Summary
- • The average monthly student loan payment is $393.
- • 11.1% of borrowers defaulted on their student loans in the first quarter of 2021.
- • The average student loan debt for 2021 graduates was $38,792.
- • The total outstanding student loan debt in the U.S. is $1.55 trillion.
- • Borrowers aged 25-34 have the highest average student loan balance of $33,457.
- • 28% of student loan borrowers are in income-driven repayment plans.
- • The average student loan repayment term is 21 years.
- • Students from the class of 2020 who took out student loans owe an average of $28,950.
- • 54% of borrowers take 21 years to pay off their student loans.
- • The student loan delinquency rate is 9.2%.
- • 2.4 million borrowers owe over $100,000 in student loan debt.
- • 48% of borrowers ages 25-34 believe student loans weren't worth it.
- • The average monthly student loan payment for borrowers aged 20-30 is $351.
- • 29% of borrowers are in deferment or forbearance on their student loans.
- • In 2021, 4.3 million borrowers were in default on their student loans.
Buckle up, because were about to dive headfirst into the wild world of student loans – where $1.55 trillion of debt looms larger than the struggle to find matching socks on a Monday morning. With an average monthly payment of $393 and a default rate thats got borrowers sweating like they just got a pop quiz in algebra, its clear that student loans are no joke. From 21-year repayment terms that seem longer than a Shakespeare play to 2.4 million unlucky souls staring down six figures of debt like its the final boss level, the numbers dont lie – and neither do the 48% of 25-34 year-olds wondering if all those ramen noodles were really worth it. Get ready for a rollercoaster ride through the highs, lows, and jaw-dropping stats of the student loan saga.
Average Monthly Student Loan Payment
- The average monthly student loan payment is $393.
- 28% of student loan borrowers are in income-driven repayment plans.
- The average student loan repayment term is 21 years.
- 54% of borrowers take 21 years to pay off their student loans.
- The average monthly student loan payment for borrowers aged 20-30 is $351.
- The average student loan interest rate is 4.30% for undergraduate loans.
- The average student loan payment for borrowers aged 35-49 is $658 per month.
- The average monthly student loan payment for private student loans is $363.
- The median monthly student loan payment for borrowers with a bachelor's degree is $290.
- The median monthly payment on federal student loans is $150.
- The average monthly payment on private student loans is $376.
- The average monthly payment for student loan borrowers ages 50-61 is $471.
- The average student loan payment for borrowers with a doctorate degree is $477 per month.
- The average monthly repayment for technical school loans is $221.
- The average student loan payment for borrowers aged 50 and above is $460.
- The median monthly student loan payment for borrowers with an associate degree is $222.
- The average monthly student loan payment for borrowers with a professional degree is $547.
- The average monthly payment for student loans from for-profit schools is $248.
- The average monthly payment for borrowers with a master's degree is $320.
- The average student loan monthly payment for borrowers with a professional certificate is $193.
- The median monthly payment for borrowers with a graduate degree is $402.
- The average monthly payment for student loan borrowers with a professional certificate is $221.
- The average student loan payment for borrowers with an undergraduate degree is $393 per month.
- The average monthly student loan payment for borrowers with a law degree is $530.
- The average student loan monthly payment for borrowers with a health sciences degree is $318.
- The median monthly payment for student loan borrowers aged 18-24 is $167.
- The average monthly payment for student loan borrowers with an engineering degree is $385.
- The average student loan monthly payment for borrowers with a business degree is $328.
- The average monthly payment for student loan borrowers with an arts degree is $292.
- The average student loan payment for borrowers with a social sciences degree is $337 per month.
- Borrowers with a doctoral degree have an average monthly student loan payment of $505.
- The average monthly payment for student loan borrowers with a humanities degree is $302.
- The average student loan payment for borrowers with an education degree is $282 per month.
Interpretation
In a world where numbers tell stories, the saga of student loan payments unfolds with a cast of characters from all walks of academic life. From the young and ambitious wielding their associate degrees with a median payment of $222 to the seasoned professionals with doctorates juggling $477 a month, the financial stage is set for a complex performance. Income-driven plans play a starring role for 28% of borrowers, while others take their 21-year repayment term like a long and winding road to financial freedom. As interest rates dance at 4.30% for undergrads and private loans vie for attention at $363 a month, the script reveals a bittersweet symphony of debt and determination. Whether it's the aspiring lawyers grappling with $530 or the artists painting their path with $292, the student loan payment opera sings a tune of resilience in the face of financial prowess. In this realm where numbers reign, every payment tells a tale—a tale of dreams pursued, degrees obtained, and debts repaid one payment at a time.
Average Student Loan Debt for 2021 Graduates
- The average student loan debt for 2021 graduates was $38,792.
- Borrowers aged 25-34 have the highest average student loan balance of $33,457.
- Students from the class of 2020 who took out student loans owe an average of $28,950.
- 70% of college students graduate with student loan debt.
- The average student loan balance in the U.S. is $36,510.
- 1 in 6 student loan borrowers owe more than $50,000 in student loan debt.
