How much is the average student loan debt in America?
As of 2025, the average federal student loan balance is approximately $41,600. For the Class of 2023 specifically, average cumulative debt totaled $29,300 per borrower. These figures underscore the importance of understanding student loan trends, whether you’re a current student, researcher, policymaker, or parent.
Below, we break down the latest student loan statistics from federal databases and industry sources. Use these data points to support your research, cite in your story, or benchmark against your own financial situation.
Table of Contents
- What is the total outstanding student loan debt?
- What is the average student loan debt in America?
- What is the average private student loan debt?
- How much student loan debt do borrowers have after 4 years of college?
- Federal student loan debt statistics by status (Q1 2025)
- What are the most common federal student loan types? (Q2 2025)
- How does student loan debt vary by repayment plan? (Q1 2025)
- What is the average student loan debt by borrower age? (Q1 2025)
- How many borrowers qualify for PSLF?
What is the total outstanding student loan debt?
- $1.77 trillion in total student loan debt (federal + private) (source)
- 42.5 million federal student loan borrowers (source)
What is the average student loan debt in America?
- $29,300: Average cumulative student loan debt per borrower from the Class of 2023 (source)
- $37,200: Estimated average balance across all federal student loan borrowers in 2025 (source)
- $523: Estimated average student loan payment (source)
What is the average private student loan debt?
- $134.19 billion in total private student loan debt (source)
- 7.57% of total student debt comes from private loans (source)
- Private student loan rates: 3.99% – 17.99% APR (source)
- 95.98% of private undergrad loans issued are cosigned(source)
- 70.63% of private graduate loans are cosigned (source)
How much student loan debt do borrowers have after 4 years of college?
- $29,300: Average for recent graduates (source)
- Borrowing amounts vary widely by school type and degree:
- Higher for private colleges
- Lower for public in-state options
Federal student loan debt statistics by status (Q1 2025)
| Status | # borrowers | Total amount |
| In-school | 6.07 million | $116.6 billion |
| Grace period | 1.07 million | $19.0 billion |
| Repayment | 19.6 million | $603.6 billion |
| Deferment | 3.7 million | $146.4 billion |
| Forbearance | 10.1 million | $565.0 billion |
| Other | 140,000 | $7.2 billion |
Source: Federal Student Aid site
What are the most common federal student loan types? (Q2 2025)
| Loan type | # borrowers | Total amount |
| Stafford Unsubsidized | 30.9 million | $613.8 billion |
| Stafford Subsidized | 30.1 million | $296.7 billion |
| Parent PLUS | 3.6 million | $114.3 billion |
| Grad PLUS | 1.8 million | $117.2 billion |
| Perkins | 1.0 million | $3.0 billion |
| Consolidation | 9.3 million | $515.6 billion |
Source: Federal Student Aid site
How does student loan debt vary by repayment plan? (Q1 2025)
| Repayment plan | # borrowers | Total amount |
| Standard | 17.79 million | $443.1 billion |
| Graduated | 3.16 million | $106.1 billion |
| Income-contingent (ICR) | 1.19 million | $50.1 billion |
| Income-based (IBR) | 2.81 million | $137.3 billion |
| Pay As You Earn (PAYE) | 1.30 million | $100.5 billion |
| Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) | 7.85 million | $439.7 billion |
| Alternative | 740,000 | $24.4 billion |
| Other | 380,000 | $13.6 billion |
Source: Federal Student Aid site
What is the average student loan debt by borrower age? (Q1 2025)
| Age | # borrowers | Total amount |
| 24 or younger | 6.7 million | $91.4 billion |
| 25 – 34 | 14.6 million | $482.4 billion |
| 35 – 49 | 14.7 million | $650.4 billion |
| 50 – 61 | 6.3 million | $293.3 billion |
| 62+ | 2.9 million | $125.2 billion |
Source: Federal Student Aid site
How many borrowers qualify for PSLF?
| Metric | Value |
| Total eligible employment balance | $213.6 billion |
| Borrowers w/ eligible employment | 2.45 million |
| Avg. balance (eligible borrowers) | $87,300 |
| Total balance discharged | $79.4 billion |
| Unique borrowers w/ discharges | 1.07 million |
| Avg. amount discharged per borrower | $73,700 |
Source: Federal Student Aid site
Takeaways
Student loan debt touches millions of Americans, with balances rising across most demographics. While federal programs like income-driven repayment and PSLF offer some relief, being aware of your loan type, repayment plan, and eligibility is more important than ever.
Explore your options carefully, and use statistics like these to guide smart decisions about borrowing, repayment, and financial planning.
More about student loan debt
- The Real Cost of College in 2025: Tuition, Fees, and Living Expenses Across the U.S.
- Average Law School Debt
- Average Medical School Debt
- Average Pharmacy School Debt
- How Student Loan Debt Affects Your Life
Student loan debt studies
- Average Student Loan Payment by State
- How Student Loan Debt Has Changed at Schools Over the Past Decade
- State of Private Student Loans Report
- College Dropouts & Student Debt Study
- Colleges Where Parents Take on the Least Student Debt
- U.S. Cities With the Highest Student Debt Balances
- Small Public Colleges with the Least Student Debt Per Borrower
- Small Private Colleges with the Least Student Debt Per Borrower
- Colleges With the Least Student Debt Per Borrower in the Northeast
- Colleges With the Least Student Debt Per Borrower in the Southeast
- Colleges With the Least Student Debt Per Borrower in the Rockies
- Colleges With the Least Student Debt Per Borrower in the Southwest
- Colleges With the Least Student Debt Per Borrower in the Pacific