Increases in graduate school attendance and falling undergraduate enrollment mean that graduate student borrowing now accounts for just under half of federal student loan disbursements.  This report is the first in a series of OCE reports on graduate student borrowing, providing background in enrollment and degree attainment. These trends connect to several changes in the federal loan portfolio, including the rise in high-balance borrowers, a higher prevalence of student debt among older borrowers, and gaps in debt levels across borrower demographic groups. This report highlights the labor market returns associated with graduate education, but also documents a concerning disconnect between borrowing levels and students’ earnings outcomes.

View the report here: Trends in Federal Student Loans for Graduate School