| The average student loan debt depends on the | | | | students were borrowers with a median average of |
| institution and the course which the student is studying. | | | | $29,000. |
| The National Post-Secondary Student Aid Study has | | | | For specialized courses like doctorates and |
| calculated the following statistics for average student | | | | professional courses, the student debt was |
| loans for the academic year 2003-2004. | | | | exceedingly high. 48% of the students undergoing |
| Twenty-one percent of the students attending | | | | doctorate courses at various institutions borrowed an |
| certificate courses at community colleges had | | | | average of $44,743 last year. 89% of the students |
| borrowed loans at a median average of $5,307; while | | | | opting for four-year professional courses at public |
| 78% of those attending certificate courses at private | | | | colleges borrowed an average of $63,500 and 81% of |
| schools borrowed at a median average of $5,705. | | | | the professional courses students at private colleges |
| These figures show that the number of student | | | | borrowed an average of $71,317. |
| borrowers at the private schools was marginally higher | | | | These figures show that as the academic level goes |
| than the number at community schools. Among the | | | | higher, the average student loan debt also goes higher. |
| associate degree students at community colleges, | | | | The expense of professional courses such as |
| 28% had borrowed a median average of $5,879. | | | | medicine and law are very high and therefore, |
| The statistic among bachelor's degree students was | | | | students also borrow more. Almost all students |
| still higher. For the four-year bachelor's degree course | | | | appearing for professional courses fund their education |
| at public colleges, 58% of students borrowed at a | | | | via some or the other student loan facilities. Another |
| median average of $14,671; while at private colleges, | | | | observable factor is that students studying in aided |
| 69% borrowed at $17,125. | | | | public schools and colleges borrow less and the |
| For the four-year master's course at public colleges, | | | | number of borrowers is also less than at private |
| 48% of the students were borrowers with a median | | | | schools. |
| average of $26,119; while at private colleges 73% | | | | |