Student Loan Statistics 2024: Key Facts and Figures Shaping Borrowers’ Futures
Barry Elad
Updated · Oct 26, 2024
Contents
- Editor’s Choice: Key Student Loan Statistics
- Student Loan Debt Statistics
- Debt Distribution by Demographics
- Average Student Loan Debt by Age, Race, and Gender
- Student Loan Debt Inflation
- Federal and Private Student Loan Comparison
- Student Loan Forgiveness Statistics
- Student Loan Repayment Statistics
- Recent Developments
- Conclusion
Student loans have become a defining financial issue for millions of Americans. Whether it’s the dream of a better life through education or the burden of debt that follows, student loans impact every corner of society. The rising cost of education and the growing debt load make this an issue that demands attention. Understanding the statistics behind student loans provides insight into the broader financial struggles faced by current and former students.
Editor’s Choice: Key Student Loan Statistics
- 44.7 million Americans currently have student loan debt.
- Total student loan debt in the United States has reached $1.77 trillion.
- The average student loan debt per borrower is $37,693.
- 54% of student loan borrowers are under the age of 35.
- Over 92% of all student loans are owned by the federal government.
- 14% of adults in the U.S. owe student loan debt, impacting everything from housing to retirement savings.
- The delinquency rate for student loans is approximately 9%, indicating ongoing struggles with repayment.
| Statistic | Value |
| Percentage of Borrowers Under 35 | 54% |
| Percentage of Student Loans Owned by Federal Govt. | 92% |
| Percentage of U.S. Adults with Student Loan Debt | 14% |
| Delinquency Rate | 9% |
Student Loan Debt Statistics
- Student loan debt has increased by 302% since 2004, reflecting both rising tuition costs and a higher number of borrowers.
- Public university graduates in the U.S. borrow an average of $30,030 to finance their education.
- For students attending private nonprofit institutions, the average debt is significantly higher, at $33,700.
- In 2023, about 12.1 million borrowers were in the repayment stage, contributing toward reducing their student loan balances.
- A staggering 65% of students graduating from four-year institutions in 2022 took on student loans.
- Graduate students account for nearly 40% of all student loan debt, even though they represent a smaller portion of total borrowers.
- The average monthly payment for student loan borrowers is $393, which can take a substantial toll on a person’s disposable income.
Debt Distribution by Demographics
- Women hold nearly two-thirds of the nation’s student loan debt, amounting to approximately $929 billion.
- Black borrowers owe, on average, $25,000 more than their white counterparts four years after graduation.
- Hispanic borrowers are more likely to default on their loans, with a default rate of 21% compared to 9% for white borrowers.
- First-generation college students are 4 times more likely to borrow student loans than students whose parents have college degrees.
- LGBTQ borrowers face significantly higher debt, with an average of $16,000 more in student loan debt compared to non-LGBTQ borrowers.
- The gender pay gap exacerbates the issue, as women need an average of 2 years longer to pay off their student loans than men.
- Borrowers in rural areas are more likely to experience financial hardship in repayment, with 33% of rural borrowers defaulting within five years of graduation.
| Demographic Category | Value |
| Hispanic Borrowers’ Default Rate | 21% |
| White Borrowers’ Default Rate | 9% |
| Rural Borrowers’ Default Rate | 33% (within five years of graduation) |
Average Student Loan Debt by Age, Race, and Gender
- Borrowers aged 25 to 34 hold the highest average student loan balance, approximately $41,300.
- Older Americans, aged 50 and above, hold 22% of the nation’s student loan debt, with balances averaging $45,000.
- On average, Black graduates owe $52,000 four years after graduation, compared to $28,000 for white graduates.
- Asian borrowers tend to have the lowest default rates, with only 2.7% defaulting within three years of leaving school.
- Women borrowers, especially those aged 35 to 49, owe an average of $47,000, driven by both undergraduate and graduate student loans.
- White men are more likely to pay off their student loans faster, with an average payoff time of 12 years compared to 21 years for Black women.
- Borrowers aged 60 and older still owe $98 billion in student loans, highlighting the long-term burden of debt.
Student Loan Debt Inflation
- The average cost of a four-year degree has increased by 213% since the 1980s, far outpacing wage growth and contributing to rising student loan balances.
- Graduate school debt has inflated by 50% over the last 20 years, with the average graduate owing more than $70,000.
- From 2020 to 2023, the total national student loan debt grew by 8%, despite a temporary pause on repayments during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Private student loans, which generally carry higher interest rates, now account for 7.89% of total student loan debt, a rise from 5% just a decade ago.
- Interest on student loans adds, on average, $4,000 to a borrower’s total balance over the life of the loan.
- Tuition inflation has increased at an average rate of 4.6% per year, making higher education less affordable for many students.
- Living costs for college students, including housing and food, have increased by 15% over the past five years, contributing further to the student debt crisis.