- Graduates with professional degrees have an average student loan balance of $121,212.
- 32% of borrowers have a student loan balance of $10,000 or less.
- Graduates with a master's degree have an average student loan debt of $66,000.
- Graduates with a bachelor's degree have an average student loan debt of $29,200.
- 68% of students who graduated from public colleges have student loan debt.
- 25% of student loan borrowers owe more than $50,000 in debt.
- Graduates with an associate degree have an average student loan balance of $10,700.
- 52% of student loan borrowers are women.
- 37% of student loan borrowers are under the age of 30.
- 66% of borrowers have student loan debt from public colleges.
- Graduates with a finance degree have an average student loan balance of $23,812.
Interpretation
Ah, the student loan statistics - a circus of numbers that paint a bleak yet all too familiar picture of the higher education landscape. From the staggering $38,792 that 2021 graduates bear on their shoulders to the almighty $121,212 held by those with professional degrees, it seems that the student loan debt monster spares no one. Like a twisted game of financial Russian roulette, one in six borrowers find themselves staring down the barrel of $50,000 or more in debt. And while some lucky 32% escape with a mere $10,000 burden, the majority are left grappling with balances that could rival a small mortgage. So here's to the brave souls graduating into a world where degrees come with a heaping side of debt - may your diplomas be worth their weight in gold, or at the very least, in student loan forgiveness programs.
Average Student Loan Debt for Borrowers with Doctoral Degree
- Borrowers who attended for-profit colleges have an average student loan balance of $39,958.
- 6% of borrowers owe more than $100,000 in student loan debt.
- The average student loan balance for borrowers with a doctoral degree is $124,700.
- Borrowers with a graduate degree have an average student loan balance of $71,000.
- The average monthly payment for student loan borrowers with a doctorate degree is $539.
- 12% of borrowers owe more than $100,000 in student loan debt.
- Borrowers with a medical or other professional degree have an average student loan balance of $200,000.
Interpretation
Ah, the wonderful world of student loan debt – where for-profit college attendees carry the weight of almost $40,000 worth of regrets, while doctoral degree holders proudly flaunt their six-figure educational price tags like badges of honor. If you're among the elite 6% owing over $100,000, don't worry, you've got plenty of company – just ask the 12% who share your financial woes. And for those ambitious souls pursuing medical or professional degrees, well, your average loan balance of $200,000 is merely a small investment in your bright future... or a terrifying glimpse into the abyss of loan repayment. Just remember, the road to success is often paved with student loan payments – at least it's a well-trodden path!
Default Rate Among Borrowers
- 11.1% of borrowers defaulted on their student loans in the first quarter of 2021.
- The student loan delinquency rate is 9.2%.
- 48% of borrowers ages 25-34 believe student loans weren't worth it.
- 29% of borrowers are in deferment or forbearance on their student loans.
- In 2021, 4.3 million borrowers were in default on their student loans.
- 35% of borrowers are behind on their student loan payments.
- Every 28 seconds, a borrower defaults on their federal student loan.
- 79.9% of Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) student loans are current.
- 15% of borrowers over the age of 50 are still paying off student loans.
- 7 million borrowers are in default on their student loans.
- 7.3 million student loan borrowers are in default.
- 15.1% of student loan borrowers are in default.
- 70% of cosigned private loans have their payments made by the student borrower.
- 16.8% of student loan borrowers are delinquent.
- 41% of student loan borrowers have seen a drop in income during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- 39% of student loan borrowers have missed a payment.
- 54% of borrowers said they didn't understand the terms of their student loans when they borrowed the money.
- 5.5 million borrowers are in default on their student loans.
Interpretation
In a world where student loans are as common as coffee shop loyalty cards, the statistics paint a somber picture of the current state of higher education debt. From borrowers defaulting at the rate of a Netflix episode ending to a significant chunk of young adults feeling buyer's remorse over their loan decisions, it's evident that the student loan landscape is in dire need of a makeover. With millions in default and a staggering number struggling to make payments, it's clear that the traditional system is about as reliable as a TikTok trend. Perhaps it's time to swap textbooks for a crash course in financial literacy before the student loan bubble bursts.
Total Outstanding Student Loan Debt
- The total outstanding student loan debt in the U.S. is $1.55 trillion.
- 2.4 million borrowers owe over $100,000 in student loan debt.
- 37 million borrowers have outstanding student loan debt.
- The percentage of households with student loan debt has more than doubled in the past two decades, reaching 21%.
- 43.2 million Americans owe student loan debt.
Interpretation
As we navigate the murky waters of student loan debt, it's evident that we're all in the same leaky boat, just with different size holes. Whether you're delicately patting away $100,000 in debt like it's a pesky fly or casually swimming in the $1.55 trillion ocean, the current student loan landscape demands attention. With the number of borrowers soaring like a caffeinated seagull and the percentage of indebted households multiplying faster than a rumor at a family reunion, it's clear that finding a life raft in this sea of financial burden requires more than just a sturdy paddle; it demands a complete overhaul of our approach to higher education financing.