How many middle class people have student loans?

Asked by: Amely Zieme  |  Last update: September 11, 2023
Score: 4.3/5 (65 votes)

Based on national data from 2015–16, about 70 percent of these middle-class students earning bachelor's degrees graduate with debt; the median borrowed is about $26,000. (Among the 40 percent of this group who earn certificates or associate's degrees, about 40 percent borrow a median of $10,000).

What group has the most student loan debt?

However, middle-aged borrowers 35 to 49 have the largest total amount of student loan debt outstanding. That's a big part of why so many are hoping for student loan relief from the federal government.

What percent of people have a student loan?

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.

How much does the average person have in student loans?

The average federal student loan debt is $37,338 per borrower. Private student loan debt averages $54,921 per borrower. The average student borrows over $30,000 to pursue a bachelor's degree.

Is $25,000 in student loans a lot?

According to a Department of Education analysis, the typical undergraduate student with loans now graduates with nearly $25,000 in debt. The skyrocketing cumulative federal student loan debt—$1.6 trillion and rising for more than 45 million borrowers—is a significant burden on America's middle class.

What Everyone's Getting Wrong About Student Loans

15 related questions found

Is $50,000 in student loans a lot?

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.

What is the average time to pay off the student loan debt?

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 typically take someone to pay off student loan debt?

Data Summary. Student loans can take 5-20 years or longer to repay. It would take the average bachelor's degree graduate six and a half years to pay off their debt if they spend 10% of their income on loan repayment. It would take the average master's degree graduate 6-11 years to pay off their graduate student debt.

What is the income of the upper middle class?

Many have graduate degrees with educational attainment serving as the main distinguishing feature of this class. Household incomes commonly exceed $100,000, with some smaller one-income earners household having incomes in the high 5-figure range.

What is considered high student debt?

It's hard to say what's too much for everyone, broadly across the board. 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.

Is 100k in student loans a lot?

If you owe $100,000 or more in student loan debt, you're not alone. Six percent of borrowers owe more than $100,000, according to the College Board. A standard 10-year repayment plan may sound like a quick way to pay down your debt, but your monthly payment could be as high as $1,000 or more.

What is the average college debt after 4 years?

The average debt for a 4-year Bachelor's degree is $34,700. The average 4-year Bachelor's degree debt from a public college is $32,714. 64% of students seeking a Bachelor's degree from a public 4-year college have student loan debt. The average 4-year Bachelor's degree debt from a private for-profit college is $59,701.

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 to pay off 40k in student loans?

How to Pay Off Student Loans in 10 Steps
  1. Get on a budget.
  2. Find out your payoff date.
  3. Pay more than the minimum payment.
  4. Make some financial sacrifices.
  5. Pay off student loans with the debt snowball.
  6. Apply every raise and tax refund toward paying off your student loans.
  7. Increase your income with a side hustle.

How long does it take to pay off $100 K 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.

How long does it take to pay off 300k in student loans?

How long does it take to pay off $300k student loans? This will depend on the type of student loans you have and the repayment terms you choose. Federal student loans: It will generally take 10 to 25 years to pay off federal loans, depending on the repayment plan.

How to pay off 30K in student loans?

Here's a five-step plan for how to pay off $30K in student loans within three years:
  1. Commit to student loan payoff.
  2. Consider refinancing your student loans.
  3. Choose your strategy.
  4. Plan out your repayment.
  5. Pay extra when you can.

How many people owe $10,000 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.

What is the average student loan payment on $60000?

The monthly payment on a $60,000 student loan ranges from $636 to $5,387, depending on the APR and how long the loan lasts. For example, if you take out a $60,000 student loan and pay it back in 10 years at an APR of 5%, your monthly payment will be $636.

Do student loans affect credit score?

Yes, having a student loan will affect your credit score. Your student loan amount and payment history will go on your credit report. Making payments on time can help you maintain a positive credit score. In contrast, failure to make payments will hurt your score.

How much student debt is bad?

An Imperfect Rule of Thumb. Every situation is different, so it's difficult to provide a one-size-fits-all answer to the question of how much student loan debt is too much. One rule of thumb some experts recommend is to avoid borrowing more than your post-graduation starting salary.