Federal and Private Student Loan Comparison
- Federal student loans make up over 92% of all student loan debt, amounting to about $1.63 trillion.
- The average interest rate for federal student loans is 4.99% for undergraduate loans, while private student loan rates range from 3.2% to 13.9%, depending on credit scores and other factors.
- Private student loans account for $139.8 billion of the total student loan debt in the U.S., up from $118 billion five years ago.
- Income-driven repayment (IDR) plans, available for federal loans, cap monthly payments at 10% to 20% of discretionary income, while private loans typically do not offer such options.
- Federal student loans offer borrower protections, such as deferment, forbearance, and loan forgiveness programs, which are not available with most private student loans.
- About 90% of borrowers use federal student loans, yet private loans are growing in popularity due to limits on federal borrowing and rising education costs.
- Federal student loans provide fixed interest rates, whereas private loans often come with variable rates, adding uncertainty to repayment.
| Loan Type | Value |
| Federal Student Loan Debt | 92% ($1.63 trillion) |
| Federal Loan Interest Rate | 4.99% |
| Private Loan Interest Rate | 3.2%–13.9% (Depending on credit score) |
Student Loan Forgiveness Statistics
- As of 2023, over 850,000 borrowers have received relief under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, erasing more than $75 billion in student loan debt.
- Nearly 32% of all federal student loan borrowers qualify for some form of loan forgiveness, including income-driven repayment (IDR) forgiveness after 20 or 25 years of repayment.
- The Biden administration’s student loan forgiveness plan, which proposed forgiving up to $20,000 for eligible borrowers, could have impacted around 43 million people.
- Teacher Loan Forgiveness provides up to $17,500 in forgiveness for qualifying educators, yet fewer than 25% of eligible teachers take advantage of the program.
- The Borrower Defense to Repayment program has approved $14.5 billion in loan cancellations for students defrauded by their schools since 2021.
- Healthcare workers in underserved areas may qualify for up to $50,000 in student loan forgiveness through the National Health Service Corps.
- Only 2% of borrowers applying for Public Service Loan Forgiveness between 2017 and 2020 were approved, though recent reforms have improved approval rates.
| Program | Value |
| Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) | 32% |
| Teacher Loan Forgiveness | 25% |
| Applying for Public Service Loan Forgiveness | 2% |
Student Loan Repayment Statistics
- As of 2023, 23 million borrowers were actively making payments on their student loans, while 20 million were not, primarily due to deferment or forbearance.
- The average time to pay off a student loan is 20 years, with some borrowers taking up to 30 years for larger balances.
- Income-driven repayment plans (IDR) are used by 33% of federal loan borrowers, with payments based on income and family size.
- 59% of borrowers who default on their loans owe less than $20,000, highlighting the struggles faced even by those with smaller balances.
- Deferment and forbearance were utilized by 11 million borrowers during the COVID-19 pandemic, contributing to a temporary halt in default rates.
- About 25% of borrowers experience a change in their repayment plan at least once, usually moving to a more affordable option like IDR.
- Interest capitalization, when unpaid interest is added to the principal balance, can increase a borrower’s total loan amount by 10% to 25%, extending the repayment period.
Recent Developments
- The temporary freeze on student loan payments due to the COVID-19 pandemic ended in 2023, after being in place since March 2020.
- The Supreme Court ruling blocked the Biden administration’s plan to cancel up to $20,000 in student loan debt for millions of borrowers, creating uncertainty for many.
- New income-driven repayment plans (SAVE plan) introduced in 2023 promise to lower monthly payments for millions of borrowers, capping payments at 5% of discretionary income for undergraduate loans.
- States like California and New York have expanded their own student loan forgiveness programs for public service workers and healthcare professionals.
- In 2024, the Department of Education will introduce a revamped FAFSA system to simplify the student aid application process and improve access to grants and loans.
- The default rate for student loans is expected to rise again in 2024, as borrowers who struggled pre-pandemic resume payments.
- Legislation is in progress to potentially reinstate some form of broad-based student loan forgiveness, though its fate remains uncertain.
Conclusion
The student loan crisis continues to shape the financial futures of millions of Americans. With 1 in 8 Americans carrying some form of student debt, the effects ripple across housing markets, retirement plans, and overall economic stability. Recent policy changes and forgiveness programs offer some hope, but the underlying challenges of escalating tuition costs and long-term repayment struggles remain. Understanding the depth and breadth of this issue is critical as policymakers and borrowers alike navigate the future of student loans.
Sources
Barry Elad
Barry is a lover of everything technology and finance (FinTech). Figuring out how the software works and creating content to shed more light on the value it offers users is his favorite pastime. When not evaluating apps or programs, he's busy trying out new healthy recipes, doing yoga, meditating, or taking nature walks with his little one.
