The value of outstanding student loans in the United States has ballooned since the first quarter of 2006. As of the fourth quarter of 2024, American students owed over 1.77 trillion U.S. dollars in student loans. In the first quarter of 2006, this figure stood at 480.9 billion U.S. dollars.

Direct combined loans, also called Stafford loans, accounted for *** billion U.S. dollars of outstanding student loan debt in the United States in 2024. Stafford loans are a type of federal student loans offered to eligible university students at a lower interest rate than private loans. In the first quarter of 2024, outstanding student loan debt in the United States totaled over **** trillion U.S. dollars.

Graph and download economic data for Student Loans Owned and Securitized (DISCONTINUED) (SLOAS) from Q1 2006 to Q4 2024 about student, securitized, owned, loans, and USA.

In 2024, Generation Z in the United States had an average of roughly ****** U.S. dollars in student loan debt. By contrast, Generation X had the highest student loan debt, amounting to approximately ****** U.S. dollars. The value of outstanding student loans has been consistently rising over the past few decades.

Debt Balance Student Loans in the United States increased to 1.63 Trillion USD in the first quarter of 2025 from 1.62 Trillion USD in the fourth quarter of 2024. This dataset includes a chart with historical data for the United States Debt Balance Student Loans.

Graph and download economic data for Federal Government; Consumer Credit, Student Loans; Asset, Level (FGCCSAQ027S) from Q4 1945 to Q1 2025 about student, IMA, consumer credit, federal, assets, loans, government, consumer, and USA.

As of the fourth quarter of 2024, federal student loan borrowers aged between 35 and 49 years had the most student debt out of all age groups in the United States, with a total outstanding debt of ***** billion U.S. dollars. Studies have shown that Black women are the most likely demographic to have student loan debt in the United States.

As of April 2023, federal student loan forgiveness programs forgave an average amount of around ****** U.S. dollars to eligible borrowers in the United States. In comparison, the average amount of student debt forgiven by the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program was ****** U.S. dollars per borrower. Public Service Loan Forgiveness grants federal loan forgiveness to borrowers who have been working for a qualifying public service employer full-time for 10 years and have made *** monthly payments while working for that employer.

In the fourth quarter of 2024, 497.5 billion U.S. dollars worth of student loans were in forbearance in the United States. This reflects the effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, where the government temporarily paused student loan payments and froze the accumulation of interest. Federal student loan repayments resumed in October 2023, with 599 billion U.S. dollars worth of student loans in repayment as of Q4 2024. During this time period, outstanding student loan debt in the U.S. totaled over 1.77 trillion U.S. dollars.

The student loan debt collection market is experiencing significant growth, driven by the escalating burden of student loan debt globally. The increasing number of student loan borrowers defaulting on their payments fuels the demand for efficient and effective collection strategies. While precise market size figures are unavailable, considering a reasonable CAGR of 8% based on industry trends and the substantial volume of outstanding student loans, the market size in 2025 could be conservatively estimated at $15 billion USD. This growth is fueled by several key drivers, including technological advancements in debt collection (such as AI-powered analytics and automated communication tools), the increasing outsourcing of collection activities by educational institutions and government agencies, and a greater emphasis on regulatory compliance within the debt collection industry. The market is segmented by application (schools, banks, government, non-profits) and collection type (telephone, SMS, email, others). North America currently dominates the market due to the high level of student loan debt in the United States and Canada. However, growing student loan burdens in developing economies, particularly in Asia-Pacific, present lucrative opportunities for expansion. Despite significant growth potential, several restraints challenge the market. These include stringent regulations designed to protect borrowers from aggressive collection practices, increasing borrower awareness of their rights, and the ethical considerations surrounding debt collection in a sensitive area like student loans. The shift towards digital collection methods presents both opportunities and challenges, as institutions balance efficiency with protecting borrower data and maintaining ethical standards. Competition among collection agencies is fierce, requiring agencies to differentiate themselves through advanced technology, personalized communication strategies, and a commitment to ethical debt recovery. The future of the market hinges on the ability of collection agencies to adapt to evolving regulations, technological advancements, and borrower expectations while ensuring the ethical and responsible recovery of student loan debt.

As the pandemic accelerated calls to provide relief to millions of student borrowers, President Biden announced executive action to cancel 10,000 dollars of student debt for most federal student loan holders. Both prior to and following his announcement, policymakers have debated the merits and details of student debt relief, focusing particular attention on the perceived deservingness of student loan borrowers. But we have little systematic evidence about how the public evaluates borrower deservingness, or whether elite arguments framing support or opposition to debt relief in terms of deservingness influence public preferences for student debt cancellation. This paper employs original conjoint and framing experiments conducted just prior to Biden’s announcement to explore each query. We find that, while certain borrower characteristics indicating need (e.g., amount of debt), responsibility for debt (e.g., type of institution attended), and reciprocity (e.g., time in repayment) can influence people’s evaluations of whether borrowers deserve debt relief, those results may not translate to broader deservingness arguments for or against student debt cancellation in a clear manner. Ultimately, our results shed light on a timely policy issue, while extending scholarly understandings of deservingness for a critical, and understudied, aspect of the American welfare state.

Cambodia: Student loan debt balance per capita, U.S. dollars: The latest value from is U.S. dollars, unavailable from U.S. dollars in . In comparison, the world average is 0 U.S. dollars, based on data from countries. Historically, the average for Cambodia from to is U.S. dollars. The minimum value, U.S. dollars, was reached in while the maximum of U.S. dollars was recorded in .

Chad: Student loan debt balance per capita, U.S. dollars: The latest value from is U.S. dollars, unavailable from U.S. dollars in . In comparison, the world average is 0 U.S. dollars, based on data from countries. Historically, the average for Chad from to is U.S. dollars. The minimum value, U.S. dollars, was reached in while the maximum of U.S. dollars was recorded in .

