ED Warns Colleges With High Student Loan Nonrepayment Rates
Johanna Alonso
February 24, 2026
As delinquency and default rates rise across the country, Trump officials want colleges and universities to play a greater role in getting former students to repay their loans.
At least 25 percent of borrowers at more than 1,800 colleges and universities are behind on repaying their student loans, according to federal data released last week that offers more insights into the growing delinquency and default crisis.
The Education Department says the latest batch of nonrepayment data serves as an “early indicator” of what institutions could be at risk of failing a related accountability measure based on the percentage of borrowers who default on their loans. The list includes a range of institutions. Nearly two-thirds are for-profits, while public institutions comprise a quarter. At 122 institutions, more than half of students are at least 90 days behind on their loans.
In light of this data, the Education Department says institutions of higher education must do more to ensure their students and graduates repay federal student loans.
