New Analysis Projects Class Of 2026 Will Borrow $43,500 For A Bachelor’s Degree

High school seniors heading to public four-year colleges this fall could graduate with more than $43,000 in student loans, according to a new NerdWallet analysis of National Center for Education Statistics data.

Why It Matters: The projection lands as federal repayment plans change on July 1, the SAVE plan ends, and AI pressure on entry-level jobs pushes more students to question whether a bachelor's degree still pencils out.