Ngā tatauranga o ngā tapeke pūtea taurewa ākonga Statistics on student loan balances

All data can be found in an Excel download located on the student loan dataset page. Data is updated two months post the end of each quarter.

Datasets for student loan statistics

Nominal student loan balances

This graph shows the nominal loan balance of New Zealand-based and overseas-based borrowers as at the end of each quarter from March 2015 to March 2026.

As at 31 March 2026 the: 

• Nominal balance for New Zealand-based student loan borrowers increased by 3.4% from $12.0 billion in March 2025 to $12.4 billion in March 2026. 
• Nominal balance for overseas-based student loan borrowers increased by 5.0% from $4.2 billion in March 2025 to $4.5 billion in March 2026. 
• Nominal balance for all student loan borrowers increased by 3.8% from $16.2 billion in March 2025 to $16.8 billion in March 2026. 

Notes:

• Nominal balance is the loan balance held by Inland Revenue as at the end of the quarter. The balance includes:
• all loan principle not repaid (both not yet due and overdue)
• any penalties, interest, or fees.
• A borrower is any person who has drawn from the Student Loan Scheme and not yet repaid in full.

Median student loan balance

This graph shows the median student loan balance for all borrowers as at the end of each quarter from March 2015 – March 2026

As at 31 March 2026 the: 

• Median student loan balance increased by 3.9% from $17,611 in March 2025 to $18,302 in March 2026. 

Notes:

• Median loan balance is the loan balance held by Inland Revenue as at the end of the quarter. The balance includes:
  • all loan principle not repaid (both not yet due and overdue)
  • any penalties, interest, or fees.
• A borrower is any person who has drawn from the Student Loan Scheme and not yet repaid in full.

For information on median loan balance on leaving study see the Education Counts page.

Financial support for tertiary students | Education Counts (educationcounts.govt.nz)