Create account

Coverage dated July 19, 2026 to July 22, 2026

Student loan defaults have surged in record-breaking debt crisis

Headline from News Nation Now, from the development of Jul 20, 2026

Newest development Jul 22, 2026 · 2 reportsMore than 9 million student loan borrowers now in default

More than 9 million borrowers are behind on payments, which exploded from 5.3 million in June of last year.

News Nation Now's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

Earlier updates in this story

Developments in this update

3 dated developments, oldest first, newest marked. Each is named by one outlet's own headline; open its reports to see every outlet that covered it.

  1. Record number of student loan borrowers have entered default since pandemic-era protections lapsed

    Headline from NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth ·

  2. Names this update

    Student loan defaults have surged in record-breaking debt crisis

    Headline from News Nation Now ·

  3. Newest

    More than 9 million student loan borrowers now in default

    Headline from CBS News ·

2 reports not tied to one development ·

Read the reports

Reports & sources

37 articles, oldest first.

  1. NBC Los Angeles

    A record number of student loan borrowers have entered default. Here's why (opens NBC Los Angeles)

    Published

    NBC Los Angeles's feed description

    The U.S. Department of Education building is photographed in Washington, Dec. 3, 2024.

  2. NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

    Record number of student loan borrowers have entered default since pandemic-era protections lapsed (opens NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth)

    Published

    NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth's feed description

    The U.S. Department of Education building is photographed in Washington, Dec. 3, 2024.

  3. Kokomo Tribune

    As defaults on student loans surge, millions are trying to get their lives back on track (opens Kokomo Tribune)

    Published

    Kokomo Tribune's feed description

    According to an Associated Press analysis, more than 4.2 million people across the country defaulted on student loans between April 2025 and March 2026. The total number of borrowers in default has reached a record 9.5 million. The surge includes…

  4. Kokomo Tribune

    A wave of student loan borrowers have entered default since pandemic-era protections lapsed (opens Kokomo Tribune)

    Published

    Kokomo Tribune's feed description

    Defaults on student loans have surged across the United States, reaching record levels as borrowers struggle to keep up with payments. The numbers have spiked since payments started coming due again following a lengthy pause intended to provide relief during…

  5. CBS News

    Student loan defaults surging in wake of COVID-tied payments pause expiration (opens CBS News)

    Published

    CBS News's feed description

    Defaults on student loans have surged across the United States, reaching record levels as borrowers struggle to keep up with payments.

  6. University Business

    Number of college loan defaults soar in Texas and the nation (opens University Business)

    Published

    University Business's feed description

    A record 9.2 million college loan borrowers are in default nationally, representing an increase of 4.2 million since April of 2025.

  7. Mississippi Today

    More student loan borrowers are in default since pandemic-era protections lapsed (opens Mississippi Today)

    Published

    Mississippi Today's feed description

    The U.S. Department of Education building is photographed in Washington, Dec. 3, 2024.

  8. Seattle Times

    A wave of student loan borrowers has entered default since pandemic-era protections lapsed (opens Seattle Times)

    Published

    Seattle Times's feed description

    Defaults on student loans have surged, reaching record levels as borrowers struggle to keep up with payments. Despair is on the rise, advocates say.

  9. End Time Headlines

    Defaults on student loans surge across the United States, reaching record levels as borrowers struggle to keep up with payments (opens End Time Headlines)

    Published

    End Time Headlines's feed description

    According to a CBS News report, student loan defaults across the United States have reached unprecedented highs as borrowers grapple with resumed payments after a multi-year pause tied to the COVID-19 pandemic. Roughly 9.

  10. WPRI Providence

    Wave of student loan borrowers have entered default since pandemic-era protections lapsed (opens WPRI Providence)

    Published

    WPRI Providence's feed description

    Defaults on student loans have surged across the United States, reaching record levels as borrowers struggle to keep up with payments.

  11. New York Post

    Millions try to get their lives back on track, as defaults on student loans surge (opens New York Post)

    Published

    New York Post's feed description

    Millions of borrowers are facing higher monthly payments as the government dismantles its most affordable income-driven repayment option, the SAVE plan.

  12. The Boston Globe

    Student loan default rates surge since lapse of pandemic-era protections (opens The Boston Globe)

    Published

    The Boston Globe's feed description

    With pandemic-era student loan payment relief measures expiring, the number of defaulted borrowers continues to skyrocket.

  13. Nevada Independent

    Nevada among states with highest student loan default rate after pandemic-era pause on payments (opens Nevada Independent)

    Published

    Nevada Independent's feed description

    Across the country, the number of borrowers with defaulted student loans jumped by more than 4.2 million from April 2025 to March 2026.

  14. Newsweek

    Student Loan Defaults Hit Record High—What Struggling Borrowers Can Do (opens Newsweek)

    Published

    Newsweek's feed description

    Roughly 9.5 million borrowers are now in default, up from 5.3 million in June 2025.

  15. Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

    Student loans see defaults hit record (opens Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)

    Published

    Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's feed description

    Defaults on student loans have surged across the United States, reaching record levels as borrowers struggle to keep up with payments.

  16. News Nation Now

    Student loan defaults have surged in record-breaking debt crisis (opens News Nation Now)

    Published

    News Nation Now's feed description

    More than 9 million borrowers are behind on payments, which exploded from 5.3 million in June of last year.

  17. FOX Business

    Student loan default rates surge, 1 in 5 borrowers now in default (opens FOX Business)

    Published

    FOX Business's feed description

    Student loan defaults have surged to a record 9.5 million borrowers, representing $233.3B in unpaid debt, following the expiration of payment pauses and the termination of the SAVE Plan.

  18. Money Talks News

    Student Loan Defaults Hit Record High. Borrowers Need to Act ASAP. (opens Money Talks News)

    Published

    Money Talks News's feed description

    Federal defaults have jumped by 4.2 million since June 2025 — here's how to dodge wage garnishment and rebuild your credit score.

  19. CBS News

    More than 9 million student loan borrowers now in default (opens CBS News)

    Published

    CBS News's feed description

    More than 9 million student loan borrowers are now in default after the Trump administration wiped out Biden-era repayment plans. Danielle Douglas-Gabriel, a national higher education reporter for The Washington Post, joins with more.

Identical headlines usually mean shared wire copy. They are counted as separate articles but are not independent confirmation.

Student loan defaults have surged in record-breaking debt crisis | Since Then