随着联邦政府结束疫情期间的学生贷款支付暂停，美国学生贷款违约危机迅速恶化。目前约有950万联邦学生贷款借款人处于违约状态，占借款人总数的五分之一，即逾期超过九个月 [1]。这一数字较2025年6月暂停期结束前的530万大幅攀升 [1]。全国1.7万亿美元联邦支持的学生贷款中，有2333亿美元陷入违约 [1]。
特朗普政府的政策调整加剧了借款人的还款压力。政府已取消了此前实施的SAVE收入驱动还款计划，新借款人现仅能在一种标准还款计划和一种收入驱动选项中选择 [1]，大幅减少了还款灵活性。
违约情况在地理位置和学校类型上呈现明显差异。密西西比州违约率最高，达28.3%；波多黎各的违约率更是达到30.9% [1]。营利性学校学生面临更严峻的情况，其中33%逾期90天以上，而前四分位非支付率最高的学校中76%为营利性学校 [1]。
Federal student loan borrowers are entering default at alarming rates following the expiration of pandemic-era payment suspensions. Approximately 9.5 million borrowers—representing one-fifth of all federal student loan holders—are now in default status, meaning they are more than nine months delinquent on their loans [1]. This represents a dramatic increase from 5.3 million borrowers in default, a surge that accelerated after the pause period ended in June 2025 [1].
The total volume of delinquent debt has also grown substantially. Of the $1.7 trillion in federal student loans outstanding nationally, $233 billion is now in default status [1].
The Trump administration's policy changes have compounded borrowing challenges for millions. The government has eliminated the SAVE income-driven repayment plan, a generous option available during the pandemic relief period, and has narrowed repayment choices for new borrowers to just one standard repayment plan and one income-driven option [1]. These streamlined alternatives have left millions facing higher monthly payment obligations.
The default crisis is not evenly distributed across the country. Mississippi has the highest default rate at 28.3 percent, while Puerto Rico stands at 30.9 percent [1]. Students who attended for-profit schools are particularly affected, with 33 percent of borrowers from these institutions delinquent 90 days or more, and 76 percent of schools in the highest default rate quartile being for-profit institutions [1].