How many students have borrowed over $200,000 for college?

Asked by: Trystan Stoltenberg  |  Last update: November 3, 2025
Score: 4.8/5 (9 votes)

Student Loan Borrowers by Debt Size Only 1 million borrowers had debt over $200,000. In the last five years, the number of borrowers with debts under $20,000 decreased by about 700,000 borrowers.

How many people have over $100,000 in student debt?

Adults with a postgraduate degree are especially likely to have a large amount of student loan debt. About a quarter of these advanced degree holders who borrowed (26%) owed $100,000 or more in 2023, compared with 9% of all borrowers. Overall, only 1% of all U.S. adults owed at least $100,000.

Is 200k student debt a lot?

According to StudentAid.gov, about 900,000 borrowers owed $200,000 or more in federal student loans, as of the second quarter of 2023. So if you carry a large student debt, rest assured you aren't alone.

What is the average amount of money borrowed for college?

The average federal student loan debt balance is $38,375, while the total average balance (including private loan debt) may be as high as $41,520. 4.86% of federal student loans dollars were in default as of 2024's fourth financial quarter (2024 Q4); 1.61% of private student loans were in default as of 2024 Q1.

Is $100,000 in student debt bad?

For ANY bachelor's degree, $100000 is a huge debt. For anything other than a bachelor's in Computer Science, Engineering, or Nursing, a student debt of $100000 is **INSANE** and **CATASTROPHIC**. This is way, way too much debt.

We Have $400,000 In Student Loans!

21 related questions found

Can I buy a house with 100k in student loans?

Yes, home buyers with student loans can qualify for a mortgage because you don't need to be 100% debt-free to buy a house. However, when a lender evaluates your application, they will look at your current debt, including your student loans.

What is the average student debt in the UK?

How much is the average student loan debt in the UK? According to the Student Loans Company (SLC), the average student debt in the UK is £45,600 for students who started their course in 2022-23. This is expected to be £42,900 for those starting in the reformed system for 2023-24.

Is it a parent's responsibility to pay back their children's student loans?

When the time comes to start making payments, only the student is obligated to repay these loans — not the parents. In fact, there's no co-signer. If the student defaults on a federal student loan, it will affect the student's credit and won't be reported on the parent's credit history.

How long will it take to pay off a $200,000 student loan?

If you have federal student loans

If you have more than $200,000 in federal loan debt, you have several different repayment options. Standard Repayment Plan: This plan comes with fixed monthly payments and is designed to pay off your loans in 10 years.

Do rich people have student loan debt?

Student Loan Debt by Household Income

The total student loan debt is $1.7 trillion, and federal debt alone exceeds $1.6 trillion; households in higher income brackets are more likely to hold high amounts of debt. Households in the highest income quintile (81st percentile and higher) owe 26% of student loan debt.

Who has the highest student debt in the world?

The #1 most expensive place to go to college in the world

Student debt is making headlines in the UK as student debt balloons. However, their repayment structure looks quite different from the US's. University graduates begin loan repayment once they earn over the income threshold amount for their repayment plan.

Why is it so hard to pay off student loans?

If your monthly payment does not cover the accrued interest, your loan balance will go up, even though you're making payments. Unpaid interest will also capitalize each year until your total balance is 10% higher than the original balance. This means you will pay interest on your interest.

What percent of college students have no debt?

Key Takeaways. More than four in ten students at public four-year universities complete their bachelor's degree with zero debt. Nearly eight in ten students graduate with less than $30,000 in debt.

What college has the most student debt?

Atop the list is Maine Maritime Academy, where 2019 graduates who borrowed left with an average debt load of $56,897 – nearly $27,000 above the average among all ranked colleges.

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

On average, people with student loans have spent just over 21 years paying back their loans. Federal student loans offer repayment plans that last from 10 to 30 years. Private student loan repayment terms vary.

How many total student loan borrowers owe more than $100,000?

Overall, more than 10% of graduate and professional students owe $100,000 or more in federal and private student loan debt, according to higher education expert Mark Kantrowitz. (For comparison, less than 1% of students borrow above that amount for bachelor's degree programs.)

Why is student debt so high in the UK?

Interest and Multiple Courses Drive Higher Balances

The reasons behind these staggering debt levels are varied. Students who pursue multiple or lengthy courses often find themselves with significantly higher loan balances. Additionally, interest accrual plays a substantial role in the rapid growth of debt.

What person has the biggest debt in the world?

Former Société Générale rogue trader Jérôme Kerviel owes the bank $6.3 billion. Here's what his case tells us about financial reform. He can earn million-dollar gains without anybody knowing.

Is 100k student debt a lot?

$100k is a lot to pay off, and you'll need to make sure you always have a stream of income to cover your monthly loan payments,” he said.

What age do people pay off student loans?

You're not alone if you are still paying off your student loans from your college education years ago. In fact, many Americans are paying their student loans well into middle age. A 2019 study from New York Life found that the average age when people finally pay off their student loans for good is 45.

How bad is 50k student debt?

Having $50,000 in student loan debt can be a tremendous financial burden. Depending on your interest rate and the types of loans you have, the payments can amount to a very large portion of your monthly budget.

How to pay off 300k student debt?

Here's how to pay off $300,000 of student loans:
  1. Refinance your student loans.
  2. Use a cosigner for student loan refinancing.
  3. Enroll in income-driven repayment.
  4. Explore student loan forgiveness.
  5. Compare the avalanche and snowball method.