Percentage distribution of teachers by whether they had ever taken out a student loan, percentage who no longer owed money on a student loan in 2020–21, percentage who owed money on a student loan in 2020–21, and among those with student loan debt in 2020–21, percentage who reported various levels of stress regarding student debt, percentage who ever worked more than one job because of student debt, and percentage who ever took a less desirable job because of student loan debt, by school type; selected school and teacher characteristics; and for public school teachers, state: 2020–21

								Among teachers who owed money on a student loan in 2020–21
					Among teachers who had ever taken out at least one student loan			Percentage who reported various levels of stress regarding student debt
School type; selected school and teacher characteristics; and for public school teachers, state	Percentage who did not take out student loans		Percentage who ever took out at least one student loan		Percentage who no longer owed money on a student loan in 2020–21	Percentage who owed money on a student loan in 2020–21		Very low		Low		Moderate		High		Very high		Percentage who ever worked more than one job because of student loan debt		Percentage who ever took a less desirable job because of student loan debt
All teachers	41.6		58.4		39.8	60.2		4.1		10.1		26.4		22.4		37.1		39.0		25.1

All public school teachers	40.1		59.9		38.8	61.2		3.9		9.9		26.2		22.4		37.5		38.8		24.9
School classification
Traditional public school	40.3		59.7		39.7	60.3		3.9		10.0		26.3		22.4		37.4		38.7		24.4
Charter school	37.3		62.7		27.6	72.4		3.6		9.3		25.0		22.6		39.5		39.3		30.4

Community type
City	40.1		59.9		35.5	64.5		3.9		9.0		25.0		22.3		39.8		39.8		27.0
Suburban	41.6		58.4		41.5	58.5		4.1		9.8		26.1		22.1		37.9		39.2		25.5
Town	39.5		60.5		39.3	60.7		3.8		10.5		26.4		23.0		36.3		38.0		23.1
Rural	37.6		62.4		38.3	61.7		3.6		11.1		27.9		22.7		34.7		37.1		22.4

School level, based on CCD definition¹
Elementary	40.8		59.2		38.3	61.7		2.9		8.6		26.3		23.2		39.0		36.8		23.4
Middle	38.9		61.1		38.9	61.1		4.0		9.4		26.2		21.7		38.6		39.7		26.5
Secondary/High	39.9		60.1		39.9	60.1		5.1		12.1		26.6		21.4		34.7		40.5		25.7
Combined/other	39.3		60.7		37.9	62.1		5.2		11.3		24.0		23.4		36.2		41.8		27.4

Student enrollment
Less than 100 students	34.9		65.1		39.0	61.0		5.8		6.4		31.1		15.8		40.9		34.8		21.9
100-199	36.4		63.6		37.9	62.1		4.0		12.5		25.5		25.7		32.3		38.1		25.0
200-499	39.4		60.6		39.1	60.9		3.4		10.0		26.8		22.3		37.6		37.6		23.7
500-749	41.7		58.3		37.5	62.5		2.7		9.3		25.9		22.6		39.5		38.9		26.3
750-999	39.8		60.2		39.4	60.6		4.6		9.6		24.4		21.4		40.0		40.3		23.8
1,000 or more students	40.4		59.6		39.6	60.4		5.2		10.8		26.2		23.2		34.5		40.0		26.2

Percent of K–12 students who were approved for free or reduced-price lunches²
0-34	41.1		58.9		44.8	55.2		4.1		11.5		27.8		22.9		33.7		41.5		23.4
35-49	39.5		60.5		41.9	58.1		4.3		10.5		28.3		22.1		34.8		39.8		23.8
50-74	40.2		59.8		37.2	62.8		3.2		9.6		25.6		22.9		38.7		37.2		23.7
75 or more	39.1		60.9		33.2	66.8		3.9		9.0		24.8		21.8		40.5		37.2		26.7

Sex³
Male	41.6		58.4		40.2	59.8		5.4		12.5		27.1		22.7		32.3		41.4		27.6
Female	39.7		60.3		38.4	61.6		3.4		9.2		26.0		22.3		39.0		38.0		24.2

