Who carries most student debt?

Asked by: Camilla Crooks III  |  Last update: November 16, 2023
Score: 4.2/5 (15 votes)

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.

Who are most student loans through?

Student loans in the U.S. are generally either owned by the federal government or financial institutions. The federal government fully guarantees almost all student loans.

Does Gen Z have student debt?

But — alarmingly — Gen Z student loan borrowers are more likely than any other generation to have six figures worth of student loan debt, with 10% stating that they owe more than $100,000. Here's a look at why members of this generation have such high levels of debt and what they can do about it.

What generation is currently in the most debt?

Here's how to get those balances down.

What age group owes the most student debt?

Federal Student Loans by Age

However, people carry their education debt well into middle-age and beyond. Borrowers ages 35 to 49 owe more than $620 billion in student loans. This cohort has the highest number of borrowers who owe more than $100,000 in loans.

What Everyone's Getting Wrong About Student Loans

34 related questions found

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 percentage of Gen Z has student loan debt?

We found that relatively fewer millennials had student debt (31% versus 36% for older Gen Zers), which means this financial weight falls more broadly on the younger generation. Not only are Gen Zers more likely to hold student debt, but they also tend to have higher balances.

What is the average student debt in the US?

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. A total of 45.3 million borrowers have student loan debt; 92% of them have federal loan debt.

How much is too much college debt?

What is considered a lot of student loan debt? A lot of student loan debt is more than you can afford to repay after graduation. For many this means having more than $70,000 – $100,000 of total student debt.

How long will it take to pay off student debt?

The standard student loan payoff time for federal student loans is 10 years. However, repayment time depends on the loan amount and how much you can pay a month. A bachelor's degree-holder with the average amount of federal loan debt would need to pay at least $290 a month to pay off their loan in 10 years or less.

Is 50000 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.

What percent of students have no debt?

More than four in ten students at public four-year universities complete their degree with zero debt. Nearly eight in ten students graduate with less than $30,000 in debt. Among those who do borrow, the average debt at graduation is $25,921 — or $6,480 for each year of a four-year degree at a public university.

What is the most common student debt?

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.

Why are millennials in debt?

Growing debt is bad news for everyone. For millennials, this could mean a widening wealth gap with older generations and less opportunity to save money and invest for the future. Many millennials started their careers during or around the Great Recession in late 2007, depressing their ability to earn from early on.

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.

What is the 28 36 rule?

What Is the 28/36 Rule? The 28/36 rule refers to a common-sense approach used to calculate the amount of debt an individual or household should assume. A household should spend a maximum of 28% of its gross monthly income on total housing expenses according to this rule, and no more than 36% on total debt service.

Is 1.6 trillion dollars in student loan debt?

Federal data shows 43 million Americans, around 20 percent of adults, have educational loans outstanding that add up to a total of $1.6 trillion. According to Dr. Nicholas Hillman of the University of Wisconsin at Madison's School of Education, student debt is one of the biggest economic issues in America today.

Why are student loans so high?

For example, car loans tend to have repayment terms between two and seven years. But student loans have repayment terms as long as 20 years. Because the loan term is so much longer, lenders charge higher rates on student loans.

How much student debt is held by the wealthy?

Borrowers from households in the middle-class income bracket owe on average $43,090 in student loan debt. Americans with income higher than the national average owe an estimated 65% of the nation's outstanding student loan debt. Households in the lowest income quartile owe an estimated 12% of all student loan debt.

How bad is college debt?

Plus, the high amount of debt compared to a lower salary can produce a skewed debt-to-income ratio, which can hurt your credit. Unaffordable student loan debt can lead to delinquency and even default, which can ruin your credit score and prevent you from getting approved for other types of credit.

Is it better to graduate without debt?

Graduates in the study reported on major aspects of their lives, including happiness within their community, financial situation, and overall health. In short, when a person graduates with less debt, they experience less stress and better overall well-being in their day-to-day lives.

How many people are stuck in student debt?

About 43.5 million Americans have federal student loan debt. Find out how many people have student loan debt by year, state, age, degree level, and other demographics in this guide.

What is the average student loan debt for a doctor?

Between medical school and undergraduate study, physicians must pay for 8 years of postsecondary education before they can work as doctors. Medical school graduates owe a median average of $200,000 to $215,000 in total educational debt, premedical debt included.

How long will it take to pay off $50 K in student loans?

The total cost of a $50,000 loan at an 8.5% interest rate will be around $74,391 at the end of 10 years, including $24,391 in interest. You'll pay an additional $7,779 in interest because of the higher interest rate. Finding a refinance loan with a lower interest rate can help reduce total interest costs.

Is 200000 in student debt bad?

Although $200,000 in student loan debt is an astronomical amount, paying it off isn't impossible, especially if you've earned a valuable degree that will lead to a high-paying job or student loan forgiveness.