Student Loan Amounts
Information for borrowers about student loan amounts.
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Important Federal Aid Changes for 2026-2027
Beginning July 1, 2026, new federal regulations will affect some Pell Grant eligibility requirements, student loan limits, and repayment options. CNM is continuing to review federal guidance and update systems as additional information becomes available.
Many students will continue to qualify for federal financial aid despite these changes. Completing the FAFSA is the first step in understanding the aid available to you.
About Student Loan Amounts
Due to new regulations beginning 2026-2027, Federal Student Loans will be reduced based in enrollment. Future terms offers can be impacted based on enrollment, adding or withdrawing from classes. Adding classes later in the term will not increase your eligibility for the term.
If you’re a freshman student and a first-time borrower, you must complete the entrance counseling, sign a master promissory note and apply online for your loans. In addition, your first financial aid funds release can’t be made until 30 days after the first day of term.
Borrowers may be assessed an origination fee and/or an insurance premium. The origination fee is charged by the lender and turned over to the federal government to help offset the cost of federal interest subsidies. This amount is deducted from the student loan.
Student Loan Amounts Charts
Please note that amounts offered to you could differ from amounts listed below based on your Cost of Attendance, change in number of credits at the time of disbursement and total lifetime borrowing history. To view your total lifetime borrowing history, log into your studentaid.gov account.
Loan amounts can be requested based on the following:
- Freshman: less than 30 completed college-level credit hours
- Sophomore: 30 or more completed college-level credit hours
Dependent Students in ALL College-Level Courses
|
Level |
Base Amount | Additional Unsubsidized Loan Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Freshman | 3500 | 2000 |
| Sophomore | 4500 | 2000 |
Independent Students in ALL College-Level Courses
|
Level |
Base Amount | Additional Unsubsidized Loan Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Freshman | 3500 | 6000 |
| Sophomore | 4500 | 6000 |
Important Notes
- All loan requests and amounts will be processed for three terms. Your actual loan eligibility may vary and amounts are subject to new federal regulations, CNM budgets and student eligibility. Student must be in enrolled in 6 financial aid eligible credits to receive loans. With the new Federal Direct Loan SOR requirement, full-time students will receive the full amount of their annual loan offer. If a student is enrolled less than full-time, they will not be eligible to receive the full-time amount of loans offered to them. Instead, CNM will calculate the amount of loan funding the student is eligible to receive based on the number of credits in which they are enrolled academically.
- Loan applicants who expect to graduate during the current academic year or who are enrolled for less than one year will have their loans prorated. Students who drop below half-time (6 credit hours) during a term in which funds were received will have all subsequent disbursements canceled and the six-month grace period will begin. At the end of that grace period, students must begin to repay on their loans.
- Federal Direct Loan eligibility may be adjusted if your enrollment changes. This includes adding, dropping, or withdrawing from classes. CNM will review your enrollment and financial aid eligibility in accordance with federal requirements.
- Dropping or withdrawing from courses may result in a reduction to your loan eligibility, requiring you to pay back a portion of the funds you received, or losing eligibility for the future terms.