Race/ethnicity
American Indian or Alaska Native, non-Hispanic	42.8		57.2		30.8	69.2		‡		5.2	!	20.4		20.5		47.4		40.8		34.0
Asian, non-Hispanic	62.0		38.0		36.8	63.2		4.8	!	9.2		35.7		24.1		26.2		33.9		27.2
Black or African American, non-Hispanic	29.5		70.5		16.7	83.3		3.2		6.4		18.7		20.2		51.5		41.3		31.1
Hispanic, regardless of race	41.7		58.3		29.1	70.9		3.4		8.1		23.3		22.6		42.5		35.9		25.0
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic	48.2		51.8		28.3	71.7		‡		‡		24.1	!	25.9	!	39.3		40.8		33.9
White, non-Hispanic	40.1		59.9		42.2	57.8		4.0		10.8		27.5		22.6		35.0		38.7		23.7
Two or more races, non-Hispanic	34.5		65.5		30.3	69.7		3.0	!	6.6		24.1		22.5		43.7		47.3		34.7

Age
Less than 30 years	35.1		64.9		12.3	87.7		3.5		10.0		28.0		24.2		34.3		38.5		25.3
30-49 years	36.6		63.4		36.2	63.8		3.9		10.3		26.0		22.1		37.8		39.5		25.7
50-54 years	45.7		54.3		57.1	42.9		4.2		7.6		26.9		19.9		41.4		38.9		22.5
55 years or more	51.2		48.8		63.8	36.2		4.6		9.9		22.4		22.5		40.6		34.0		21.0

Years of teaching experience
3 years or less	36.1		63.9		11.2	88.8		3.7		10.3		27.0		23.1		35.9		35.3		27.7
4-9 years	33.8		66.2		20.3	79.7		3.5		9.0		25.5		23.6		38.4		39.4		27.0
10-14 years	35.7		64.3		36.9	63.1		3.8		10.0		24.3		21.5		40.5		39.3		24.8
15 or more years	46.0		54.0		59.8	40.2		4.5		11.0		27.9		21.0		35.6		40.0		20.6

Teacher main assignment
Early childhood or general elementary	41.5		58.5		39.1	60.9		2.8		9.0		25.0		22.9		40.3		35.2		22.7
Special education	35.4		64.6		33.1	66.9		3.9		8.1		26.8		21.3		39.9		41.6		26.2
Arts or music	37.4		62.6		38.6	61.4		3.5		11.3		32.7		21.4		31.1		42.3		26.7
English and language arts	37.6		62.4		39.1	60.9		3.3		10.2		22.8		22.7		41.0		39.5		25.3
English as a Second Language (ESL) or bilingual education	45.2		54.8		39.2	60.8		4.9	!	6.6		22.9		22.4		43.2		37.8		25.2
Foreign languages	43.6		56.4		40.6	59.4		6.7		10.6		24.6		23.7		34.5		44.4		24.6
Health education	45.5		54.5		42.5	57.5		5.4		9.6		27.8		25.1		32.1		47.7		28.1
Mathematics	41.9		58.1		43.2	56.8		5.9		13.9		27.4		23.6		29.2		36.8		25.5
Natural sciences	38.5		61.5		41.6	58.4		5.2		12.0		24.8		22.4		35.6		39.2		28.9
Social sciences	37.6		62.4		41.3	58.7		4.8		12.0		28.3		21.5		33.4		37.3		25.8
Career or technical education	46.8		53.2		37.7	62.3		4.8		10.9		29.3		20.3		34.8		40.9		25.0
All other	47.1		52.9		39.8	60.2		2.1	!	10.1	!	29.9		22.6		35.3		47.6		17.3

Highest degree earned
Bachelor's degree or less	45.2		54.8		34.7	65.3		3.8		10.8		28.6		23.3		33.5		35.3		24.2
Master's degree	36.9		63.1		41.8	58.2		3.9		9.4		25.0		22.1		39.6		40.4		25.2
Higher than a master's degree⁴	36.2		63.8		37.7	62.3		4.2		9.7		23.3		20.9		42.0		42.9		26.4

State
Alabama	37.7		62.3		28.8	71.2		4.5	!	6.4		22.2		18.7		48.2		32.5		22.2
Alaska	35.3		64.7		43.1	56.9		4.2	!	10.2		33.2		22.1		30.3		43.5		31.2
Arizona	41.1		58.9		29.1	70.9		2.4	!	9.7		24.9		24.5		38.4		33.4		23.7
Arkansas	41.0		59.0		29.5	70.5		3.7	!	14.5		20.3		23.9		37.5		30.7		23.4
California	42.2		57.8		43.1	56.9		4.9		11.6		27.4		19.6		36.4		31.9		25.8

Colorado	39.5		60.5		38.9	61.1		3.2	!	10.4		26.2		25.3		34.9		43.3		27.6
Connecticut	43.1		56.9		49.1	50.9		3.2	!	12.5		33.1		19.8		31.4		51.0		25.2
Delaware	40.5		59.5		33.4	66.6		4.2	!	12.2		14.2		31.0		38.4		47.8		28.5
District of Columbia	32.0		68.0		28.9	71.1		6.0	!	5.5	!	25.3		21.4		41.9		50.1		39.8
Florida	45.1		54.9		32.4	67.6		2.9		7.8		26.5		20.8		41.9		41.5		30.4

Georgia	33.5		66.5		26.2	73.8		4.4		7.7		26.1		22.9		38.9		31.3		20.6
Hawaii	53.9		46.1		37.3	62.7		‡		11.1		22.1		23.9		41.6		49.1		27.5
Idaho	38.4		61.6		36.8	63.2		3.2	!	8.7		25.8		28.7		33.6		31.0		21.6
Illinois	39.4		60.6		44.4	55.6		4.8		13.3		28.1		21.1		32.6		35.1		27.7
Indiana	38.1		61.9		43.3	56.7		‡		6.8		33.1		21.3		36.4		39.7		20.8

Iowa	30.4		69.6		44.6	55.4		4.4	!	14.1		39.3		17.0		25.3		34.5		21.5
Kansas	39.3		60.7		37.9	62.1		7.1	!	6.7		24.9		22.8		38.5		35.6		20.4
Kentucky	39.0		61.0		30.8	69.2		5.2		7.4		20.0		24.6		42.9		29.4		16.3
Louisiana	47.7		52.3		31.5	68.5		‡		8.9	!	28.2		26.9		34.4		40.5		36.7
Maine	34.8		65.2		49.8	50.2		4.4	!	15.6		28.0		18.3		33.8		42.5		23.7

Maryland	49.6		50.4		27.7	72.3		4.1	!	6.7		25.1		22.2		41.9		42.7		29.0
Massachusetts	35.8		64.2		46.6	53.4		5.4	!	11.5		32.4		22.0		28.7		44.7		21.0
Michigan	37.6		62.4		40.3	59.7		2.5	!	7.7		26.6		21.6		41.6		45.4		27.1
Minnesota	30.1		69.9		45.2	54.8		4.1	!	11.7		21.8		24.5		37.9		49.8		24.6
Mississippi	30.6		69.4		19.7	80.3		3.4	!	9.1		20.4		23.7		43.3		29.9		21.3

Missouri	37.4		62.6		31.3	68.7		4.3	!	12.2		22.9		26.5		34.0		41.3		22.8
Montana	35.9		64.1		39.7	60.3		4.0	!	12.5		30.1		24.6		28.9		42.5		19.4
Nebraska	37.7		62.3		45.7	54.3		4.1	!	8.9		32.6		25.9		28.5		34.1		21.6
Nevada	39.9		60.1		29.7	70.3		1.6	!	9.5		27.1		21.0		40.9		39.3		25.8
New Hampshire	35.6		64.4		48.6	51.4		‡		11.3		31.0		17.9		37.5		53.3		23.9

New Jersey	44.4		55.6		40.3	59.7		3.9	!	9.8		26.8		21.5		37.9		54.3		30.9
New Mexico	46.4		53.6		36.8	63.2		3.5	!	11.5		20.2		20.6		44.2		33.6		27.4
New York	38.5		61.5		47.3	52.7		4.8		8.8		25.7		21.6		39.1		46.3		26.7
North Carolina	44.9		55.1		31.8	68.2		3.8	!	7.8		24.3		21.5		42.6		46.5		27.1
North Dakota	32.3		67.7		40.8	59.2		8.5	!	14.8		24.6		23.9		28.3		41.8		29.6

Ohio	38.0		62.0		41.7	58.3		3.2	!	10.6		30.0		21.7		34.6		42.7		22.0
Oklahoma	51.7		48.3		38.6	61.4		4.6	!	10.1		22.3		28.4		34.7		29.5		22.5
Oregon	26.8		73.2		43.7	56.3		3.5	!	4.6	!	28.3		28.5		35.0		37.6		29.7
Pennsylvania	36.3		63.7		51.4	48.6		5.0		11.5		23.0		20.5		40.1		48.3		27.3
Rhode Island	45.8		54.2		57.9	42.1		5.3	!	13.5		24.2		19.2		37.9		39.3		23.8

