See where consumers stand with student debt in the U.S.
Each year, scores of individuals head to college. Some view attending college as a rite of passage, while others see it as a means of obtaining better-paying jobs; some go because they’ve been told it’s the right thing to do.
Unfortunately, not everyone can afford to pay the cost of higher education out of pocket – especially right out of school when it can be tough to find a job that pays what you really need. What’s more, students often have to leave school before they can earn their degree, but they’re still on the hook for any debt they incurred. As a result, you can find yourself in a situation where you have the bills of a higher education without the income to match.
With this in mind, is it any wonder why so many people face payments they can’t make and defaulted debt that can’t easily be erased through bankruptcy? The statistics below provide an overview of where we stand with student loan debt in the U.S. If you’re struggling and need help to lower your payments, so you can afford to pay back what you owe, call us at to connect with the help you need!
Affording a higher education
- Only 26% of undergraduates took federal student loans in 2020-2021.[4]
- From 2020-2021, 4% of undergraduate students borrowed subsidized loans only, 5% borrowed unsubsidized loans only, and 16% borrowed from both programs.[4]
- Nearly 6 in 10 seniors (55%) who graduated from public and non-profit colleges in 2019-2020 had student loan debt; averaging at $28,400.[4]
General student loan debt statistics
Federal loans:
- The national student loan debt hovers at $1.71 trillion[1]
- The average student in the Class of 2021 graduated with $29,500 in student loan debt[2]
- Number of Federal student loans guaranteed or held by the federal government by the end of 2020 — over $1.5 trillion [1]
- Average monthly student loan payment is estimated at $460 (2021)[3]
- Total number of borrowers with federal student loans — 44.7 million [1]
- Among the States, total outstanding borrowers from California, Florida, Texas, and New York represent nearly 30% of the entire U.S. student loan borrowers. Collectively borrowers in these states owe more than $440 billion in student loan debt.[1]
The highs and lows of paying for school
For the 2020-2021 academic school year:
- Average tuition and fee prices at a public four-year institution (in-state) — $10,740[5]
- Average tuition and fee prices at public two-year institutions (in-district) — $3,800[5]
- Average tuition and fee prices at a private nonprofit four-year institution – $38,070[5]
By State:
Alabama Student Loan Debt
- Median Student Loan Debt (2022): $20,398 [12]
- Average In-State Public University Tuition (2022): $10,617 [13]
- Average Out-of-State Public University Tuition (2022): $27,005 [13]
Alaska Student Loan Debt
- Median Student Loan Debt: $18,563
- Average Public University Tuition (In-State): $8,849
- Average Public University Tuition (Out-of-State): $25,535
Arizona Student Loan Debt
- Median Student Loan Debt: $18,147
- Average Public University Tuition (In-State): $11,410
- Average Public University Tuition (Out-of-State): $25,426
Arkansas Student Loan Debt
- Median Student Loan Debt: $18,307
- Average Public University Tuition (In-State): $8,468
- Average Public University Tuition (Out-of-State): $21,598
California Student Loan Debt
- Median Student Loan Debt: $18,500
- Average Public University Tuition (In-State): $8,401
- Average Public University Tuition (Out-of-State): $34,398
Colorado Student Loan Debt
- Median Student Loan Debt: $20,771
- Average Public University Tuition (In-State): $9,269
- Average Public University Tuition (Out-of-State): $30,930
Connecticut Student Loan Debt
- Median Student Loan Debt: $21,457
- Average Public University Tuition (In-State): $14,487
- Average Public University Tuition (Out-of-State): $36,881
Delaware Student Loan Debt
- Median Student Loan Debt: $21,428
- Average Public University Tuition (In-State): $11,343
- Average Public University Tuition (Out-of-State): $31,809
Florida Student Loan Debt
- Median Student Loan Debt: $20,288
- Average Public University Tuition (In-State): $4,541
- Average Public University Tuition (Out-of-State): $18,322
