<p>My child's University (University of Georgia) sets a limit of $2250 per semester on subsidized Stafford loans. Are there any common ways around this? This just seems a bit low and artificial, given that the financial aid website for the University says they will provide the difference between EFN and EFC and the government has already set their own Stafford limits. I am going to call to follow up (heard about this rule from child), but figured I would ask in case there are other known approaches for addressing such a scenario.</p>
<p>What year is your student? The stafford maximum for a dependent freshman student is $5500 of which up to $3500 a year or $1750 a semester may be subsidized if the student has need. For a sophomore the subsidized max increases to 4500 a year or $2250 a semester, and for third year to $5500 a year or $2750 a semester.</p>
<p>Unless your student is a 3rd year or higher student (or independent), the school is not setting any arbitrary limit for subsidized loans. Just following the government rules.</p>
<p>given that the financial aid website for the University says they will provide the difference between EFN and EFC and the government has already set their own Stafford limits.</p>
<p>What is “EFN”??? Can you provide a link for where the school says they will provide the difference between EFN and EFC? UGa doesn’t promise to meet need.</p>
<p>Frosh are limited to up to $5500 per year for Stafford loans…divided amongst 2 semesters. So, that would 2750 per semester. but, if your child’s aid is high (HOPE plus other aid), then adding the loan could only be “up to COA”.</p>
<p>Your Estimated Financial Need (EFN) is the difference between your Cost of Attendance (COA) at UGA and your EFC.</p>
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<p>The above is from the UGA website. I am not seeing anything on the website like this: “the financial aid website for the University says they will provide the difference between EFN and EFC.” I think you may be misunderstanding what is on the website.</p>
<p>Swimcatsmom: The student is a sophomore. I see now the government limit you mentioned now of no more than $4500, thanks for highlighting that! I don’t see a governmental limit per semester on a .gov website, but it seems as if most schools disburse it this way, so I’ll assume I’m stuck unless anyone indicates otherwise.</p>
<p>mom2collegekids: Here is the link to how UGA defines EFN (estimated financial need, looks like a variation of COA as was mentioned) - it must be a proprietary term, I should have provided more context.</p>
<p>The total Stafford limit for a sophomore is $6500 for the year unless the parent is denied on a PLUS application, at which point the student can then get an additional $4k (maybe a bit more).</p>
<p>Oh, so EFN is just your “determined need”. It’s not a variation of COA. </p>
<p>Anyway…if your student needs more money, then she can take the unsub loans as well. Or she might get offered some Perkin’s loan. In a previous post, you mentioned that you need to fix your FAFSA so you have a 0 EFC. If you do, that might help getting a Perkins loan (no assurances.)</p>
<p>The total Stafford loan for a sophomore is $6500, not 5500.</p>
<p>I don’t see a governmental limit per semester on a .gov website, but it seems as if most schools disburse it this way, so I’ll assume I’m stuck unless anyone indicates otherwise.</p>
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<p>The disbursement rules schools must follow stipulate that the amount is to be split evenly between semesters. The exception is when a student only enrolls in the last semester of the award year, or if the student is an undergrad who will graduate at the end of the first semester of the award year (in which case the loan must be prorated, so sometimes the student gets half, sometimes less, sometimes more - depending on credit load for the term).</p>