Can my high-income son still get federal student loans through FAFSA?

The good news is that Direct Unsubsidized Federal Student Loans are NOT based on financial need! So regardless of your income, your son can qualify for these loans by simply completing the FAFSA. For the 2025-2026 academic year, dependent undergraduates can borrow up to $5,500 for freshmen, $6,500 for sophomores, and $7,500 for juniors and seniors in Direct Unsubsidized Loans. The key differences between subsidized and unsubsidized: with unsubsidized, interest accrues while in school, while subsidized loans (which ARE need-based) don't accrue interest until after graduation.

My daughter is in the same boat!! We make too much for the grants but not enough to pay everything out of pocket lol. We did FAFSA anyway and she got those unsubsidized loans your talking about. They dont cover everything but they're WAY better than private loans!! The interest rate is like 2-3% lower than what Sallie Mae offered us.

You absolutely need to file the FAFSA even if you don't think you'll get grants! Not only for the unsubsidized loans, but many schools require it for merit scholarships too. Also, you mentioned your income is around $185k - depending on how many kids you have in college simultaneously and your assets, you might be surprised that you could qualify for some need-based aid at higher-cost private schools. Their formulas often differ from the federal methodology.

Yes, your son can get federal unsubsidized loans regardless of income. But I want to mention Parent PLUS loans too - these are federal loans YOU can take out to help pay for his education. There's no specific income limit for these either, though they do require a credit check. The benefit is that you can borrow up to the full cost of attendance minus any other aid received. Interest rates are higher than student Direct loans but still typically better than private options.

I tried calling the Federal Student Aid office last month with a similar question and kept getting disconnected after waiting for 45+ minutes! SO FRUSTRATING. Finally I used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that holds your place in line and calls you back when an agent is available. Saved me hours of waiting and I got through to someone who explained all the loan options. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ

To directly answer your question about loan limits: Federal student loan limits are unfortunately quite low compared to college costs these days. For dependent students the lifetime borrowing limit is $31,000 total ($23,000 max in subsidized if eligible). That's why many families use a combination of: 1) federal student loans up to the limit, 2) Parent PLUS loans, and 3) private loans if needed. Parent PLUS has better repayment options than private loans, including income-contingent repayment if consolidated, loan forgiveness possibilities, and hardship deferments that private loans rarely offer.

btw don't forget to check if your state has any education loan programs!! sometimes they have better rates than federal parent plus. we found out too late that our state had a program with like 1% lower interest than what we got stuck with

My parents were in your income bracket and I still got the max federal loans. Just make sure your son files the FAFSA as early as possible (October) to maximize chances for any school-based aid too. The loan process was actually way easier than I expected!!

One other thing to consider: if your son is set on attending a school that will require significant loans beyond the federal student limit, have a serious conversation about whether that's the right financial choice. Sometimes a less expensive school with more merit aid can provide an equivalent education without the crushing debt. Speaking from experience - my oldest graduated with $78k in loans and regrets not considering more affordable options.

As someone who just went through this process with my daughter last year, I can confirm that federal unsubsidized loans are available regardless of income! We make about $200k and she still got the full amount. One tip I wish I'd known earlier: even if you think you make "too much" for aid, still submit the FAFSA by the priority deadline. Some schools use it for merit scholarships too, and you might be surprised - we actually qualified for a small need-based grant at one private school despite our income. Also, don't overlook work-study opportunities which can help reduce the loan burden. The key is to explore ALL options before committing to any particular loan type!