The Educational Debt Recovery Services market is experiencing significant growth, driven by rising tuition fees and increasing student loan defaults globally. The market's expansion is fueled by several factors. Firstly, the escalating cost of higher education compels students to take on larger loans, increasing the potential for defaults. Secondly, the evolving regulatory landscape surrounding student loan repayment and collection is creating opportunities for specialized recovery services. Furthermore, technological advancements are streamlining collection processes, improving efficiency and reducing operational costs for providers. The market is segmented by application (Higher Education, Vocational Education and Training, Basic Education and Special Education, Others) and type of collection (Non-litigation and Litigation). While North America currently holds a dominant market share due to the high volume of student debt, growth in emerging markets like Asia-Pacific is projected to be substantial. The competitive landscape is populated by both established players and emerging firms employing diverse collection strategies. Challenges include stringent regulations, economic downturns impacting borrowers' repayment capabilities, and maintaining ethical collection practices. The forecast period (2025-2033) anticipates a consistent CAGR, though a precise figure requires further data. However, considering the aforementioned drivers and restraints, a conservative estimate of 5-7% annual growth is plausible. This growth will be largely influenced by the continued rise in student debt, the adoption of innovative collection technologies, and the strategic expansion of service providers into new geographic markets and educational segments. The market will see increasing consolidation, with larger players acquiring smaller firms to enhance their market reach and service offerings. Successful companies will be those that effectively balance aggressive revenue generation with ethical and compliant collection practices, while adapting to evolving technologies and regulatory changes.

For those graduating college in the United States in 2020, five-figure debt was the norm across all states. Students in New Hampshire had the highest debt levels in the country, at 39,928 U.S. dollars on average. The lowest average amount of debt that students had was in the state of Utah at 18,344 U.S. dollars.

The private student loan market is experiencing robust growth, driven by rising tuition fees and a growing awareness of alternative financing options beyond federal loans. While precise figures for market size and CAGR are not provided, leveraging industry reports and trends, we can estimate a 2025 market size of approximately $150 billion USD, with a projected Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 8% between 2025 and 2033. This growth is fueled by several key factors: increasing undergraduate and graduate enrollment, the rising cost of education exceeding the capacity of federal loan programs, and the expansion of private lenders offering diverse loan products catering to various educational needs, including career training programs. The market segmentation shows strong demand across undergraduate, graduate, and career training loans, with students and parents as the primary borrowers. Leading companies such as Sallie Mae, SoFi, and Discover Bank are aggressively competing for market share through innovative loan products and technological advancements in online application processes and servicing. However, market growth is not without its challenges. Regulatory changes, fluctuating interest rates, and economic downturns can significantly impact borrowing and repayment rates. The increasing awareness of student loan debt and its consequences can also impact borrowing behavior and drive stricter lending criteria. Furthermore, regional variations in educational costs and financial literacy levels contribute to diverse market penetration across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. Despite these restraints, the long-term outlook remains positive, with continued technological innovations and evolving financing solutions expected to fuel further market expansion. The focus on providing tailored financial solutions, improving transparency, and enhancing borrower experience is crucial for companies to thrive in this competitive landscape.

The global student debt recovery services market is experiencing robust growth, driven by the escalating burden of student loan debt worldwide and increasingly sophisticated debt collection techniques. The market is segmented by application (schools, banks, government, non-profits) and service type (tuition fee recovery, living expenses recovery, other education-related debt). While precise market sizing requires further data, a reasonable estimate, considering the global student loan debt crisis and the consequential rise in debt recovery activity, places the 2025 market value at approximately $5 billion. Assuming a conservative Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 8% over the forecast period (2025-2033), the market is projected to surpass $10 billion by 2033. Key drivers include rising student loan defaults, stringent regulatory frameworks demanding efficient debt recovery, and the increasing adoption of technological advancements such as AI-powered debt collection tools and predictive analytics to optimize recovery strategies. Trends indicate a shift towards more ethical and empathetic debt recovery practices, alongside the growing outsourcing of debt recovery services by educational institutions and financial lenders. However, restraining factors include stringent data privacy regulations, economic downturns impacting borrowers' repayment abilities, and public criticism of aggressive debt collection methods. The North American market, particularly the United States, currently holds a significant market share, owing to the substantial volume of student debt within the region. However, growth in other regions, especially in rapidly developing economies of Asia Pacific (India and China) and parts of Europe, is expected to accelerate, as higher education access expands, leading to a parallel increase in student loan debt and the subsequent need for recovery services. Major players in the market are leveraging technological innovation to improve efficiency and reduce operational costs. The competitive landscape is characterized by a mix of large international firms and specialized regional players, creating a dynamic and evolving market structure. The future success of firms hinges on their capacity to adapt to changing regulations, technological advancements, and evolving consumer expectations regarding ethical and responsible debt collection.

Provides snapshots of the outstanding federal student loan portfolio by loan program, loan type, loan status, repayment plan, delinquency, servicer, and various borrower demographics.

How has student debt changed over the past decade? How will interest rates affect it now?

United States HH Debt: Balance: Delinquent Loan: More Than 90 Days: Student Loan data was reported at 10.750 % in Mar 2020. This records a decrease from the previous number of 11.060 % for Dec 2019. United States HH Debt: Balance: Delinquent Loan: More Than 90 Days: Student Loan data is updated quarterly, averaging 8.960 % from Mar 2003 (Median) to Mar 2020, with 69 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 11.830 % in Sep 2013 and a record low of 6.032 % in Mar 2005. United States HH Debt: Balance: Delinquent Loan: More Than 90 Days: Student Loan data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.KB027: Household Debt.