Student Debt Facts — What College Actually Costs in 2026

Real numbers on average student debt, repayment timelines, default rates, and which majors leave graduates underwater. The data colleges don't put in their brochures.

The numbers behind the headlines

Average federal student loan debt now exceeds $37,000, and almost a quarter of borrowers fall behind in their first five years of repayment. We break the numbers down by major, by income bracket, and by school type so you can see exactly what you're signing up for.