Outline:
(NewsNation— Student loan debt is frequently considered a concern for young individuals, yet millions of Americans approaching retirement age still have tens of thousands of dollars in outstanding loans.
The age group between 50 and 61 has the highest average loan amount, averaging $48,203, as reported recently.Federal Student Aid data. Over 3.6 million borrowers, more than half, still have a balance of $20,000 or higher.
The data illustrates the number of Generation X individuals—commonly known as the “forgotten generation”—who are reaching their retirement years while still dealing with student loan obligations. It also indicates how years of compounding interest increase the challenge of reducing these balances.
For individuals who have had difficulty making payments, particularly those already in default, the pressure may soon intensify. The Trump administration hasannounced plansto restart wage garnishment, ending a temporary halt on the process during the pandemic.
By the end of September, U.S. citizens had accumulated roughly $1.7 trillion in student debt, which is more than three times the $516 billion recorded in 2007.
Which demographic has the largest student debt amounts?
Approximately 6.4 million individuals between the ages of 50 and 61 have accumulated over $308 billion in federal student loan debt, as reported byFederal Student Aid dataTheir average balance is $48,203, which exceeds three times the amount owed by borrowers under 24, who average $14,242.
Senior citizens, individuals over the age of 50, are also more prone to being significantly overdue (90 days or more behind), as indicated by additional data from theFederal Reserve Bank of New York.
Borrowers between the ages of 35 and 49 have the second-highest average loan balances among all age groups, totaling $45,295. As a group, they also possess the largest amount of federal student loan debt — approximately $675 billion among around 15 million borrowers.
Average loan amount per borrower, by age (As of September 30, 2025)
- 24 and younger: $14,242
- 25-34: $33,566
- 35-49: $45,295
- 50-61: $48,203
- 62 and older: $44,161
Where do borrowers accumulate the highest amount of student loan debt?
Washington, D.C., holds the top spot for the highest average student loan debt per borrower in the country, according to federal statistics, with an average of $55,794. This isn’t entirely unexpected: the nation’s capital is themost educated regionin the nation and is at the forefront regarding residents holding higher education degrees.
Maryland and Virginia, located nearby, are also in the top five, with average balances exceeding $40,000.
Georgia ($43,273) and Florida ($40,692) complete the list of states with the highest average balances, even though they are rankedcloser to the middle nationally on educational attainment.
Average loan amount per borrower, by region (as of September 30, 2025)
- Washington, D.C.: $55,794
- Maryland: $45,123
- Georgia: $43,273
- Virginia: $41,447
- Florida: $40,692
What is the number of borrowers with outstanding balances exceeding $100K?
Over 70% of student loan borrowers have balances under $40,000, according to federal statistics.
Nevertheless, an increasing portion of borrowers have substantial debt. Approximately 3.8 million borrowers now have $100,000 or more in student loan debt — a nearly 60% rise since 2017. Almost a third of these borrowers, around 1.2 million, have debts of $200,000 or higher.
Individuals who hold advanced degrees are significantly more prone to have six-digit amounts in student debt, as reported by thePew Research Center.
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