The amount you can borrow will be determined by factors including the cost of your schooling, your financial need, and whether you are attending an undergraduate or graduate program, but maximum annual amounts range from $5,500 to $20,500. When you receive a financial aid award letter from your school, it will specify the total amount of Direct Stafford Loans you're eligible for. Both Direct Subsidized Loans and Direct Unsubsidized Loans also impose borrowing limits. There are both annual and aggregate limits to how much students can borrow. See the chart on our page to see the limits by grade level and school type.