Federal Reports Reveal Over 90,000 Nevadans in Default on Federal Student Debt

LAS VEGAS, NV — Newly released Department of Education figures reveal that more than a quarter of all student loan borrowers residing in Nevada have entered default, highlighting growing financial strain across the state.

The surging nonrepayment rate reflects broader systemic challenges as post-pandemic loan requirements intersect with elevated housing and living costs.

Over $2 Billion in Defaulted Loans

According to federal data analysis, approximately 93,000 Nevada residents are currently in default on roughly $2 billion in federal student loans.

Nevada now ranks among the top 15 states nationwide for student debt default rates following the expiration of pandemic-era payment freezes. Statewide, roughly 368,000 borrowers hold a collective $13.2 billion in higher education debt.

Local advocacy leaders point out that delinquent debt creates severe economic drag, severely limiting residents’ ability to secure housing mortgages, vehicle financing, or personal credit lines.

+--------------------------------------------------------+
|          NEVADA STUDENT LOAN DEFAULT METRICS          |
+--------------------------------------------------------+
|  - Total Nevada Borrowers: ~368,000                    |
|  - Total Nevada Student Debt: $13.2 Billion            |
|  - Borrowers in Default (>360 Days): 93,000 (25%)      |
|  - Total Defaulted Balance: $2 Billion                 |
+--------------------------------------------------------+

Institutional Nonrepayment Disparities

The federal dataset highlights sharp disparities across local post-secondary institutions.

Community and technical colleges saw significantly higher rates of nonrepayment compared to four-year research universities:

College of Southern Nevada (CSN): 28% nonrepayment rate
Truckee Meadows Community College: 23% nonrepayment rate
Great Basin College: 21% nonrepayment rate
University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV): 12% nonrepayment rate
University of Nevada, Reno (UNR): 10% nonrepayment rate

State policy advocates are urging Nevada lawmakers to consider state-level financial literacy programs and loan repayment assistance frameworks to help low- and middle-income workers manage federal debt obligations without facing severe financial distress.

Source: U.S. Department of Education Federal Student Aid Data, Associated Press National Higher Education Audits.