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 December 2014 to December 2025.

As at 31 December 2025 the: 

• Nominal balance for New Zealand-based student loan borrowers increased by 2.1% from $11.4 billion in December 2024 to $11.6 billion in December 2025. 
• Nominal balance for overseas-based student loan borrowers increased by 5.0% from $4.2 billion in December 2024 to $4.4 billion in December 2025. 
• Nominal balance for all student loan borrowers increased by 2.9% from $15.6 billion in December 2024 to $16.1 billion in December 2025. 

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 December 2014 to December 2025.

As at 31 December 2025 the: 

• Median student loan balance increased by 1.7% from $17,949 in December 2024 to $18,252 in December 2025. 

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