--- title: "Average HECS debt in Australia in 2026: how much do stude..." description: "The average outstanding HELP debt, commonly referred to as HECS debt, was $27,739 at 30 June 2025. Nearly 3 million Australians owed a combined $82.2 billion in" lang: en-AU json-ld: | { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "headline": "Average HECS debt in Australia in 2026: how much do students owe?", "description": "The average outstanding HELP debt, commonly referred to as HECS debt, was $27,739 at 30 June 2025. Nearly 3 million Australians owed a combined $82.2 billion in student loan debt, and the average balance has grown 165% over the past two decades.", "image": [ "https://eznpqfufanyahmlyjhnj.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-covers/03e517d2-481e-4723-8c56-1d8b1b238848/1783047822954.jpg" ], "datePublished": "2026-07-03T00:00:00+00:00", "dateModified": "2026-07-03T03:03:54.688496+00:00", "author": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "CheckRate" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "CheckRate" }, "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://checkrate.com.au/average-hecs-help-debt" } } --- [CheckRate ](/) [Library](/articles) Back Spending # Average HECS debt in Australia in 2026: how much do students owe? The average outstanding HELP debt, commonly referred to as HECS debt, was $27,739 at 30 June 2025. Nearly 3 million Australians owed a combined $82.2 billion in student loan debt, and the average balance has grown 165% over the past two decades. 12 min read 03 July 2026 Updated 03 July 2026 Fact checked In this article 1. [What is the average HECS debt in Australia in 2026?](#what-is-the-average-hecs-debt-in-australia-in-2026) 2. [How HECS debt is distributed across borrowers](#how-hecs-debt-is-distributed-across-borrowers) 3. [How many Australians have a HECS debt?](#how-many-australians-have-a-hecs-debt) 4. [Total outstanding HECS debt in Australia](#total-outstanding-hecs-debt-in-australia) 5. [How the average HECS debt has grown over 20 years](#how-the-average-hecs-debt-has-grown-over-20-years) 6. [How much HECS debt does each age group owe?](#how-much-hecs-debt-does-each-age-group-owe) Key statistics · 2024–25 financial year $27,739 **Average outstanding HELP debt** per debtor, 2024–25. 2.96m Australians with an outstanding HELP debt at **30 June 2025**. $82.2b **Total outstanding HELP debt** nationally, up from $12.4b in 2005–06. 10.2 yrs **Average time** to repay a HELP debt in full, 2024–25. About the data Figures in this article mostly reflect the 2024–25 financial year, the most recent year for which official ATO data is available. The article also includes more recent policy settings, including the one-off 20% debt reduction and the 2.8% indexation rate applied on 1 June 2026. Section 01 The headline number ## What is the average HECS debt in Australia in 2026? The average outstanding HELP debt in Australia was **$27,739** in the 2024–25 financial year, up slightly from $27,641 the year before and 165% higher than two decades ago. Across the country, 2,962,650 debtors owed a combined $82.18 billion. The government has separately cited a benchmark average of $27,600 when explaining the 20% debt reduction applied to eligible student loan balances. The small difference reflects rounding in public communications. Using that benchmark, a 20% reduction would remove about $5,520 from an average balance. This is a basic calculation based on the government's published example, not a separate ATO average. Indexation of 2.8% was applied to eligible balances on 1 June 2026. The minimum repayment threshold for 2025–26 is $67,000, meaning no compulsory repayments are required on income below that level. From 2025–26, the repayment system shifted from a flat-rate structure to a marginal system, where only income above the threshold attracts compulsory repayments. These changes followed a period of unusually high indexation. In 2023, a rate of **7.1%** was originally applied to HELP balances, the highest in the published rate series going back to 2013. The government subsequently legislated a cap tying indexation to the lower of the Consumer Price Index or the Wage Price Index, and retrospectively reduced the 2023 rate to 3.2% and the 2024 rate from 4.7% to 4.0%. The one-off 20% debt reduction, which according to