About 25 percent of students who take out loans to attend college graduate with more than $25,000 in debt, statistics show. Borrowing levels vary by a number of factors, including the type of college the students attended. Here are some quick stats, based on the graduating class of 2004.

At public four-year institutions, 62.4 percent of graduating seniors have education debt. Of
those borrowers:

• Half have at least $15,472 in student loans;
• One-fourth have at least $22,822 in student loans;
• Ten percent have student debt of $32,994 or more.

At private, non-profit four-year institutions, 73.9 percent of graduating seniors have education
debt. Of those borrowers:

• Half have at least $19,500 in student loans;
• One-fourth have at least $28,222 in student loans;
• Ten percent have student debt of $40,000 or more.

At for-profit institutions, 88.3 percent of graduating seniors have education debt. Of those
borrowers:

• Half have at least $24,625 in student loans;
• One-fourth have at least $35,000 in student loans;
• Ten percent have student debt of $45,000 or more.

(Sources: Calculations by the Project on Student Debt from the National Center for Education Statistics, National Postsecondary Student Aid Study, 2004 undergraduates, Data Analysis System.)

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