Georgia Student Loan Debt
- Median Student Loan Debt: $22,867
- Average Public University Tuition (In-State): $7,525
- Average Public University Tuition (Out-of-State): $23,430
Hawaii Student Loan Debt
- Median Student Loan Debt: $19,450
- Average Public University Tuition (In-State): $10,197
- Average Public University Tuition (Out-of-State): $32,043
Idaho Student Loan Debt
- Median Student Loan Debt: $18,488
- Average Public University Tuition (In-State): $7,482
- Average Public University Tuition (Out-of-State): $24,700
Illinois Student Loan Debt
- Median Student Loan Debt: $20,598
- Average Public University Tuition (In-State): $14,579
- Average Public University Tuition (Out-of-State): $28,660
Indiana Student Loan Debt
- Median Student Loan Debt: $19,346
- Average Public University Tuition (In-State): $9,656
- Average Public University Tuition (Out-of-State): $28,972
Iowa Student Loan Debt
- Median Student Loan Debt: $18,181
- Average Public University Tuition (In-State): $9,373
- Average Public University Tuition (Out-of-State): $27,684
Kansas Student Loan Debt
- Median Student Loan Debt: $18,341
- Average Public University Tuition (In-State): $9,081
- Average Public University Tuition (Out-of-State): $23,945
Kentucky Student Loan Debt
- Median Student Loan Debt: $19,183
- Average Public University Tuition (In-State): $10,976
- Average Public University Tuition (Out-of-State): $25,049
Louisiana Student Loan Debt
- Median Student Loan Debt: $17,985
- Average Public University Tuition (In-State): $9,642
- Average Public University Tuition (Out-of-State): $23,333
Maine Student Loan Debt
- Median Student Loan Debt: $19,686
- Average Public University Tuition (In-State): $10,377
- Average Public University Tuition (Out-of-State): $29,061
Maryland Student Loan Debt
- Median Student Loan Debt: $23,966
- Average Public University Tuition (In-State): $9,401
- Average Public University Tuition (Out-of-State): $26,376
Massachusetts Student Loan Debt
- Median Student Loan Debt: $21,577
- Average Public University Tuition (In-State): $13,939
- Average Public University Tuition (Out-of-State): $32,019
Michigan Student Loan Debt
- Median Student Loan Debt: $20,603
- Average Public University Tuition (In-State): $13,315
- Average Public University Tuition (Out-of-State): $36,832
Minnesota Student Loan Debt
- Median Student Loan Debt: $19,918
- Average Public University Tuition (In-State): $11,748
- Average Public University Tuition (Out-of-State): $24,442
Mississippi Student Loan Debt
- Median Student Loan Debt: $19,186
- Average Public University Tuition (In-State): $8,604
- Average Public University Tuition (Out-of-State): $19,402
Missouri Student Loan Debt
- Median Student Loan Debt: $20,005
- Average Public University Tuition (In-State): $8,992
- Average Public University Tuition (Out-of-State): $20,877
Montana Student Loan Debt
- Median Student Loan Debt: $18,520
- Average Public University Tuition (In-State): $6,967
- Average Public University Tuition (Out-of-State): $25,239
Nebraska Student Loan Debt
- Median Student Loan Debt: $18,012
- Average Public University Tuition (In-State): $8,582
- Average Public University Tuition (Out-of-State): $22,152
Nevada Student Loan Debt
- Median Student Loan Debt: $16,447
- Average Public University Tuition (In-State): $6,023
- Average Public University Tuition (Out-of-State): $21,678
New Hampshire Student Loan Debt
- Median Student Loan Debt: $22,118
- Average Public University Tuition (In-State): $16,679
- Average Public University Tuition (Out-of-State): $30,594
New Jersey Student Loan Debt
- Median Student Loan Debt: $21,530
- Average Public University Tuition (In-State): $14,360
- Average Public University Tuition (Out-of-State): $29,435
New Mexico Student Loan Debt
- Median Student Loan Debt: $34,211
- Average Public University Tuition (In-State): $7,152
- Average Public University Tuition (Out-of-State): $19,181
New York Student Loan Debt
- Median Student Loan Debt: $17,421
- Average Public University Tuition (In-State): $8,467
- Average Public University Tuition (Out-of-State): $22,669
North Carolina Student Loan Debt
- Median Student Loan Debt: $22,059
- Average Public University Tuition (In-State): $7,228
