The Stafford Loans have limits on how much can be borrowed each academic year. Courses which are repeated, audited or in which you receive an F or I grade are not counted in hours completed.
Loan Limits for Stafford Loans
| Year | Hours completed | Dependent undergraduate students | Independent undergraduate students and dependent students whose parents are declined a PLUS loan | Graduate students |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freshman | 0-29 |
$3,500 subsidized loan and/or unsubsidized loan based on your need as determined by the EFC from the FAFSA +$2,000 unsubsidized loan for a total of $5,500 |
$3,500 subsidized loan and/or unsubsidized loan based on your need as determined by the EFC from the FAFSA +$6,000 unsubsidized loan for a total of $9,500 |
$20,500 unsubsidized loan You may not be eligible for the academic year limit based on cost of attendance at Missouri State |
| Sophomore | 30-59 |
$4,500 subsidized loan and/or unsubsidized loan based on your need as determined by the EFC from the FAFSA +$2,000 unsubsidized loan for a total of $6,500 |
$4,500 subsidized loan and/or unsubsidized loan based on your need as determined by the EFC from the FAFSA +$6,000 unsubsidized loan for a total of $10,500 |
|
| Junior/Senior | 60+ |
$5,500 subsidized loan and/or unsubsidized loan based on your need as determined by the EFC from the FAFSA +$2,000 unsubsidized loan for a total of $7,500 |
$5,500 subsidized loan and/or unsubsidized loan based on your need as determined by the EFC from the FAFSA +$7,000 unsubsidized loan for a total of $12,500 |
|
| Total aggregate limit |
$31,000** |
$57,500** |
$138,500* | |
*If you accept your full loan limit during the fall and spring semesters, you may have no loan eligibility for summer. You may not be eligible for the academic year limit based on cost of attendance at Missouri State.
**Only $23,000 of this total may be in subsidized loans.
Accepting a Direct Stafford Loan
Before accepting a student loan, use the Cost Worksheet to determine how much you need to accept to cover costs at Missouri State University. We encourage you to keep your borrowing to a minimum. You may print and keep the worksheet for your records.
How to accept your loan
You accept, decline and reduce your awards online through My Missouri State. Follow the steps below to accept your Stafford Loan:
- Log on to My Missouri State
- Click on the “Student” tab and scroll down to the Financial Aid box
- Sign the financial aid e-Agree contract the first time you log in
- Select the “Award for Aid Year” link which will then allow access to detailed information about the awards offered above, as well as enable you to accept, decline or alter loan awards
- Complete your Master Promissory Note and Entrance Counseling
Borrowing history
You can view your loan borrowing history on your Dashboard on Studentaid.gov.
The graduate debt limit includes Stafford Loans received for undergraduate study