by our College Data Analytics TeamHere you will find what students actually borrow to attend United States Merchant Marine Academy— how much they borrow, how that debt is spread across the student body, and what it costs to pay back. These figures are reported by the Department of Education and IPEDS.
Looking at the entering class at USMMA, 11% of freshmen borrow to help pay for their first year, for an average of $4,577 apiece. This figure includes both private and federally funded student loans.
The average federal loan is $4,577, amounting to 83.2% of the $5,500 first-year federal borrowing limit for a typical dependent freshman. Be aware: the undergraduate-wide averages below exclude private loans, while this freshman number includes them.
Looking at all undergraduates at USMMA, freshmen included, 6% finance part of their studies with federal loans, at an average of $4,705 per year. It comes to 2.8% above the $4,577 freshmen take on.
Borrowing at that rate every year works out to about $9,410 across two years and $18,820 by the fourth year. The estimate holds federal borrowing constant and does not count private or Parent PLUS loans.
| Undergraduate federal borrowing | Value |
|---|---|
| Share using federal loans | 6% |
| Average federal loan per year | $4,705 |
| Undergraduates with a federal loan | 57 |
| Total federal loans (one year) | $268,182 |
The median student at USMMA borrows $6,500 in federal borrowing.
| Borrower group | Median federal debt |
|---|---|
| All federal borrowers | $6,500 |
| Students who completed (graduates) | $8,833 |
| Students who withdrew | $5,500 |
Debt carried by students who withdrew is a key risk signal — these borrowers owe money without having earned the credential.
Half of all borrowers fall between the 25th and 75th percentiles shown below for USMMA.
| Percentile | Cumulative Federal Debt |
|---|---|
| 25th percentile | $3,500 |
| 75th percentile | $14,600 |
Repayment burden translates the debt figures into what a borrower actually pays each month. USMMA.
The default rate measures how many borrowers fall behind and ultimately fail to repay their federal loans. The federal two-year cohort default rate for USMMA appears below.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| 2-year cohort default rate | 1.2% |
| Borrowers in the cohort | 81 |
A lower default rate generally signals that graduates earn enough to manage their loan payments.
Borrowing varies by family income, by first-generation status, and by dependency status.
Borrowing by Income Tier
| Income tier | Median federal debt |
|---|---|
| High income | $6,500 |
First-Generation Comparison
| Cohort | Median federal debt |
|---|---|
| First-generation students | $6,500 |
| Continuing-generation students | $6,500 |
The Department of Education computes gap indicators that show how borrowing differs between student groups at USMMA.
Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans
With an unsubsidized loan, interest starts adding up the day the loan is disbursed, including during school. Subsidized loans, by contrast, do not accrue interest while you are enrolled at least half-time, which makes them the less expensive option when you qualify.
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.