Figure X

The pandemic pause on student loans has spared millions of borrowers from large payments and defaults amid rising inflation

Quarter Repayment Paused* Cumulative in default
2013Q3 38.8% 53.6% 7.6%
2013Q4 36.3% 56.2% 7.5%
2014Q1 39.1% 52.8% 8.0%
2014Q2 37.7% 54.1% 8.2%
2014Q3 40.5% 51.0% 8.6%
2014Q4 37.9% 53.6% 8.5%
2015Q1 41.6% 49.4% 9.0%
2015Q2 41.9% 48.9% 9.2%
2015Q3 44.2% 46.0% 9.8%
2015Q4 42.1% 48.2% 9.7%
2016Q1 44.7% 44.7% 10.5%
2016Q2 43.2% 46.1% 10.7%
2016Q3 45.5% 43.2% 11.3%
2016Q4 44.0% 44.8% 11.2%
2017Q1 46.4% 41.9% 11.7%
2017Q2 45.9% 42.3% 11.9%
2017Q3 47.8% 40.0% 12.2%
2017Q4 44.5% 43.2% 12.3%
2018Q1 47.8% 39.5% 12.6%
2018Q2 46.8% 40.2% 13.0%
2018Q3 48.8% 37.9% 13.3%
2018Q4 46.2% 40.5% 13.2%
2019Q1 48.3% 38.2% 13.5%
2019Q2 47.8% 38.5% 13.7%
2019Q3 49.3% 36.6% 14.1%
2019Q4 47.0% 39.1% 14.0%
2020Q1 49.2% 36.2% 14.5%
2020Q2 45.8% 39.5% 14.7%
2020Q3 0.8% 84.8% 14.4%
2020Q4 1.0% 85.2% 13.8%
2021Q1 1.0% 85.6% 13.4%
2021Q2 1.2% 85.5% 13.2%
2021Q3 1.3% 85.7% 13.0%
2021Q4 1.2% 86.3% 12.5%
2022Q1 1.2% 86.5% 12.3%
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Economic Policy Institute

Source: Authors' analysis of U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid Data Center, Federal Student Loan Portfolio.

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