How many people have over $100,000 in student debt?

Asked by: Ronaldo Towne  |  Last update: April 25, 2025
Score: 4.4/5 (55 votes)

Overall, only 1% of all U.S. adults owed at least $100,000. Young college graduates with student loans are more likely than those without this kind of debt to say they struggle financially.

Is it normal to have $100,000 in student loans?

High debt may limit your ability to save for retirement, buy a home, or invest. In general, while $100000 in student loans is a significant amount, its appropriateness varies based on these factors. It's essential to evaluate your specific situation and consider seeking financial advice if needed.

How many people have more than $1,000,000 in student loans?

Due to escalating tuition and easy credit, the U.S. has 101 people who owe at least $1 million in federal student loans, according to the Education Department.

How much student debt does the average person have?

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.

How many people owe 100k in student loans?

Overall, only 1% of all U.S. adults owed at least $100,000. Young college graduates with student loans are more likely than those without this kind of debt to say they struggle financially.

What Everyone's Getting Wrong About Student Loans

21 related questions found

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.

How much is too much student debt?

Personal finance specialists often advise students to take on less student loan debt than the average starting salary of their desired career. If you stick to this guideline, specialists say, you should be able to repay your loans within ten years.

What is the average credit card debt in the US?

The average U.S. household has credit card debt of about $6,100, according to the Federal Reserve's most recent Survey of Consumer Finances, issued in November 2023.

Which college has the highest student debt?

Atop the list is Maine Maritime Academy, where 2019 graduates who borrowed left with an average debt load of $56,897 – nearly $27,000 above the average among all ranked colleges.

What is considered a large amount of student loan 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 in total student debt.

Who has more debt, doctors or lawyers?

As of the beginning of 2018, my average lawyer client had $211,000 of debt (sample size =48) and my average doctor client had $316,000 (sample size =110).

Is 200k a lot in student loans?

This can leave borrowers with six-figure education debt worried that typical student loan advice may not apply to their situation. And the number of borrowers with high education debt is growing. As of 2023, there are one million federal student loan borrowers who owe $200,000 or more, according to StudentAid.gov.

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.

How much debt is too much?

Key takeaways. Debt-to-income ratio is your monthly debt obligations compared to your gross monthly income (before taxes), expressed as a percentage. A good debt-to-income ratio is less than or equal to 36%. Any debt-to-income ratio above 43% is considered to be too much debt.

Is $50,000 in student loans bad?

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. Your potential savings from refinancing will vary based on your loan terms.

How many people have $50,000 in credit card debt?

Running up $50,000 in credit card debt is not impossible. About two million Americans do it every year. Paying off that bill?

What is the average credit score in America?

The average FICO credit score in the US is 717, according to the latest FICO data. The average VantageScore is 701 as of January 2024.

What is considered high credit card debt?

The 30 percent threshold applies to your total debt and each account. You want to maintain a balance of less than 30 percent on each card.

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.

What is a manageable amount of student debt?

It's an easy way to look up your intended career along with statistics related to its growth potential, projected need, and average starting salary. Monthly loan payments should be no more than 8-10 percent of expected gross monthly income.

How long does it take to pay off $100 K student loans?

On average, it takes about 10–20 years to pay off a student loan.

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 many student loan borrowers owe more than $100,000?

Overall, more than 10% of graduate and professional students owe $100,000 or more in federal and private student loan debt, according to higher education expert Mark Kantrowitz. (For comparison, less than 1% of students borrow above that amount for bachelor's degree programs.)