Student Loan Debt in the United States (Scale & Balances) (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Headline takeaways: Borrowers with outstanding loans (model): 45,000,000; Borrowers paid off (model): 13,500,000; Median undergraduate borrower debt: $13,531.50.
Key Facts
- Borrowers with outstanding loans (model): 45,000,000
- Borrowers paid off (model): 13,500,000
- Median undergraduate borrower debt: $13,531.50
- Mean undergraduate borrower debt: $15,942.70
Download the data
Downloads reflect the processed dataset used to generate this page’s charts and tables.
Outstanding vs Paid Off (Model)
Borrower Scale (Simplified National Model)
The illustrative model shows 45,000,000 borrowers with outstanding loans and 13,500,000 who have paid off—see methodology on the related borrowers page.
Counts follow the same simplified national construct as “How many people have student loans.”
Median & Mean Borrower Debt
Typical Borrower Balances
National median borrower debt is $13,531.50 (mean $15,942.70).
Median and mean undergraduate borrower debt (College Scorecard aggregate).
FAQ
What does the Student Loan Debt in the United States (Scale & Balances) (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.
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