Key Facts

• Federal Student Aid reported that 9.3 million borrowers were in default and 1.5 million were in late-stage delinquency as of June 30.
• About $234 billion, or roughly 14 percent of the $1.7 trillion in U.S. student debt, was in default.
• An Urban Institute study put the share of borrowers at least 60 days behind on federal or private student loans at 15.8 percent in August.
• Student loan delinquency rates in Texas and Ohio exceeded the national average, as did rates in nine House battleground districts identified by the Cook Political Report.
• The Student Debt Crisis Center survey found that 88 percent of respondents said their student loan experience would affect their midterm vote; 71 percent said it would have a significant influence.
• Federal student loans generally enter default after 270 days without payments.
• The Center for American Progress estimated that borrowers moving from the SAVE plan to the Repayment Assistance Plan could pay an average of $2,163 more per year.
• The article says the Trump administration is working with the Treasury Department to step up collections, with wage garnishment and federal tax-refund interception among possible measures.