the government removed over $16 billion in student debt for more than 3 million borrowers, was part of the same reform package. Measure Figure Period Average outstanding HELP debt $27,739 2024–25 (ATO) Government benchmark average $27,600 Govt debt-reduction example 20% reduction on benchmark average $5,520 Applied 2025 Indexation rate 2.8% Applied 1 June 2026 Minimum repayment threshold $67,000 2025–26 **Source:** ATO HELP statistics 2024–25; Department of Education; Study Assist. HECS and HELP are not quite the same thing Most Australians say "HECS debt" when they mean their student loan, and in most contexts that is accurate enough. But the official ATO data covers all HELP loan types, not just HECS-HELP. In practice, HECS-HELP accounts for the large majority of HELP balances, so the distinction rarely affects the headline figures. This article uses the official HELP data throughout. Section 02 Distribution ## How HECS debt is distributed across borrowers The **median HELP debt in Australia falls in the $20,001 to $30,000 range**, below the $27,739 average. Nearly 47% of debtors owe $20,000 or less, while 1.9% of debtors, or 57,707 people, owe more than $100,000. The gap between the two figures reflects a right-skewed distribution: a relatively small number of very large debts can pull the average above the midpoint that most debtors actually experience. These high-value balances are what push the national average above the median. Distribution of HELP debt among borrowers in Australia Number of HELP debtors by outstanding balance range, 2024–25 The largest single group is people owing $10,000 or less (795,017 debtors). The median falls in the $20,001 to $30,000 band. **Source:** ATO, HELP statistics 2024–25, table 5. ![CheckRate](/__l5e/assets-v1/7bc4597d-01a6-41ce-b2ee-e3271c8e8b60/checkrate-logo.png) 46.9% of debtors owe $20,000 or less 14.6% owe more than $50,000 1.9% owe more than $100,000 (57,707 people) A borrower with a $20,000 balance is below the national average but close to the median range. A borrower with a $60,000 balance is well above average and, based on the ATO's published debt bands, would sit roughly within the highest 10% to 15% of HELP debtors by balance size. This is an estimate based on published balance ranges, not a directly published ATO percentile. Section 03 Borrower count ## How many Australians have a HECS debt? At 30 June 2025, 2,962,650 Australians had an outstanding HELP debt. That was up from 1,185,432 in 2005–06, a 150% increase over two decades. The increase may reflect expanded higher education participation, accumulated indexation on unpaid balances and changes in the mix of HELP loan types. A derived estimate suggests about 5.8 million Australians have held a HELP debt at some point since the scheme began in 1989. This figure is calculated by combining current debtors, people who have fully repaid a HELP debt and debts written off due to death. The debtor count peaked at 3,002,984 in 2021–22, eased over the following two years, then edged back up to 2,962,650 in 2024–25. Number of Australians with an outstanding HELP debt Number of debtors at 30 June each year, 2005–06 through 2024–25 The debtor count grew steadily for 16 years before levelling off near 3 million from around 2018–19 onward. **Source:** ATO, HELP statistics 2024–25, table 6. ![CheckRate](/__l5e/assets-v1/7bc4597d-01a6-41ce-b2ee-e3271c8e8b60/checkrate-logo.png) Since 1989, 2,778,392 individuals have fully repaid their HELP debt. A further 1,363,506 current debtors have never made any repayment, whether compulsory or voluntary, and 23,324 debts have been written off due to death. Most current debtors are not making compulsory repayments in any given year. HELP repayment income is assessed using the prior year's tax return, so the income data reported against 2024–25 reflects 2023–24 earnings. The compulsory repayment threshold that applied in 2023–24 was $51,550. Around 63% of current debtors had HELP repayment income below $50,000 or had not lodged a return. A further 7.5% fell in the $50,000 to $59,999 band, which partly overlapped that threshold, and about 30% had income of $60,000 or more. This pattern, combined with continuing indexation, may help explain why the national total keeps growing even as many debtors make repayments each year. 5.8m Australians have fully repaid, currently owe, or have had a HELP debt written off since 1989, based on a derived estimate from ATO categories. 