by our College Data Analytics TeamThis page focuses on the debt students take on to attend The University of Tennessee Health Science Center— how much they borrow, how that debt is spread across the student body, and what it costs to pay back. The data below is drawn directly from federal sources.
Looking at all undergraduates at UTHSC, freshmen included, 52% borrow through federal student loan programs, with a mean of $11,487 each per year.
At a steady annual pace, that totals around $22,974 by year two and around $45,948 across a four-year program. This assumes steady federal borrowing and leaves out private and Parent PLUS loans.
| Undergraduate federal borrowing | Value |
|---|---|
| Share using federal loans | 52% |
| Average federal loan per year | $11,487 |
| Undergraduates with a federal loan | 195 |
| Total federal loans (one year) | $2,239,990 |
The middle borrower at UTHSC owes $11,250 in federal student loans.
| Borrower group | Median federal debt |
|---|---|
| All federal borrowers | $11,250 |
| Students who completed (graduates) | $12,500 |
| Students who withdrew | $5,126 |
The figure for students who withdrew is worth watching: debt without a completed credential is the hardest to repay.
Half of all borrowers fall between the 25th and 75th percentiles shown below for UTHSC.
| Percentile | Cumulative Federal Debt |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (lowest-debt students) | $3,500 |
| 25th percentile | $5,500 |
| 75th percentile | $12,500 |
| 90th percentile (highest-debt students) | $12,500 |
The gap between the 10th and 90th percentile is the clearest single measure of how widely borrowing varies at UTHSC.
Median federal debt understates the full cost when PLUS loans are included. The totals below add PLUS borrowing for UTHSC.
| Group | Borrowers | Median debt incl. PLUS |
|---|---|---|
| All borrowers | 215 | $19,521 |
| Completed (graduates) | 186 | $20,027 |
| Did not complete | 29 | $14,344 |
Completers face an estimated standard 10-year monthly payment on their PLUS-inclusive debt of roughly $238.14/mo.
The split below distinguishes Stafford borrowers from non-Stafford borrowers at UTHSC.
Borrowers With a Stafford Loan This Year
| Cohort | Borrowers | Median debt incl. PLUS |
|---|---|---|
| Stafford loan this year | 187 | $19,765 |
| No Stafford loan this year | 28 | $17,289 |
Repayment burden translates the debt figures into what a borrower actually pays each month. UTHSC.
The breakdowns below show median federal debt by income, first-generation status, and dependency.
By Family Income
| Income tier | Median federal debt |
|---|---|
| Low income | $12,500 |
| Middle income | $12,484 |
| High income | $7,500 |
First-Gen vs Continuing-Gen Borrowing
| Cohort | Median federal debt |
|---|---|
| First-generation students | $12,500 |
| Continuing-generation students | $8,932 |
Dependent vs Independent Borrowers
| Cohort | Median federal debt |
|---|---|
| Dependent students | $7,500 |
| Independent students | $12,500 |
These pre-calculated indicators summarize the borrowing gaps between cohorts at UTHSC.
Subsidized vs. Unsubsidized Loans
Unsubsidized federal student loans accrue interest every month — even while you are still enrolled. Unless you pay that interest as it builds, the balance you owe at graduation can be noticeably higher than the amount you originally borrowed.
Worth Knowing
Unlike most other debt, federal student loans generally survive bankruptcy — and unpaid balances can lead to wage garnishment — so borrow only what you truly need.
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.