This calculator uses the federal loan limits for the 2026–27 school year. It works for undergraduates, graduate students and professional students (law, medicine, pharmacy and similar). It takes about two minutes.
How the calculator works
- Left to pay = cost of attendance − grants and scholarships − savings and income.
- Federal student loan = the smallest of: your yearly limit (cut if you study part-time), what’s left of your total limit, what’s left of the $257,500 lifetime limit, and what you still need.
- Parent PLUS (dependent undergraduates only, if you include it) = up to $20,000 a year and $65,000 in total per student.
- Funding gap = whatever is still left.
Want just the numbers? See 2026 Federal Student Loan Limits.
What to do about a gap
Use free money and federal options first. Ask your aid office to review your aid, ask about a payment plan, and keep applying for scholarships and state grants. Our Scholarship & Grant Matcher shows the state grants you may qualify for. Consider private student loans last, and only for what you still need. See Student Loans in 2026: A Simple Guide.
Your privacy
The calculator runs in your browser. Your numbers are never sent to us or saved.
Sources
- Federal Student Aid: One Big Beautiful Bill Act – Important Definitions (loan limit charts)
- Federal Student Aid: Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans
- FSA Partner Connect: Reducing annual loan limits for less-than-full-time enrollment (FAQ)
- FSA Partner Connect: 2026–27 interest rates
Last checked: November 6, 2026. Limits and rates can change each year. Always confirm with studentaid.gov or your school’s financial aid office.