by our College Data Analytics TeamBelow is federal data on the loans students use to pay for University of Nebraska Medical 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.
Among all degree-seeking undergrads at UNMC, 48% finance part of their studies with federal loans, borrowing on average $11,396 each per year.
Borrowing the same amount each year would add up to roughly $22,792 after two years and $45,584 over four years. This projection keeps yearly federal borrowing flat and excludes private and Parent PLUS loans.
| Undergraduate federal borrowing | Value |
|---|---|
| Share using federal loans | 48% |
| Average federal loan per year | $11,396 |
| Undergraduates with a federal loan | 418 |
| Total federal loans (one year) | $4,763,667 |
Graduating and withdrawing students at UNMC carry a median federal debt of $14,000 in federal student loans.
| Borrower group | Median federal debt |
|---|---|
| All federal borrowers | $14,000 |
| Students who completed (graduates) | $15,000 |
| Students who withdrew | $7,500 |
Debt carried by students who withdrew is a key risk signal — these borrowers owe money without having earned the credential.
The median hides the spread, so the percentiles below show cumulative federal debt at four points in the distribution for UNMC.
| Percentile | Cumulative Federal Debt |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (lowest-debt students) | $5,500 |
| 25th percentile | $9,103 |
| 75th percentile | $22,500 |
| 90th percentile (highest-debt students) | $30,000 |
The spread between the lowest- and highest-debt deciles summarizes how variable outcomes are at UNMC.
Median federal debt understates the full cost when PLUS loans are included. The totals below add PLUS borrowing for UNMC.
| Group | Borrowers | Median debt incl. PLUS |
|---|---|---|
| All borrowers | 410 | $18,683 |
| Completed (graduates) | 343 | $19,050 |
| Did not complete | 67 | $16,150 |
Completers face an estimated standard 10-year monthly payment on their PLUS-inclusive debt of roughly $226.52/mo.
Stafford loans are the federal direct-loan program most undergraduates use. The breakdown below separates borrowers who used Stafford loans from those who did not at UNMC.
Borrowers With a Stafford Loan This Year
| Cohort | Borrowers | Median debt incl. PLUS |
|---|---|---|
| Stafford loan this year | 296 | $18,683 |
| No Stafford loan this year | 114 | $18,724 |
These figures turn the debt totals into a monthly repayment picture for UNMC.
A loan default — failing to keep up with federal student-loan payments — is one of the worst financial outcomes a borrower can face. The federal two-year cohort default rate for UNMC appears below.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| 2-year cohort default rate | 0.2% |
| Borrowers in the cohort | 709 |
This rate follows a borrower cohort from the start of repayment through the two-year window the Department of Education uses.
Borrowing varies by family income, by first-generation status, and by dependency status.
Median Debt by Income Bracket
| Income tier | Median federal debt |
|---|---|
| Low income | $15,875 |
| Middle income | $13,875 |
| High income | $13,000 |
First-Generation Comparison
| Cohort | Median federal debt |
|---|---|
| First-generation students | $13,712 |
| Continuing-generation students | $15,000 |
Dependent vs Independent Borrowers
| Cohort | Median federal debt |
|---|---|
| Dependent students | $13,000 |
| Independent students | $18,750 |
Federal data publishes the following gap measures for UNMC.
Subsidized vs. 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.
Did You Know?
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.