The $1.64 Trillion Question
This interactive application provides a visual summary of the U.S. student loan landscape, based on comprehensive federal data. It explores the scale of the debt, the characteristics of borrowers, and the critical trends shaping the financial well-being of millions.
Who Holds the Debt?
While the total debt is massive, the amount owed by individuals varies significantly. The median outstanding debt for a borrower's own education is between $20,000 and $24,999, with a substantial portion of borrowers owing less than $10,000. This chart shows the distribution of debt across all borrowers with outstanding loans.
The Likelihood of Borrowing
The probability of taking on student debt is closely tied to the type of institution attended. Data from 2024 shows that individuals attending for-profit institutions are the most likely to borrow for their education, highlighting different financing patterns across the higher education sector.
The Post-Pause Delinquency Surge
Following the end of the pandemic-era student loan payment pause, delinquency rates have risen sharply. This trend, captured in Q2 2025 data from the Federal Reserve, signals widespread financial distress among borrowers as they navigate the resumption of payments.
10.2%
90+ Day Delinquency Rate
(Q2 2025)
12.88%
Flow into Serious Delinquency
(Q2 2025, Annualized)
>10x
Increase Since 2023
(From <1% Pre-Resumption)
Trend in 90+ Day Delinquent Student Debt
This chart visualizes the dramatic increase in serious delinquencies since the resumption of mandatory payments and credit reporting, climbing from historic lows during the payment pause.
A System of Disparities
The burden of student debt is not distributed equally. Federal data reveals profound disparities in repayment outcomes based on the type of institution attended and the borrower's racial and ethnic background, pointing to systemic challenges.
Repayment Distress by Institution Type
Borrowers who attended for-profit institutions are more than twice as likely to be behind on their payments compared to those from public or private non-profit schools, according to 2024 survey data.
Repayment Distress by Race/Ethnicity
Hispanic and Black borrowers face significantly higher rates of being behind on payments. This disparity highlights how student debt intersects with broader socioeconomic and racial inequities in the United States.
The Path to Insight is Paved with Data
Understanding and addressing the student debt crisis depends on access to and analysis of high-quality, raw data. The information presented here is synthesized from multiple primary federal sources, each providing a critical piece of the puzzle.
(College Scorecard, IPEDS)
(FRBNY, Board Reports)
(Consumer Data, Portfolio)
Policy & Solutions
By integrating these datasets, researchers and policymakers can move beyond anecdotes to conduct rigorous analyses, identify root causes of distress, and develop targeted, effective interventions.