2.78m have fully repaid their HELP debt 63% of current debtors had repayment income below $50,000 or had not lodged a return, based on 2023–24 income reported in the 2024–25 dataset. What counts as a debtor? The ATO counts any individual with an outstanding HELP balance greater than zero at the end of the financial year. This includes people still studying, people earning below the repayment threshold and people living overseas. It does not include anyone who has fully repaid. Section 04 National total ## Total outstanding HECS debt in Australia Outstanding HELP debt stood at **$82.18 billion** at 30 June 2025, up from $12.4 billion in 2005–06. The total has risen in all but one year of the published series, with a small dip in 2019–20. New lending and annual indexation have generally outpaced repayment flows, even as millions of individual debtors have made repayments. Since the HELP scheme began in 1989, a cumulative total of **$125.3 billion** has been lent to students. Of that, $52.1 billion has been recovered through compulsory repayments and $11.8 billion through voluntary repayments. Cumulative indexation has added $21.8 billion to balances over the same period, equivalent to about 42% of the amount recovered through compulsory repayments. Total outstanding HELP debt in Australia National total at 30 June each year ($ billion), 2005–06 through 2024–25 The annual increase peaked at around $7 to $8 billion a year between 2014–15 and 2017–18. Growth has slowed considerably since, adding $1.13 billion in 2024–25, the smallest annual increase in over a decade. **Source:** ATO, HELP statistics 2024–25, table 6. ![CheckRate](/__l5e/assets-v1/7bc4597d-01a6-41ce-b2ee-e3271c8e8b60/checkrate-logo.png) ### Outstanding HELP debt by state and territory New South Wales has the most HELP debtors at 902,137, owing $25.84 billion combined. Victoria is close behind with 817,167 debtors and $23.67 billion. Those two states together account for 58% of all HELP debtors nationally. Average debt per debtor varies more than the raw totals suggest. **Victoria has the highest state average at $28,971**, followed by New South Wales at $28,644 and the ACT at $28,126. Tasmania ($22,709) and the Northern Territory ($22,994) have the lowest averages. HELP debt by state and territory in Australia Average debt per debtor (bars) and number of debtors (line), 2024–25 - Average debt - Debtors State averages range from $22,709 in Tasmania to $28,971 in Victoria, a gap of about $6,300. Combined, New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia account for 88% of all HELP debtors. **Source:** ATO, HELP statistics 2024–25, table 6. ![CheckRate](/__l5e/assets-v1/7bc4597d-01a6-41ce-b2ee-e3271c8e8b60/checkrate-logo.png) State/territory Debtors Total debt Average debt **NSW** **902,137** **$25.84b** **$28,644** **VIC** **817,167** **$23.67b** **$28,971** QLD 611,457 $16.36b $26,756 WA 265,221 $6.83b $25,748 SA 202,083 $5.23b $25,875 ACT 55,332 $1.56b $28,126 TAS 52,462 $1.19b $22,709 NT 17,375 $0.40b $22,994 Overseas 35,222 $1.03b $29,351 **Source:** ATO, HELP statistics 2024–25, table 6. Excludes a small number of debtors with unknown state. The 35,222 Australians living overseas carry the highest average balance of any group in this table, at **$29,351**. Total outstanding debt is not the same as the HELP receivable The Department of Education separately publishes a "fair-value HELP receivable" through the Australian Government Actuary. That figure stood at $54.25 billion at 30 June 2025. It is a different accounting concept: the receivable adjusts for expected non-repayment, mortality and deferral effects, and is used for Commonwealth financial reporting rather than as a measure of what borrowers collectively owe. Section 05 Trend ## How the average HECS debt has grown over 20 years Average outstanding HELP debt has risen from **$10,459 in 2005–06 to $27,739 in 2024–25**, a 165% increase. The average crossed $20,000 for the first time in 2016–17 and $25,000 in 2022–23. Several factors may have contributed to this growth. Student contribution amounts have changed over time, including a 2021 shift in per-field pricing under the Job-ready Graduates package. FEE-HELP lending, which typically