Trends in Higher Education


In 1995-96, 69% of students taking Stafford Loans borrowed through the FFEL Program and 31% were enrolled in schools that participated in the FDSL Program. The percentage of FFEL borrowers was 77% in 2005-06 and 74% in 2008-09.

All Students (Stafford Loans)



All Students (FFELP)



All Students (FDSLP)



Note: The average Stafford Loan per borrower, reported in the top sections of the undergraduate and graduate portions of this table, combines all loans issued to individual students. Average loan amounts in the subsidized Stafford, unsubsidized Stafford, and PLUS sections of the table reflect the size of individual loans.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education, National Student Loan Data System. (NSLDS), extracted September 10, 2009.

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  • The total numbers of Stafford borrowers is lower than the sum of subsidized Stafford borrowers plus unsubsidized Stafford borrowers because some students borrow from both programs. The percentage who borrowed from both programs increased from 35% in 1995-96 to 49% in 2005-06 and 66%
    in 2008-09.
  • The average value of both subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford Loans has consistently failed to keep up with inflation. However, the average total amount borrowed through Stafford Loans increased by 5% in 2007-08 and by 6% in 2008-09, after adjusting for inflation, as unsubsidized Stafford Loan limits increased and more students took multiple loans.