- In the United States, student debt may come from a variety of sources, such as Stafford and Perkins loans or private loans. It generally does not include private debts incurred during college enrollment, such as credit card debt. FinAid estimates that approximately two-thirds of students with undergraduate degrees have some form of student debt, as of 2008. Debt sizes ranged from $10,123 for those with less than two years of post-secondary education to $26,683 for those graduating with four years of post-secondary education. For postgraduate degrees, these figures were even higher.
- A variety of loan forgiveness programs exist for those who perform military service and for those who practice medicine in disadvantaged communities. Those working in the public sector may have all remaining debt discharged after 10 years providing they have made at least 120 payments on or after October 2007. Furthermore, up to $2,500 in student loan interest may be deducted on an annual income tax return.
- Those working in the Peace Corps qualify for deferment of federal loans, as well as a partial forgiveness for any outstanding balance. Fifteen percent of the balance of federal loans are canceled for each year of service, up to a maximum of 70 percent. Those serving in the AmeriCorps for 12 months or more may receive up to $4,725 for student loan repayment, and those serving in the Volunteers in Service to America program will qualify for the same amount after 1,700 hours of service.
- All federal loan repayments may be reduced by student loan consolidation. All past loans are compiled under one lender with a single interest rate. Repayment plans may range from 10- to 30-year terms, depending on the size of the loan. Furthermore, repayment plans may be graduated, where the repayments start off small and increase with time, or may be income contingent, where student loan repayments are based on a percentage of the borrower's salary. All consolidation programs are designed to reduced monthly payments, but may however increase the interest balance over the lifetime of the loan.
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