involves higher balances than HECS-HELP, has expanded. Annual indexation has also compounded on outstanding balances: the 7.1% rate applied in 2023, before its retrospective reduction to 3.2%, was the highest in the published rate series. Even at the lower rates applied more recently, indexation on a debt stock of more than $80 billion adds billions of dollars to the national total each year. The average time to repay a HELP debt in full has also lengthened, from 7.3 years in 2005–06 to 10.2 years in 2024–25. Longer repayment periods mean balances are exposed to more years of indexation before being cleared. Average outstanding HELP debt per debtor in Australia National average at 30 June each year, 2005–06 through 2024–25 Growth has been continuous across the full 20-year series. The dashed line marks $20,000, first exceeded in 2016–17. **Source:** ATO, HELP statistics 2024–25, tables 5 and 6. Average calculated as total outstanding debt divided by total debtors. ![CheckRate](/__l5e/assets-v1/7bc4597d-01a6-41ce-b2ee-e3271c8e8b60/checkrate-logo.png) The debtor population grew by about 87% between 2005–06 and 2014–15, while average debt grew by 73% over the same period. Debtor numbers then levelled off near 3 million from around 2018–19 onward, but the average has kept climbing as existing balances continue to accumulate indexation. Year Debtors Total debt Average debt 2005–06 1,185,432 $12.40b $10,459 2008–09 1,371,914 $17.82b $12,990 2011–12 1,680,700 $25.53b $15,191 2014–15 2,223,041 $40.18b $18,075 **2016–17** **2,659,057** **$53.99b** **$20,303** 2018–19 2,972,032 $66.65b $22,425 2021–22 3,002,984 $74.39b $24,771 **2024–25** **2,962,650** **$82.18b** **$27,739** **Source:** ATO, HELP statistics 2024–25. The 2016–17 financial year is highlighted because it was the first year in which average outstanding HELP debt exceeded $20,000. Section 06 Age breakdown ## How much HECS debt does each age group owe? The 20 to 29 age group accounts for 42.5% of all HELP debtors in Australia and carries an average balance of $31,727. The 30 to 39 group holds a marginally higher average at $31,801. Together, **people under 40 make up 75.8% of all HELP debtors**. Average debt declines progressively in older age groups: $23,791 for 40 to 49, $19,310 for 50 to 59, $17,814 for 60 to 69, and $14,711 for those 70 and over. This may reflect lower historical student contribution amounts, longer repayment periods and differences in the types of study undertaken by older cohorts. The number of debtors aged 70 and over rose from 3,167 in 2005–06 to 52,563 in 2024–25, a more than fifteen-fold increase. This shows that a growing number of older Australians still had outstanding HELP balances at the end of the financial year. Average outstanding HELP debt by age group in Australia Average debt per debtor by age band, 2024–25 Average debtNumber of debtors The 30–39 group has a marginally higher average than the 20–29 group, at $31,801 compared with $31,727, despite being a smaller cohort. **Source:** ATO, HELP statistics 2024–25, table 8. ![CheckRate](/__l5e/assets-v1/7bc4597d-01a6-41ce-b2ee-e3271c8e8b60/checkrate-logo.png) Average HELP debt by age, 2024–25 Under 20 $9,711 193,600 20 to 29 $31,727 1,259,454 30 to 39 $31,801 792,688 40 to 49 $23,791 371,668 50 to 59 $19,310 204,087 60 to 69 $17,814 88,502 Women make up **61.1% of all HELP debtors**. Female debtors carry a lower average balance, at **$26,710**, than male debtors, at **$29,355**. The gap varies by age group. In the 30 to 39 bracket, for example, the average female debt is $30,235, compared with $34,371 for men. This data does not break debt down by field of study. Age is measured at 30 June The ATO records age as at 30 June of the relevant financial year. People in the "under 20" band are generally in the early years of study and may not yet have accumulated a full course load of debt, which helps explain why their average is substantially lower than for older cohorts. Interactive tool Where does a _HELP balance_ sit nationally? Enter a HELP balance and age group to compare it against the national distribution. HELP balance $ Age group Select age group Under 20 20 to 29 30 to 39 40 to 49 50 to 59 60 to 69 70 and over Compare ### Frequently asked questions What is the average HECS debt in Australia right now? ▾ The average outstanding HELP debt, commonly