The total student loan debt owed in the U.S. is currently about $1.77 trillion, including both federal and private student loans. This figure reflects data from early 2025 and shows a continued increase after a brief decline in 2023
. Key details include:
- Federal student loan debt makes up roughly $1.64 to $1.69 trillion of this total, with about 42.7 million borrowers holding federal loans
- Private student loans account for approximately 7.5% to 8% of the total student loan debt, around $130 billion to $134 billion
- The average federal student loan debt per borrower is around $38,000, while the overall average including private loans can be higher, around $41,000 to $42,000
This massive debt burden reflects the financial strain on millions of Americans pursuing higher education and continues to be a significant component of household debt in the U.S.
