Graduates in England are leaving university with an average student debt of £47,730, according to the latest statistics for those eligible to repay their loans in April 2026. This figure represents a decrease from £53,000 in the previous year.
The reduction in average debt is partly attributed to the first cohort of students with Plan 5 loans, introduced in England in 2023, becoming eligible for repayment. These loans accrue less interest than earlier Plan 2 loans, and Plan 5 borrowers constituted over 10% of the total borrowers in the 2025-26 financial year.
The annual cost of an undergraduate degree in England and Wales rose to £9,535 last August and is scheduled to increase again to £9,790 in 2026. The government announced in October 2025 that university tuition fees in England would increase annually from 2026, in line with an inflation measure called RPIx.
Maintenance loans for living costs are also set to increase by inflation each year from 2026. For example, the maximum maintenance loan for English students living away from parents outside London will rise to £10,830 for 2026-27, up from £10,544.