregate loan limits, fixed-rate rules, and how interest rates are determined. Includes repayment details such as automatic electronic payment rate reductions, deferment treatment of interest, and income-driven repayment plan options.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

Basic Eligibility Requirements

Stafford Loans

Subsidized Stafford Loan

Unsubsidized Stafford Loan

Annual Loan Limits

Aggregate Loan Limits

Interest Rates and Fees

PLUS Loans

Types and Eligibility

Loan Limit

Interest Rate and Fee

How Interest Rates are Determined

Fixed-Rate Loans

Variable-Rate Loans

During Repayment

Rate Reduction for Auto Debit

Deferments for Hardship

Income-Driven Repayment Plans

FeDeraL StUDent Loan amoUntS anD termS for loans issued in 2018-19 This chart summarizes the interest rates, loan limits, and other terms for federal student loans issued from July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019. | Basic Eligibility Requirements | U. S. citizens or permanent residents, enrolled at least half time in a qualified program at a participating school, not in default on a prior federal student loan, and not previously convicted of a drug offense while receiving federal financial aid. Total aid, including student loans, cannot exceed the school’s total cost of attendance (tuition and fees, room and board, transportation, personal and miscellaneous expenses) . FAFSA required. | | | --- | --- | --- | | Stafford Loans | Types | Subsidized Stafford Loan: Available only to undergraduate students on the basis of financial need. No credit check required. The federal government covers the interest on these loans while borrowers are enrolled at least half time and for six months after they are no longer enrolled at least half time. Monthly payments are not required until six months after leaving school. | | | | Unsubsidized Stafford Loan: Available to undergraduate and graduate students regardless of financial need. No credit check required. Interest is charged throughout the life of the loan. Monthly payments are not required until six months after leaving school. | | | Annual Loan Limits | Dependent undergraduates (most students under the age of 24): $5,500 as freshmen (including up to $3,500 subsidized); $6,500 as sophomores (including up to $4,500 subsidized);$7,500 as juniors and seniors (including up to $5,500 subsidized) . | | | | Independent undergraduates (students age 24 or older) and dependent students whose parents are unable to obtain PLUS Loans: $9,500 as freshmen (including up to $3,500 subsidized); $10,500 as sophomores (including up to $4,500 subsidized); $12,500 as juniorsand seniors (including up to $5,500 subsidized) . | | | | Graduate students: $20,500 (or $40,500 for certain medical training) . | | | Aggregate Loan Limits | Dependent students: $31,000 . Independent undergraduates and dependent students
whose parents are unable to obtain PLUS Loans: $57,500 . Graduate and professional students:$138,500 (or $224,000 for certain medical training) including undergraduate borrowing. | | | Interest Rates | The interest rate for undergraduate Stafford loans, both subsidized and unsubsidized, is 5.05% . Rates are fixed for the life of the loan. (See page 2 for how interest rates are determined. ) | | | | The interest rate for unsubsidized Stafford loans made to graduate students is 6. 60% . Rates are fixed for the life of the loan. (See page 2 for how interest rates are determined. ) | | | Fee | 1.066% if first disbursed on or after October 1, 2017 and before October 1, 2018; 1.062% if first disbursed on or after October 1, 2018 and before October 1, 2019. | | | Eligibility Period for Subsidized Loans | New borrowers are only eligible to receive subsidized Stafford loans for a time period that is 150% of the published length of their program. After that, borrowers are not eligible to receive additional subsidized loans and may become responsible for interest that accrues on their existing loans. Borrowers with any federal loans from before July 1, 2013 are not affected. For more information on the maximum eligibility period, please see [studentaid.ed.gov](studentaid.ed.gov). | | PLUS Loans | Types | Parent PLUS: Loans to parents of dependent students to help pay for undergraduate education. Parents are responsible for all principal and interest. | | | | Grad PLUS: Additional loans to graduate and professional degree students to help cover education expenses. | | | Additional Eligibility Requirements | Available regardless of financial need to parents of dependent students (Parent PLUS) and to graduate and professional students (Grad PLUS) . Credit check required. The credit requirement can

FAQs

What are the basic eligibility requirements for federal student loans issued in 2018-19?

Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, enrolled at least half time in a qualified program at a participating school, not in default on a prior federal student loan, and not previously convicted of a drug offense while receiving federal financial aid. Total aid cannot exceed the school’s total cost of attendance, and FAFSA is required.

How do subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford loans differ?

Subsidized Stafford loans are available to undergraduates based on financial need, with no credit check. The federal government covers interest while the borrower is enrolled at least half time and for six months after leaving school. Unsubsidized Stafford loans are available to undergraduates and graduate students regardless of need, with interest charged throughout the loan’s life, and repayment generally not required until six months after leaving school.

How are fixed and variable interest rates determined for these loans?

All Stafford and PLUS loans originated since July 1, 2006 have fixed rates. For new loans since 2013, the fixed rate is set each year using the 10-year Treasury note after the May auction plus specified margins by loan type. For older variable-rate Stafford and PLUS loans, interest changes annually on July 1 based on the last 91-day T-bill auction in May.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Quinn Holloway