How long does it take the average American to pay off student loans?

Asked by: Sage Von  |  Last update: September 23, 2023
Score: 4.1/5 (67 votes)

Many college graduates get stressed about how long it will take to pay back their student loans and it's not hard to see why. A repayment plan can last decades. In a nightmare scenario, it could even last into the start of your retirement. According to research, the average student loan takes 21 years to pay off.

How long does it take the average person to get out of student loan debt?

A typical student loan is structured to take 10 years to pay off. But research has shown it actually takes 21 years, on average. So, when you're just out of college and expecting to be out of debt by the time you're 32, the reality is that Sallie Mae could follow you well into your 40s!

How long does it take to pay off 100k in student loans?

While the standard repayment term for federal loans is 10 years, it takes anywhere between 13 and 20 years on average to repay $100k in student loans. Here are some different scenarios to consider, depending on your financial situation and goals.

At what age do most people pay off student loans?

Average time to repay student loan debt, by degree
  • Some college (no degree): 17.2 years.
  • Associate degree: 18.3 years.
  • Bachelor's degree: 19.7 years.
  • Graduate degree: 23 years.

Do some people never pay off student loans?

They estimate that roughly 7 percent of borrowers will likely never be able to pay off their student loans.

What Everyone's Getting Wrong About Student Loans

25 related questions found

Do student loans go away after 27 years?

Federal student loans go away:

After at least 20 years of student loan payments under an income-driven repayment plan — IDR forgiveness and 20-year student loan forgiveness. After 25 years if you borrowed loans for graduate school — 25-year federal loan forgiveness.

How to pay off 200k in student debt in 5 years?

Use the debt avalanche method

Many debtors use debt repayment strategies to pay off all types of debts — including student loans — faster. One popular strategy is the debt avalanche method, which prioritizes paying off the loans with the highest interest rate first while making minimum payments on your other loans.

Is $20,000 a lot in student loans?

Average Student Loan Debt Statistics:

The Federal Reserve reports that the median student debt for all borrowers in 2022 was between $20,000 and $24,999. That means about half of student loan borrowers owe more than that, and half owe less.

How to pay off $30,000 in student loans in 2 years?

Here's how to pay off $30,000 in student loans:
  1. Make extra payments.
  2. Refinance your debt.
  3. Sign up for an income-driven repayment plan.
  4. Pursue loan forgiveness.

Is $100 000 in student loans too much?

However, borrowing $100,000 or more is considered to be a lot and isn't normal for the average student. Most jobs don't pay over $100,000 right out of school so it could be a struggle to have that much student loan debt.

How many people owe 10k in student loans?

As for how much money people owe, 15 million people owe $10,000 or less in federal student loans. Another 21 million people owe $10,001-$50,000 dollars, and about 9 million people owe more than $50,000. President Biden has previously floated the idea of canceling up to $10,000 in federal student debt.

How to pay off 150k in student loans in 5 years?

  1. Consider refinancing your student loans. ...
  2. Add a cosigner. ...
  3. Pay off the loan with the highest interest rate first. ...
  4. See if you're eligible for an income-driven repayment plan. ...
  5. Consider student loan forgiveness. ...
  6. Pay more than the minimum every month. ...
  7. Consolidate your student loans. ...
  8. Sign up for automatic payments.

Is student loan debt wiped out after 25 years?

Any outstanding balance on your loan will be forgiven if you haven't repaid your loan in full after 20 years or 25 years, depending on when you received your first loans. You may have to pay income tax on any amount that is forgiven.

Why is it so hard to pay off student loans?

Capitalized interest can make it challenging to make a dent in your total student loan balance. If you're wondering, why do student loans take so long to pay off? Capitalized interest may be the culprit.

How common is student loan debt?

Data Summary. As of 2022, 43.5 million Americans have federal student loans. Approximately 13% of all Americans had federal student loan debt in 2021. In 2022, 9.9 million borrowers have between $20,000-$40,000 of student loan debt.

Who holds the most student loan debt?

Those ages 25 to 34 are the most likely to hold student loan debt, but the greatest amount is owed by those 35 to 49 — more than $600 billion, federal data show.

Is 50k a lot of student debt?

With $50,000 in student loan debt, your monthly payments could be quite expensive. Depending on how much debt you have and your interest rate, your payments will likely be about $500 per month or more.

How to pay off $400 000 in student loans?

Here's how to pay off $400,000 of student loans:
  1. Refinance student loans.
  2. Get a cosigner for student loan refinancing.
  3. Use income-driven repayment.
  4. Sign up for student loan forgiveness.
  5. Consider the avalanche and snowball method.
  6. Frequently Asked Questions.

How much would 100k student loan debt be monthly?

The monthly payment on a $100,000 student loan ranges from $1,061 to $8,979, depending on the APR and how long the loan lasts. For example, if you take out a $100,000 student loan and pay it back in 10 years at an APR of 5%, your monthly payment will be $1,061.

Is 25k in student debt a lot?

Most borrowers have between $25,000 and $50,000 outstanding in student loan debt. But more than 600,000 borrowers in the country are over $200,000 in student debt, and that number may continue to increase.

What happens if I never pay my student loans?

If you default on your student loan, that status will be reported to national credit reporting agencies. This reporting may damage your credit rating and future borrowing ability. Also, the government can collect on your loans by taking funds from your wages, tax refunds, and other government payments.

Do student loans get forgiven after death?

If you die, then your federal student loans will be discharged after the required proof of death is submitted.

Are student loans ever forgiven?

In certain situations, you can have your federal student loans forgiven, canceled, or discharged. That means you won't have to pay back some or all of your loan(s). The terms “forgiveness,” “cancellation,” and “discharge” mean essentially the same thing.