City & State — Our country is facing a growing student loan crisis. As of February 2026, total student loan debt has reached $1.833 trillion, with the average borrower owing $39,547.
Repayment difficulties are also rising: some 5.5 million borrowers are in default. As more Americans struggle under the crushing weight of this debt, the effects ripple across the economy. One in six American adults carries student debt, reducing disposable income, limiting consumer spending, and slowing the path to homeownership or starting new businesses.