How many people are not paying their student loans?

Asked by: Eusebio Stanton  |  Last update: November 14, 2025
Score: 4.8/5 (18 votes)

Sixteen percent of Americans with student loans are behind on their payments, putting them at risk of accumulating interest and lowering their credit scores. Those with lower incomes and less education are more likely to be behind on their payments. Source: Federal Reserve (2024). Source: Federal Reserve (2024).

Why aren't people paying student loans?

  • High Debt Levels : Many students graduate with significant debt, often exceeding tens of thousands of dollars.
  • Low Starting Salaries : Graduates may find themselves in jobs that do not pay enough to cover their monthly loan payments, particularly in fields that traditionally offer lower salaries.
  • Rising Living Costs

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.

What is the average age 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.

Is $80000 a lot of student debt?

As of March 2020, 45% of the outstanding federal education loan debt was held by the 10% of borrowers owing $80,000 or more. Student loan debt is the second largest debt, aside from a mortgage, in a household. 83% of borrowers have a loan balance of $50,000 or less.

I Co-Signed My Son's Student Loan And He's Not Paying

30 related questions found

How many years 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.

What happens if you don't pay student loans?

If you are delinquent on your student loan payment for 90 days or more, your loan servicer will report the delinquency to the national credit bureaus, which can negatively impact your credit rating. If you continue to be delinquent, you risk your loan going into default.

How many people regret taking out student loans?

According to a recent Forbes Advisor and Talker Research survey of 2,000 adults, one in three respondents said they regret using student loans to finance their education and would not choose that route again if given the opportunity.

What is the average monthly student loan payment?

Average Student Loan Payments

As of May 30, 2023, the average monthly payment for federal student loans was estimated to be about $500 per month when adjusted for inflation. However, the final number depends on the type of loan, loan amount, interest rates, and repayment plan.

How many people actually pay back student loans?

Federal student loan repayment

Federal loan borrowers in repayment: 18.7 million. Federal loan borrowers in deferment: 3.2 million.

Is it illegal to not pay student loans?

No, you can't be arrested or put in prison for not making payments on student loan debt. The police won't come after you if you miss a payment. While you can be sued over defaulted student loans, this would be a civil case — not a criminal one. As a result, you don't have to worry about doing any jail time if you lose.

Why are student loans so hard to pay off?

Your interest charges will be added to the amount you owe, causing your loan to grow over time. This can occur if you are in a deferment for an unsubsidized loan or if you have an income-based repayment (IBR) plan and your payments are not large enough to cover the monthly accruing interest.

Have people started paying back their student loans?

Now that the COVID-19 payment pause has ended, student loan payments have restarted. For most borrowers, the first payment after the payment pause ended was due in October 2023. Review important concepts, tips, and recommendations for repaying your student loans at Repaying Student Loans 101.

How long will it take to pay off $100,000 in student loans?

On average, it takes about 10–20 years to pay off a student loan. But with the right strategy, you can pay off your loans way faster! (I'm about to blow your mind.) Exactly how long it will take you to pay off your student loans depends on your original loan balance, your repayment plan and how much you pay each month.

Do student loans affect your credit score?

Student loans are a type of installment loan, similar to a car loan, personal loan, or mortgage. They are part of your credit report, and can impact your payment history, length of your credit history and credit mix. Paying on time could help your score.

How much is a 30000 student loan per month?

A $30,000 private student loan can cost approximately $159.51 per month to $737.38 per month, depending on your interest rate and the term you choose. But, you may be able to cut your cost by comparing your options, improving your credit score or getting a cosigner.

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

Meanwhile, 1 million people had a federal student loan balance of more than $200,000, up from 600,000 individuals.

What is 6% interest on a $30,000 loan?

For example, the interest on a $30,000, 36-month loan at 6% is $2,856. The same loan ($30,000 at 6%) paid back over 72 months would cost $5,797 in interest. Even small changes in your rate can impact how much total interest amount you pay overall.

What is the average debt for a 40 year old?

Here's the average debt balances by age group: Gen Z (ages 18 to 23): $9,593. Millennials (ages 24 to 39): $78,396. Gen X (ages 40 to 55): $135,841.

How to aggressively pay down student loans?

Let's get into it.
  1. Pay more than the minimum payment.
  2. Get on a budget.
  3. Cut back your spending.
  4. Increase your income.
  5. Refinance your loans (only if it makes sense).
  6. Avoid income-driven repayment plans (IDRs).
  7. Don't bank on student loan forgiveness.
  8. Make paying off your student loans a priority.

What is normal student loan debt?

The average federal student loan debt is $37,853 per borrower. Outstanding private student loan debt totals $128.8 billion. The average student borrows over $30,000 to pursue a bachelor's degree.