Average Student Loan Debt (2026 stats)
TL;DR
National median: $13,271; National average: $15,754.74.
Key Facts
- National median: $13,271
- National average: $15,754.74
Download the data
Downloads reflect the processed dataset used to generate this page’s charts and tables.
National Average Student Loan Debt
National Student Loan Debt Overview
The national median student loan debt is $13,271, with an average of $15,754.74. This represents the debt burden for millions of American students and graduates.
Median and mean student loan debt at the national level. Source: College Scorecard (2024 data).
Student Loan Debt by Institution Type
Debt Varies Significantly by Institution Type
Private non-profit institutions show the highest median debt at $24,000, while public institutions have the lowest at $12,500. This reflects the cost differences between institution types.
Median student loan debt broken down by public, private non-profit, and private for-profit institutions. Source: College Scorecard (2024 data).
Top 10 States by Median Student Loan Debt
State-Level Variation in Student Debt
Student loan debt varies significantly by state, with some states showing median debt levels 50% higher than others. This variation reflects differences in tuition costs, state financial aid programs, and regional economic factors.
States with the highest median student loan debt. Source: College Scorecard (2024 data).
Data by State
| State | Median | Mean | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota | $23,249.50 | $19,478.22 | 18 |
| Massachusetts | $21,882.50 | $18,758.47 | 114 |
| Alabama | $21,169.50 | $19,355.19 | 64 |
| Vermont | $20,951 | $19,260.73 | 11 |
| Wisconsin | $20,492 | $16,950.99 | 74 |
| District of Columbia | $20,224.50 | $21,263.19 | 16 |
| North Carolina | $20,000 | $18,579.99 | 111 |
| Virginia | $20,000 | $18,657.09 | 118 |
| Alaska | $19,660.50 | $17,444.17 | 6 |
| Nebraska | $19,500 | $18,042.91 | 33 |
| Maine | $19,328.50 | $18,546.59 | 32 |
| New Hampshire | $18,525 | $19,015.55 | 29 |
| Montana | $18,500 | $17,506.53 | 17 |
| North Dakota | $18,442 | $16,346.68 | 19 |
| Pennsylvania | $17,500 | $18,532.13 | 261 |
| Missouri | $16,750 | $16,328.04 | 109 |
| Indiana | $16,666 | $16,317.85 | 129 |
| Georgia | $16,167 | $17,371.84 | 136 |
| Oklahoma | $15,935.50 | $15,708.93 | 54 |
| Tennessee | $15,783.50 | $16,409.35 | 94 |
| South Carolina | $15,392 | $17,626.12 | 77 |
| New York | $15,250 | $16,278.85 | 279 |
| Minnesota | $14,750 | $16,580.20 | 93 |
| Iowa | $14,745 | $16,587.77 | 61 |
| Ohio | $14,211 | $16,054.62 | 234 |
| Washington | $13,653 | $14,930.49 | 88 |
| Oregon | $13,595 | $15,511.36 | 58 |
| Kentucky | $13,521 | $15,812.56 | 70 |
| Louisiana | $13,135.50 | $15,302.69 | 88 |
| Florida | $13,000 | $16,109.44 | 260 |
| Maryland | $13,000 | $15,947.42 | 65 |
| Michigan | $13,000 | $15,829.66 | 139 |
| Rhode Island | $13,000 | $17,393.26 | 23 |
| West Virginia | $13,000 | $16,272.61 | 41 |
| Connecticut | $12,758 | $16,842.81 | 52 |
| New Jersey | $11,997.50 | $14,622.07 | 110 |
| Arkansas | $11,576.50 | $14,550.94 | 68 |
| California | $11,537 | $13,714.73 | 455 |
| New Mexico | $11,356 | $12,804.53 | 34 |
| Colorado | $11,008 | $14,883.83 | 69 |
| Illinois | $10,669.50 | $14,150.97 | 192 |
| Texas | $10,652 | $13,654.98 | 332 |
| Idaho | $10,555 | $14,675.30 | 27 |
| Utah | $10,548 | $13,864.45 | 40 |
| Delaware | $10,500 | $15,387.50 | 14 |
| Hawaii | $10,500 | $13,081.93 | 15 |
| Kansas | $10,500 | $14,577.08 | 75 |
| Mississippi | $9,722 | $14,636.30 | 43 |
| Arizona | $9,500 | $13,472.69 | 99 |
| Nevada | $9,500 | $12,356.39 | 36 |
| Puerto Rico | $9,500 | $8,885.71 | 82 |
| Wyoming | $8,811 | $9,531.70 | 10 |
FAQ
What does the Average Student Loan Debt (2026 stats) dataset measure?
It summarizes the metrics shown on this page (charts and tables) using the sources listed in the Data Sources section, with national aggregates and breakdowns where available.
What is the primary data source?
College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education). Some pages also incorporate Census ACS context where noted.
How often is this page updated?
Pages update when the underlying processed datasets are refreshed and the HTML is regenerated; the Last updated date reflects the most recent build.
Analysis & insights
Where the underlying source reports balances, the national median debt in this slice sits near $13,271. Balances skew: a thin tail of very large loans lifts averages above the median. Public, private nonprofit, and for-profit sectors do not move in lockstep, and states thick with graduate programs look different from states built on two-year colleges. The figures describe borrowers already in the data—not a promise about anyone enrolling tomorrow.
Repayment turns on jobs, program length, family support, and factors no aggregate table captures. A weak regional labor market can make the same balance harder to carry than national figures imply. Loan caps and rules have changed across cohorts; comparisons across years need matching vintages. Debt and earnings for the same group belong in the same frame.
Data Sources
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and enrollment data
- Data year: 2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Census ACS - U.S. Census Bureau
- Demographic and workforce data
- Data year: 2023
- Source: census.gov