What is the average college debt in 2023?

Asked by: Juanita Haag II  |  Last update: June 21, 2025
Score: 4.1/5 (51 votes)

The median amount of education debt in 2023 among those with any outstanding debt for their own education was between $20,000 and $24,999. Twenty-eight percent of student loan borrowers had less than $10,000 in outstanding student debt.

What is the average student debt in 2023?

Black Americans also have the most student loan debt, carrying $26,000 on average, according to the Federal Reserve. White Americans hold $25,000 in student loan debt on average, while Hispanic Americans have $13,000. Other races have an average of $25,000 of student loan debt. Source: Federal Reserve (2023).

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 cost of college in the US 2023?

The average cost of undergraduate school in 2023

The average annual “cost of attendance,” or COA, at a public, four-year college is $27,940 per year for in-state students, according to College Board data. Tuition and fees account for $10,940 of that. The rest covers books, supplies, and living expenses.

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.

What Everyone's Getting Wrong About Student Loans

37 related questions found

What is considered a lot of student 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.

How many people never pay off their student loans?

The Qualtrics/Intuit Credit Karma report found 20 percent of borrowers hadn't made any payments on their loans.

Is it a parent's responsibility to pay back their children's student loans?

When the time comes to start making payments, only the student is obligated to repay these loans — not the parents. In fact, there's no co-signer. If the student defaults on a federal student loan, it will affect the student's credit and won't be reported on the parent's credit history.

How long does it take most people to pay off their 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 is the average student loan debt for doctors?

Between medical school and undergraduate study, physicians must pay for 8 years of postsecondary education before they can work as doctors. Medical school graduates owe an average of $243,483 in total educational debt, premedical debt included.

How much college debt does the average American 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 will you avoid a cycle of credit card debt?

Your credit card is a tool to build credit and pay for larger purchases in small increments, and you shouldn't use it as a way to buy things you can't afford to pay off within your billing cycle. Only putting purchases on your card that you'll be able to pay off is the simplest way to prevent credit card debt.

Is the average 22 year old in debt?

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.

What is too much to pay for college?

Don't borrow more in total student loans than what you think you'll make in salary in your first year out of college. Your monthly payments should be no more than 8% of what you expect your gross income will be. Your monthly payments should not exceed 20% of your discretionary income.

Is $10,000 in student loans a lot?

The average outstanding federal student loan debt per borrower is $37,853. 52.6% of indebted borrowers owe $20,000 or less in federal student loans. 32.1% of indebted student borrowers owe $10,000 or less in federal student loans. 15.0% of borrowers owe less than $5,000.

How much college debt is manageable?

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.

Is $30,000 in student loans a lot?

Nearly eight in ten students graduate with less than $30,000 in debt. Among those who do borrow, the average debt at graduation is $27,100 — or $6,775 for each year of a four-year degree at a public university.

What generation has the most college debt?

Student Loan Debt by Generation
  • 18.5 million Millennials have outstanding student loan debt; 39.9% of all borrowers are Millennials.
  • Generation X has the highest average student loan balance; the average Gen X borrower owed $44,240 in 2024.

How much does the average person pay a month for student loans?

Data Summary. The average federal student loan payment is about $302 for bachelor's and $208 for associate degree-completers. The average monthly repayment for master's degree-holders is about $688.

What is the #1 hardest school to get into?

The Harvard acceptance rate is 3%, tied with Caltech for the #1 spot on our list of hardest colleges to get into. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard is a quintessential New England school globally recognized for its rigorous academic programs and influential alumni.

What is the best college town in America 2023?

“The ideal city should also provide a fun social environment to help students deal with the stress of college.” According to the study, the top 5 college towns in America are Austin, TX (No. 1); Ann Arbor, MI (No. 2); Orlando, FL (No.

What is the best degree to get in college 2023?

While students who pursue a major specifically in science, technology, engineering or math — collectively known as STEM disciplines — are projected to earn the most overall, Payscale's college salary report found that petroleum engineering currently holds the top spot for highest-paying bachelor's degrees in 2023.