- Average Public University Tuition (Out-of-State): $23,357
North Dakota Student Loan Debt
- Median Student Loan Debt: $17,913
- Average Public University Tuition (In-State): $8,628
- Average Public University Tuition (Out-of-State): $13,936
Ohio Student Loan Debt
- Median Student Loan Debt: $21,721
- Average Public University Tuition (In-State): $9,902
- Average Public University Tuition (Out-of-State): $24,830
Oklahoma Student Loan Debt
- Median Student Loan Debt: $17,453
- Average Public University Tuition (In-State): $8,009
- Average Public University Tuition (Out-of-State): $21,695
Oregon Student Loan Debt
- Median Student Loan Debt: $21,650
- Average Public University Tuition (In-State): $10,813
- Average Public University Tuition (Out-of-State): $32,068
Pennsylvania Student Loan Debt
- Median Student Loan Debt: $22,132
- Average Public University Tuition (In-State): $15,565
- Average Public University Tuition (Out-of-State): $30,222
Rhode Island Student Loan Debt
- Median Student Loan Debt: $19,616
- Average Public University Tuition (In-State): $13,105
- Average Public University Tuition (Out-of-State): $30,871
South Carolina Student Loan Debt
- Median Student Loan Debt: $22,055
- Average Public University Tuition (In-State): $12,497
- Average Public University Tuition (Out-of-State): $32,853
South Dakota Student Loan Debt
- Median Student Loan Debt: $18,939
- Average Public University Tuition (In-State): $8,978
- Average Public University Tuition (Out-of-State): $12,866
Tennessee Student Loan Debt
- Median Student Loan Debt: $19,984
- Average Public University Tuition (In-State): $10,164
- Average Public University Tuition (Out-of-State): $24,786
Texas Student Loan Debt
- Median Student Loan Debt: $18,087
- Average Public University Tuition (In-State): $8,598
- Average Public University Tuition (Out-of-State): $24,889
Utah Student Loan Debt
- Median Student Loan Debt: $15,969
- Average Public University Tuition (In-State): $6,700
- Average Public University Tuition (Out-of-State): $21,273
Vermont Student Loan Debt
- Median Student Loan Debt: $22,189
- Average Public University Tuition (In-State): $17,083
- Average Public University Tuition (Out-of-State): $41,057
Virginia Student Loan Debt
- Median Student Loan Debt: $22,856
- Average Public University Tuition (In-State): $13,655
- Average Public University Tuition (Out-of-State): $35,831
Washington Student Loan Debt
- Median Student Loan Debt: $19,419
- Average Public University Tuition (In-State): $7,168
- Average Public University Tuition (Out-of-State): $30,155
West Virginia Student Loan Debt
- Median Student Loan Debt: $18,760
- Average Public University Tuition (In-State): $8,195
- Average Public University Tuition (Out-of-State): $22,242
Wisconsin Student Loan Debt
- Median Student Loan Debt: $18,385
- Average Public University Tuition (In-State): $8,764
- Average Public University Tuition (Out-of-State): $25,522
Wyoming Student Loan Debt
- Median Student Loan Debt: $15,834
- Average Public University Tuition (In-State): $4,747
- Average Public University Tuition (Out-of-State): $14,803
Student loan interest rate statistics
Loan Type | 2019-2020 Rate | 2018-19 Rate | 2017-18 Rate | 2016-17 Rate |
---|---|---|---|---|
Direct Subsidized Loans (Undergraduate) | 4.53% | 5.05% | 4.45% | 3.76% |
Direct Unsubsidized Loans (Undergraduate) | 4.53% | 5.05% | 4.45% | 3.76% |
Direct Unsubsidized Loans (Graduate) | 6.08% | 6.60% | 6% | 5.31% |
Direct PLUS Loans (Graduate and Parents) | 7.08% | 7.60% | 7% | 6.31% |
What the rise in interest rates means for borrowers
The increase in the interest rates will increase the monthly loan payments by about 2.8%, assuming a 10-year repayment term. (For most borrowers that yields an increase of a few dollars a month.)[11]
Loan type | 10-year Treasury Note | Increment | Cap | Fixed interest rate |
---|---|---|---|---|
Federal Stafford (Undergraduate) | 2.479% | 2.05% | 8.25% | 4.529% |
Federal Stafford (Graduate) | 2.479% | 3.60% | 9.50% | 6.079% |
Federal Parent PLUS | 2.479% | 4.60% | 10.50% | 7.079% |
Federal Grad PLUS | 2.479% | 4.60% | 10.50% | 7.079% |
[11]
Student debt default statistics
- 1 million borrowers default each year[8]
- 40% of borrowers will default by 2023[9]
Sources: