Federal Direct Loans for Undergraduate Students

CU Boulder participates in the Federal William D. Ford Direct Loan program (known as Direct or Stafford Loans). The lender is the U.S. Department of Education rather than a bank or other financial institution. There are two types of Federal Direct Loans available for undergraduate students:

Subsidized loans are need-based and do not have interest accruing while you are in school or in deferment.
Unsubsidized loans may or may not be based on financial need and interest accrues while you are in school or in deferment.

Loan Features

Loan origination fee for both loans is 1.057%.
Repayment begins 6 months after you graduate, drop below half time, or withdraw. Learn more about managing repayment of your student loans.
Subsidized loans have a time-in-college loan limit.
Students graduating in December will have their Direct Loans prorated for fall. View prorated loan amounts below Undergraduate Students Who Are Graduating.
Loans must be processed by our office by the last day the student is enrolled in at least 6 credit hours.

Fixed Interest Rates

Date of First Disbursement	Subsidized	Unsubsidized
7/1/24 to 6/30/25	6.53%	6.53%
7/1/23 to 6/30/24	5.49%	5.49%
7/1/22 to 6/30/23	4.99%	4.99%

Loan Limits

Dependent Students

	Annual loan limit
First-Year Students	$5,500 (Maximum of $3,500 can be subsidized)
Sophomore	$6,500 (Maximum of $4,500 can be subsidized)
Junior or Senior	$7,500 (Maximum of $5,500 can be subsidized)

Independent Students

	Annual loan limit
Independent First-Year Students	$9,500 (Maximum of $3,500 can be subsidized)
Independent Sophomore	$10,500 (Maximum of $4,500 can be subsidized)
Independent Junior or Senior	$12,500 (Maximum of $5,500 can be subsidized)
Graduate or Professional	$20,500

Lifetime Loan Limits

Lifetime Loan Limits
Dependent Undergraduate	$31,000 (up to $23,000 may be subsidized)
Independent Undergraduate	$57,500 (up to $23,000 may be subsidized)
Graduate or Professional	$138,500 (up to $65,500 may be subsidized)