referred to as HECS debt, was **$27,739** at 30 June 2025, based on the latest ATO data for the 2024–25 financial year. The government has also used a rounded benchmark of $27,600 in public communications about the 20% debt reduction. How many Australians have a HECS debt? ▾ At 30 June 2025, **2,962,650 Australians** had an outstanding HELP balance. The debtor count peaked at just over 3 million in **2021–22**. A derived estimate suggests about 5.8 million Australians have either currently held, fully repaid, or had a HELP debt written off since the scheme began in 1989. What is the total HECS debt in Australia? ▾ Total outstanding HELP debt was **$82.18 billion** at 30 June 2025. Since 1989, a cumulative total of $125.3 billion has been lent through the HELP scheme. Which state has the highest average HECS debt? ▾ Victoria has the highest average **HELP debt among the states** and territories at $28,971 per debtor, followed by New South Wales at $28,644 and the ACT at $28,126. Australians living overseas carry an average of $29,351, the highest of any group in the ATO state and territory table. Tasmania has the lowest state average at $22,709. Is HECS the same as HELP? ▾ HECS is the common term many Australians use for student loan debt, but HELP is the official broader system used in the ATO data. HECS-HELP is one type of loan within HELP, alongside FEE-HELP, OS-HELP and SA-HELP. This article uses "HECS debt" as the reader-facing term, while the statistics are based on official HELP debt data. What happened to HECS indexation in 2023? ▾ The 2023 HELP indexation rate was originally **7.1%**, before being retrospectively reduced to 3.2% under the new rule capping indexation at the lower of CPI or WPI. The 2024 rate was also reduced from 4.7% to 4.0%. A separate one-off 20% debt reduction removed more than $16 billion in student debt. Which age group has the highest average HECS debt? ▾ The 30 to 39 age group has the highest average outstanding **HECS debt** at $31,801, marginally above the 20 to 29 group at $31,727. How long does it take to repay a HECS debt? ▾ The average time to repay a HELP debt in full was **10.2 years** in 2024–25, up from 7.3 years in 2005–06. Repayment time depends on income, as compulsory repayments only begin once income exceeds $67,000 (2025–26 threshold). General information only This article uses "HECS debt" as the common reader-facing term, while the official figures are based on ATO HELP Statistics 2024–25. HELP covers HECS-HELP, FEE-HELP, OS-HELP and SA-HELP. Figures relate to the 2024–25 financial year unless otherwise stated. This article is informational only and does not constitute financial advice. ## References 1. 1 [**Australian Taxation Office, HELP Statistics 2024–25**](https://data.gov.au/data/dataset/higher-education-loan-program-help/resource/0661912a-d114-4155-8b42-63ab1417adea), official HELP statistics covering the 2005–06 to 2024–25 financial years. 2. 2 [**Department of Education, HELP indexation and debt reduction**](https://www.education.gov.au/higher-education-loan-program/help-students/help-indexation-and-debt-reduction), official summary of the 20% student loan debt reduction and indexation changes. 3. 3 [**Department of Education, Legislation to reduce student loan debt passes Parliament**](https://www.education.gov.au/newsroom/articles/legislation-reduce-student-loan-debt-passes-parliament), 31 July 2025 announcement covering the 20% reduction, $27,600 benchmark and $5,520 example. 4. 4 [**Study Assist, 2026 study loan indexation**](https://www.studyassist.gov.au/news/indexation-28-will-be-applied-your-study-loan-1-june-2026), 7 May 2026 update confirming the 2.8% indexation rate applied on 1 June 2026. 5. 5 [**Australian Taxation Office, study loan indexation rates**](https://www.ato.gov.au/tax-rates-and-codes/study-and-training-support-loans-indexation-rates), official indexation rates from 2013 to 2026. 6. 6 [**Australian Taxation Office, repayment thresholds and rates**](https://www.ato.gov.au/tax-rates-and-codes/study-and-training-support-loans-rates-and-repayment-thresholds), current and previous compulsory repayment thresholds and rates. 7. 7 [**Department of Education, Reporting of HELP Receivable**](https://www.education.gov.au/higher-education-publications/reporting-help-receivable), Australian Government Actuary reporting on the fair-value HELP receivable and debt not expected to be repaid. ## Data Snapshots ![australians with outstanding help debt](https://eznpqfufanyahmlyjhnj.