What Is the Average Student Loan Debt for a Bachelor Degree [2025 Statistics]

Pursuing a bachelor’s degree in the US can cost tens of thousands of dollars each year.

On average, students at public four-year institutions pay at least $11,610 annually for in-state tuition and fees, while out-of-state students face costs of around $30,780 per year. Private colleges often have even higher tuition rates. 

Unless someone has significant family wealth or savings set aside, these expenses can be overwhelming, prompting many students to rely on loans to finance their education.

While student loans can be beneficial, accumulating debt without a plan for how much to borrow and how to repay it can be risky. We’ve provided insights on the average student loan debt for a bachelor’s degree; we hope they’ll help you make better decisions. 

Key Takeaways

• The average student loan debt for attaining a bachelor’s degree in the US is $30,500.
• Every year, we see a slight increase in this figure due to inflation, unemployment, and increasing costs of education. 
• District Columbia has the highest average student loan debt at ~$60,000, and Utah has the lowest at ~$18,000. 
• The type of college attended can also determine the average student loan debt. Public colleges usually cost less, resulting in less student debt compared to private colleges. 

Average Student Loan Debt for Bachelor’s Degree 

The average student loan debt for Bachelor’s degree graduates in the US was about $30,500 with the total student loan debt hitting $1.8 trillion in 2024. 

This figure represents the cumulative borrowing from both federal and private loans. Specifically, 54% of students from public four-year institutions and 57% from private nonprofit four-year institutions graduated with student loans. 

In general, average student loan debt has steadily increased since 2007, mainly due to inflation and rising education costs. This means the average student loan debt for the current educational year would most likely be higher than that of the previous year. 

Student Loan Debt Trend for Bachelor’s Degree 

In a bid to forecast what the average student loan debt for a Bachelor’s degree in 2025 would be, let’s look into the national student loan debt trend for Bachelor’s degrees since 2007. 

The period leading up to 2010 saw a major increase in student loan debt. The 2008 financial crisis led to economic downturns, resulting in reduced household incomes and diminished savings for education. As a result, more students relied on loans to finance their studies. 

From 2010 to 2015, student debt continued to grow steadily, though at a slower rate. At this point, the economy was in recovery, but tuition costs were still escalating, outpacing inflation. This made students borrow more to cover the increasing costs of higher education. 

Between 2015 and 2020, as awareness of student debt burdens grew, borrowing became more cautious and reliance on scholarships and grants increased. While this didn’t completely end student loan debts, it slowed things down a little. 

By 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted economies worldwide, causing job losses and financial instability for many families. Predictably, the average loan debt increased sharply again despite relief measures such as student loan forgiveness programs.

Projecting into 2025, we can anticipate that the average student loan debt may reach approximately $39,000. This is based on the historical annual growth rate of about 3% in student loan debt. 

Given recent proposals by the administration to reduce funding for the education department and federal student aid programs, the projected increase in debt seems likely.

Average Student Loan Debt for Bachelor’s Degree by State 

One major factor that influences student loan debt is location. Different states typically have different average education debt, which can be due to state funding, cost of living, and tuition costs. 

Here is the list of states with the highest average student loan debt

The states with the lowest average student debt include: 

Average Student Loan Debt for Bachelor’s Degree by Institution 

When we classify colleges into three, we can then understand why the average student loan debt for attaining a bachelor’s degree varies. 

Public Colleges

Public colleges are funded primarily by state and federal government allocations. They receive taxpayer support, allowing them to offer lower tuition rates, especially for in-state students. 

These universities usually have a large student population with a wide range of degree programs and mostly include federal student loan borrowers. Examples include the University of California and Ohio State University.

Private Nonprofit Colleges 

Private nonprofit colleges are funded through tuition, endowments, and donations. Unlike for-profit institutions, they reinvest revenue into academic programs, research, and student services. 

You can often expect to pay higher for institutions here compared to public universities, which explains why the average student debt is higher. Examples include Harvard University and Stanford University. 

Private For-Profit Colleges

Private for-profit colleges operate as businesses with the goal of making a profit for their investors and owners. They rely primarily on tuition revenue and often focus on career-oriented degrees.

Graduates from these institutions often have higher student loan debt and lower employment rates after graduation compared to other types of colleges. Federal student loans often offer lower amounts, so borrowers here often acquire more private student loan debt. 

The University of Phoenix is an example of a private for-profit university. 

Average Student Loan Debt for Bachelor’s Degree by Course 

Different courses tend to have varying average student loans mostly due to available funding and student aid. 

For instance, courses in science and technology attract huge costs but have the lowest average student loan debt. This is because most scholarships and educational grants are sponsored towards those fields, compared to, say, behavioral sciences. 

Let’s look at the different majors and their average student loan debt. 

• Behavioral Sciences: Graduates here attend extended periods of study with limited financial aid opportunities. This explains why they have the highest average debt of ~$42,822.

• Education and Arts: Majors in education and visual/performing arts also face substantial debt, with an average of around $37,000 and $35,000, respectively. These fields usually require extra certifications, increasing educational expenses. 

• STEM: Students majoring in engineering and computer science tend to have lower average debts. In addition to the available educational aids like scholarships, they also get jobs with higher starting salaries, enabling them to manage and repay loans better. 

Get Better Insights On Student Loans and Repayment 

While quality education is invaluable, it’s crucial to understand the financial responsibilities involved in attending college. 

On average, be prepared to spend up to $30,000 to attain a bachelor’s degree. If you can’t afford this, you can always take out a student loan to get assistance. However, ensure you have a solid plan for repayment. 

We help students like you work up a repayment plan that fits their financial situation. You can sign up with us to access this feature. We also offer a free refinancing suitability assessment for those with existing student loans. Let’s help you exit your student loan debts!