Average Student Loan Interest Rates (Federal Direct, Fixed) (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Here are the headline numbers: Direct Subsidized & Unsubsidized (undergraduate): 6.53% fixed (new loans); Direct Unsubsidized (graduate/professional): 8.08% fixed (new loans); Direct PLUS (parent & grad/professional): 9.08% fixed (new loans). Official fixed interest rates for new Federal Direct Loans in the 2024–25 disbursement window; private refinance rates vary by
Key Facts
- Direct Subsidized & Unsubsidized (undergraduate): 6.53% fixed (new loans)
- Direct Unsubsidized (graduate/professional): 8.08% fixed (new loans)
- Direct PLUS (parent & grad/professional): 9.08% fixed (new loans)
- Rate window: 2024-25 (first disbursement Jul 1, 2024 – Jun 30, 2025)
Download the data
Downloads reflect the processed dataset used to generate this page’s charts and tables.
Federal Direct Loan Interest Rates
Federal Direct Fixed Rates (New Loans)
These are the official fixed rates for new federal loans first disbursed in the stated academic window; private refinance and credit-based loans use different pricing. Window: 2024-25 (first disbursement Jul 1, 2024 – Jun 30, 2025).
U.S. Department of Education / Federal Student Aid fixed-rate schedule for the disbursement window shown.
FAQ
Student loans & borrowing
What is the difference between federal and private student loans?
Federal loans are originated under U.S. Department of Education programs with standardized repayment and hardship options. Private loans are credit-based contracts from banks or non-federal lenders with terms that vary by borrower.
Why is median loan debt different from total student debt outstanding?
Median debt describes a typical borrower balance in a cohort. Aggregate national debt sums dollars across every borrower—headlines often mix the two. Check whether a figure is “among borrowers” vs “all Americans.”
What do income-driven repayment and forgiveness programs change?
Income-driven plans tie monthly payments to earnings and can discharge remaining balances after qualifying payments. Policy details and eligibility change with federal rules—verify current law before citing dollar impacts.
How should I read default or delinquency rates?
Defaults occur after sustained non-payment past defined thresholds. Rates depend on the cohort tracked (e.g., borrowers who entered repayment in a given year). Compare cohorts and sectors rather than unrelated percentages.
Why might College Scorecard debt fields differ from survey headlines?
Scorecard emphasizes institution-reported borrowing among students who receive federal aid where fields exist. National surveys may include private borrowing or different populations—match population and year before contrasting numbers.
Using this page
What does this page cover on “Average Student Loan Interest Rates (Federal Direct, Fixed)”?
Official fixed interest rates for new Federal Direct Loans in the 2024–25 disbursement window; private refinance rates vary by lender.
Which sources power the numbers here?
Figures draw on College Scorecard, and Census ACS. Use Data Sources for exact tables, APIs, and methodology notes.
Why might these figures differ from another chart or headline?
If another outlet shows a different total, check whether the cohort (all borrowers vs undergraduates only), academic year, and data source match. Mixing definitions is the most common reason charts appear to conflict.
How often is this page updated?
We refresh when upstream federal releases change and the site rebuild ships new CSV/JSON extracts. The Last updated line points to the latest editorial pass on this HTML.
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