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-covers/snapshots/03e517d2-481e-4723-8c56-1d8b1b238848/australians-with-outstanding-help-debt-3nfc.jpg) australians with outstanding help debt ![distribution of help debt among borrowers](https://eznpqfufanyahmlyjhnj.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-covers/snapshots/03e517d2-481e-4723-8c56-1d8b1b238848/distribution-of-help-debt-among-borrowers-x5ux.jpg) distribution of help debt among borrowers ## Related research [ ![How much have insurance premiums increased in Australia?](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1637763723578-79a4ca9225f7?q=80&w=871&auto=format&fit=crop&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&ixid=M3wxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8fA%3D%3D) Spending 20 July 2026 · 11 min read ### How much have insurance premiums increased in Australia? Insurance prices rose 5.5% in the year to May 2026 and are now 52.7% higher than at the end of 2019, roughly double the rise in headline inflation. Data from the ABS, APRA, the ACCC and the Department of Health. ](/insurance-premium-increases) [ ![Average insurance cost in Australia in 2026](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1450101499163-c8848c66ca85?auto=format&fit=crop&w=2000&q=80) Spending 17 July 2026 · 12 min read ### Average insurance cost in Australia in 2026 Australian households paid an average of $16.74 a week for house and contents insurance and $38.56 a week for accident and health insurance in the ABS's 2015–16 Household Expenditure Survey. These remain the latest official ABS figures for household insurance spending. They are averages across all households, not average premiums paid by insured policyholders. ](/average-insurance-cost) [ ![How HECS has changed since 1989: debt, fees and policy over time](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1541339907198-e08756dedf3f?auto=format&fit=crop&w=2000&q=80) Spending 08 July 2026 · 14 min read ### How HECS has changed since 1989: debt, fees and policy over time HECS began in 1989 as a flat $1,800 charge with a $22,000 repayment threshold. By 2024-25 it had become a field-based, marginally-repaid loan system carrying $82.2 billion in debt. Here is how it changed, in the data. ](/hecs-policy-history) [ ![HECS debt by degree, field of study and gender in Australia](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1434030216411-0b793f4b4173?q=80&w=870&auto=format&fit=crop&ixlib=rb-4.1.0&ixid=M3wxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8fA%3D%3D) Spending 08 July 2026 · 16 min read ### HECS debt by degree, field of study and gender in Australia The annual HECS-HELP cost of a Commonwealth supported degree in 2026 ranges from $4,738 to $17,399 depending on discipline, a gap of $12,661. Move into full-fee postgraduate study and the range widens: a domestic medical degree at Bond University can cost more than $470,000, well above the $186,544 loan limit for that field. Field of study affects the student contribution set for Commonwealth supported places, while provider-set full fees can create much larger debt exposure outside HECS-HELP. ](/hecs-debt-by-degree) [ ![How long does it takes to repay HECS debt  in 2026?](https://eznpqfufanyahmlyjhnj.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/article-covers/03e517d2-481e-4723-8c56-1d8b1b238848/1783047602540.jpg) Spending 03 July 2026 · 12 min read ### How long does it takes to repay HECS debt  in 2026? The minimum income for compulsory HECS-HELP repayments is $69,528 in 2026–27. ATO-linked HELP statistics show the average borrower took 9.9 years to repay a HELP debt in full. ](/hecs-repayment-thresholds) [ See more ### Explore all research & analysis View all ](/analysis) [CheckRate ](/) [Privacy Policy](/privacy-policy)[Terms & Conditions](/terms-and-conditions)[Methodology](/methodology) CheckRate provides general information and statistics only. It does not constitute financial advice. Data is sourced from publicly available institutional publications and may be subject to revision. Please consult a qualified financial adviser before making any financial decisions. © 2026 CheckRate