South Carolina	36.3		63.7		34.9	65.1		2.9	!	6.9		26.3		23.3		40.5		35.8		21.5
South Dakota	32.6		67.4		46.3	53.7		‡		10.2		32.1		24.5		31.8		54.2		24.5
Tennessee	40.1		59.9		30.9	69.1		4.3		8.0		27.8		19.7		40.1		43.8		23.2
Texas	44.1		55.9		33.4	66.6		3.0		9.7		24.6		24.6		38.1		31.7		24.4
Utah	48.6		51.4		42.6	57.4		5.3		8.1		29.9		23.0		33.9		27.6		18.7

Vermont	34.5		65.5		44.9	55.1		7.0	!	11.8		25.1		25.7		30.4		47.7		27.0
Virginia	42.5		57.5		38.8	61.2		4.6	!	8.2		28.6		23.4		35.1		40.6		24.4
Washington	32.7		67.3		46.0	54.0		3.7	!	18.9		21.5		16.4		39.5		24.9		21.5
West Virginia	43.4		56.6		28.0	72.0		‡		13.7		19.4		21.3		43.7		30.6		22.1
Wisconsin	36.0		64.0		42.9	57.1		2.4	!	15.6		26.2		25.8		30.0		40.0		23.0
Wyoming	38.7		61.3		43.9	56.1		4.8	!	9.7		34.7		20.7		30.0		39.7		20.1

All private school teachers	53.7		46.3		50.1	49.9		6.8		12.6		28.1		21.7		30.8		41.6		26.7
School classification
Catholic	51.8		48.2		52.0	48.0		4.7		7.6		28.7		22.9		36.1		45.0		26.8
Other religious	57.5		42.5		49.6	50.4		8.0		16.5		30.2		16.2		29.1		37.0		23.6
Nonsectarian	50.4		49.6		48.4	51.6		7.4		13.0		25.0		26.8		27.8		43.5		30.2

Community type
City	55.2		44.8		49.3	50.7		7.1		12.2		27.8		20.8		32.1		44.7		25.8
Suburban	53.9		46.1		49.4	50.6		6.9		10.5		29.3		22.0		31.4		43.7		31.0
Town	48.3		51.7		52.5	47.5		‡		19.1	!	30.6		26.1		22.7		29.7		22.6
Rural	51.3		48.7		53.0	47.0		8.3	!	16.7		24.0		21.1		29.8		32.2		18.3

School level, based on CCD definition¹
Elementary/middle	53.1		46.9		49.5	50.5		6.5		10.1		28.7		22.0		32.8		41.8		25.8
Secondary/high	51.8		48.2		51.7	48.3		6.2		14.7		27.4		22.5		29.1		41.9		32.6
Combined/other	55.3		44.7		49.9	50.1		7.4		14.5		27.7		20.9		29.4		41.1		24.6

Student enrollment
Less than 100 students	56.1		43.9		40.2	59.8		4.3	!	15.5		26.1		22.7		31.3		42.7		31.3
100-199	53.1		46.9		49.5	50.5		5.5	!	11.6		29.9		22.2		30.8		39.3		28.3
200-499	51.8		48.2		51.6	48.4		8.1		9.3		29.2		20.1		33.3		44.1		22.1
500-749	52.0		48.0		51.7	48.3		8.7	!	14.6		26.6		22.2		28.0		35.6		26.8
750 or more students	58.1		41.9		62.5	37.5		8.4	!	18.4		26.6		23.8		22.7		42.3		28.3

Sex³
Male	54.1		45.9		47.3	52.7		10.8		12.2		31.8		20.7		24.5		43.3		32.2
Female	53.6		46.4		51.0	49.0		5.4		12.8		26.8		22.0		33.0		40.9		24.7

Race/ethnicity
American Indian or Alaska Native, non-Hispanic	50.7	!	49.3	!	‡	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡	!	‡	!	‡
Asian, non-Hispanic	75.3		24.7		40.2	59.8		‡		36.7	!	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡
Black or African American, non-Hispanic	40.0		60.0		24.5	75.5		11.1	!	‡		18.9		17.7	!	45.8		34.5		36.6
Hispanic, regardless of race	57.5		42.5		31.3	68.7		‡		8.0	!	29.2		22.5		37.4		49.9		34.1
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic	‡		‡		‡	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡
White, non-Hispanic	53.4		46.6		54.1	45.9		6.9		13.1		29.1		22.7		28.1		40.8		24.1
Two or more races, non-Hispanic	47.0		53.0		28.7	71.3		‡		19.3	!	33.3		‡		33.0		45.3		38.4

Age
Less than 30 years	44.7		55.3		17.5	82.5		4.7	!	14.2		31.6		17.2		32.3		44.3		28.1
30-49 years	47.9		52.1		44.8	55.2		7.4		11.7		28.3		24.2		28.4		41.1		27.3
50-54 years	57.6		42.4		68.4	31.6		8.1	!	‡		20.4		22.9		40.7		48.1		30.6
55 years or more	66.9		33.1		82.0	18.0		7.8	!	19.4	!	20.8		16.4	!	35.7		28.7		11.7	!

