UK's Student Loan Debt Hits Record High with £231,000 Top Balance

Average graduate debt now stands at £44,940, as campaigners push for tuition fee reform.

The highest student loan debt in the UK has reached £231,000, with average debt upon graduation now at £44,940.
Student loan repayments operate more like a tax, with payments based on earnings above a certain threshold.
Interest rates on student loans have been capped at 7.7% due to high inflation, but the impact varies based on future earnings.
Under new Plan 5 loans, repayments start sooner and last longer, potentially increasing costs for lower and middle-income graduates.
Campaigners call for reform, highlighting the discouragement of higher education for those from working-class backgrounds due to debt.