Undergraduate students have four loan options available to them:
- Subsidized (based on financial need)
- Unsubsidized
- Parent PLUS Loans (dependent students only)
- Private education loans
Subsidized and unsubsidized federal loans do not require a credit check. You may choose to take out all or part of your offered loan(s). If you do not take out your full loan offer for the year, you may ask our office to reoffer your remaining loan eligibility later in the semester.
Subsidized & Unsubsidized Loan Eligibility
- Complete the FAFSA
- Be enrolled at least half time
- Have financial need as determined by the FAFSA (subsidized loans only)
- Complete loan counseling
- Sign a Master Promissory Note
In general, subsidized loans are more favorable than unsubsidized loans. Be sure you understand the requirements and differences for each loan type.
Loan Proration
Beginning July 1, 2026, all federal student loans are prorated based on credit enrollment. This means that part-time students will not be eligible to receive 100% of their loan offers.
Undergraduate & Post Baccalaureate Students
| Credit Hours | Loan Eligibility |
|---|---|
| <6 | 0% |
| 6 | 50% |
| 7 | 58% |
| 8 | 66% |
| 9 | 75% |
| 10 | 83% |
| 11 | 92% |
| 12+ | 100% |
Please Note
Parent PLUS loans are not considered student loans because they are in your parent’s name. Parent PLUS loans are not prorated and will disburse in full for any credit load above half time (6 credits).
Student Loan Limits
All student loans have yearly limits and lifetime limits. If you do not qualify for subsidized student loans, you may see a higher unsubsidized offer to ensure you still are offered your full yearly total.
Dependent Student Loan Limits
| Type of Loan | First-Year Annual Limit | Sophomore Annual Limit | Junior Annual Limit | Senior Annual Limit | Lifetime Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subsidized Loan | $3,500 | $4,500 | $5,500 | $5,500 | $23,000 |
| Unsubsidized Loan | $2,000 | $2,000 | $2,000 | $2,000 | $8,000 |
| Totals: | $5,500 | $6,500 | $7,500 | $7,500 | $31,000 |
Dependent undergraduate students are also eligible for Parent PLUS loans. If you have remaining need in your financial aid budget, a Parent PLUS loan will be offered. These loans are taken out in a parent’s name and require a credit check.
Independent Student Loan Limits
| Type of Loan | First-Year Annual Limit | Sophomore Annual Limit | Junior Annual Limit | Senior Annual Limit | Lifetime Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subsidized Loan | $3,500 | $4,500 | $5,500 | $5,500 | $23,000 |
| Unsubsidized Loan | $6,000 | $6,000 | $7,000 | $7,000 | $34,500 |
| Totals: | $9,500 | $10,500 | $12,500 | $12,500 | $57,500 |
Private Education Loans
You may choose to use private education loans in addition to your federal loans or in place of them. WSU does not recommend specific private loan lenders but our private loans page provides tools for comparing different loans as well as a search engine for identifying possible lenders.
Private education loan limits and requirements vary by lender, but all private education loans must fit within your cost of attendance.