Years of teaching experience
3 years or less	44.4		55.6		23.0	77.0		4.4		13.6		26.8		22.6		32.5		42.2		29.1
4-9 years	48.8		51.2		35.1	64.9		7.6		12.4		28.6		20.9		30.5		40.3		27.4
10-14 years	52.2		47.8		47.8	52.2		5.7	!	8.6		30.8		24.5		30.3		43.3		22.9
15 or more years	60.6		39.4		77.0	23.0		10.6		15.2		26.7		18.8		28.6		41.1		24.2

Teacher main assignment
Early childhood or general elementary	54.0		46.0		45.7	54.3		7.6		12.2		33.0		19.4		27.8		39.5		21.6
Special education	50.5		49.5		38.7	61.3		‡		‡		17.9		23.2		48.2		51.9		31.2
Arts or music	51.2		48.8		54.4	45.6		7.8	!	16.1		16.3		33.8		26.1		48.0		37.4
English and language arts	49.5		50.5		56.0	44.0		7.1	!	7.3	!	19.4		28.2		38.0		50.5		34.5
English as a Second Language (ESL) or bilingual education	‡		‡		‡	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡		‡
Foreign languages	57.6		42.4		64.3	35.7		‡		21.9	!	17.4	!	19.8	!	36.7		50.4		34.4
Health education	53.2		46.8		32.0	68.0		‡		7.0	!	34.1		20.9	!	28.8		46.3		32.0
Mathematics	56.3		43.7		52.4	47.6		4.1	!	20.8		20.2		25.7		29.2		34.4		18.8
Natural sciences	54.7		45.3		47.8	52.2		5.3	!	10.2	!	33.7		16.5		34.4		33.7		35.3
Social sciences	53.1		46.9		59.0	41.0		‡		9.9	!	38.8		14.6	!	29.9		38.0		21.3
Career or technical education	59.0		41.0		56.9	43.1	!	‡	!	‡		‡		42.0	!	‡		57.4	!	54.8	!
All other	56.2		43.8		52.5	47.5		‡		14.9	!	41.8		10.3	!	26.3		28.8		16.6

Highest degree earned
Bachelor's degree or less	57.3		42.7		47.8	52.2		7.8		14.1		31.0		19.0		28.1		38.4		21.4
Master's degree	49.6		50.4		51.9	48.1		5.5		9.8		26.4		24.9		33.3		43.2		30.7
Higher than a master's degree⁴	52.1		47.9		52.7	47.3		7.2	!	17.8		20.3		21.1		33.6		50.6		36.4

! Interpret data with caution. The coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is between 30 percent and 50 percent (i.e., the standard error is at least 30 percent and less than 50 percent of the estimate).

‡ Reporting standards not met. Either there are too few cases for a reliable estimate, or the CV for this estimate is 50 percent or more (i.e., the standard error is 50 percent or more of the estimate).

¹CCD is Common Core of Data. Elementary schools offer at least one grade of K to 4, and the number of elementary grades is at least as high as the number of middle grades. Middle schools offer at least one of grades 5 to 8, and the number of middle grades is greater than the number of elementary or secondary grades. Secondary/high schools are defined as schools that offer at least as many of grades 9 through 12 as in lower grades. Combined/other schools include all other combinations of grades, including K–12 schools. School level categories in the 2020–21 NTPS differ from those in previous survey administrations; caution should be exercised when comparing estimates by level over time.

²Schools that do not participate in the free or reduced-price lunch program are included in the 0–34 percent category.

³Teachers were asked whether they were male or female. Although this variable is labeled “sex,” the questionnaire did not use the terms either “gender” or “sex.”

⁴Higher than a master’s degree is defined as a teacher who completed any of the following: an educational specialist or professional diploma, a certificate of advanced graduate studies, or a doctorate or first professional degree.

NOTE: Data are weighted estimates of the population. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, National Teacher and Principal Survey (NTPS), "Public School Teacher and Private School Teacher Data Files," 2020–21.