A good rule of thumb is never to borrow more than your expected starting annual salary. It may be hard to determine your future career as a senior in high school, especially when you may not even know your college major!
Among borrowers who attended some college but don't have a bachelor's degree, the median owed was between $10,000 and $14,999 in 2023. The typical bachelor's degree holder who borrowed owed between $20,000 and $24,999. Among borrowers with a postgraduate degree the median owed was between $40,000 and $49,999.
How much money should a college student have? On average, college students spend $2,000 in spending money each year. Set your college student up for success by helping them create a budget early on. There are many different ways to set a budget, but remember that college student budgets aren't one-size-fits-all.
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.
The monthly payment on a $70,000 student loan ranges from $742 to $6,285, depending on the APR and how long the loan lasts. For example, if you take out a $70,000 student loan and pay it back in 10 years at an APR of 5%, your monthly payment will be $742.
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.
According to the College Board, students can expect to spend around $2,932 a month (or $26,390 for a nine-month period) on living expenses for the 2024-25 school year. To break that number down, let's take a closer look at how much college students spend on food, housing, and other expenses.
Those will become part of your budget. The 50-30-20 rule recommends putting 50% of your money toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings. The savings category also includes money you will need to realize your future goals.
The average cost of attendance for a student living on campus at an in-state public 4-year institution is $27,146 per year or $108,584 over 4 years. Out-of-state students pay $45,708 per year or $182,832 over 4 years. Private, nonprofit university students pay $58,628 per year or $234,512 over 4 years.
The average student borrower takes 20 years to pay off their student loan debt. 43% of borrowers are on the standard 10 years or less plan with fixed payments. Some professional graduates take over 45 years to repay student loans.
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.
Your monthly payments shouldn't exceed 10% of your total gross income. With the free online Loan Simulator, you can play around and see what your monthly student loan payments might look like.
Borrowing to earn a four-year college degree typically pays off, according to research from the College Board, a company that helps prepare students for higher education. This conclusion holds true even after considering the time out of the labor force when a student could have been earning money.
While this figure can vary based on factors such as location, family size, and lifestyle preferences, a common range for a good monthly salary is between $6,000 and $8,333 for individuals.
It is recommended that you spend 30% of your monthly income on rent at maximum, and to consider all the factors involved in your budget, including additional rental costs like renters insurance or your initial security deposit.
The authors of the analysis define people who live paycheck to paycheck as those who dedicate more than 95% of their household income to necessities, which include gasoline, food, utilities, internet, public transportation, child care and housing costs.
Once you have an idea of how you'll split up college costs, do some math to determine your total savings goal. For example, if you're aiming to pay for 69% of college costs at a state school, your goal is about $80,000, based on 2023–2024 data.
Consider using the 50/30/20 rule as a guideline for your budget. This rule suggests that you put 50% of your income toward your “needs,” 30% toward your “wants” and 20% toward a savings account or repaying debt.
Allowances and Parental Supervision of Spending
Some families give their students a monthly allowance, ranging from $75–$225, to supplement the student's own savings. An allowance may no longer be necessary after the first year, especially for students making good money through summer employment.
On the Standard Plan, your monthly payments are a fixed amount of at least $50 each month. The exact payment amount is calculated so that you pay off the entire loan amount (including the interest that accrues) before the end of your repayment period.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) recommends limiting monthly student debt payments to no more than 10% of your gross monthly income. Borrowers with a relatively low income may pay considerably less if they opt for an income-driven repayment (IDR) plan.
How 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.