One in four humanities students in Australia to take more than 25 years to pay off student loans, treasury finds
New Treasury modelling reveals that one in four humanities students in Australia will take over 25 years to repay their student loans due to the Job Ready Graduates (JRG) program introduced in 2021. The policy has led to increased debt for humanities and creative arts students, with nearly two-thirds facing debts over $50,000. Critics argue the scheme has failed to shift student enrollment and unfairly burdens lower-earning graduates with long-term debt.
- ▪The Job Ready Graduates program has increased median repayment times for creative arts graduates from 14 to 17 years.
- ▪Almost two-thirds of humanities and creative arts students are expected to have debts exceeding $50,000 under the JRG scheme.
- ▪Treasury estimates that while total university debt has increased by $800 million under JRG, only half of that amount is expected to be repaid.
- ▪The number of students with debts over $50,000 has risen by 70% since the introduction of the JRG program.
- ▪Education Minister Jason Clare has called the JRG scheme an 'abject failure' in discouraging arts degree enrollments.
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More students than before are likely to never repay their university debt to the Australian government, according to the data from Treasury. Photograph: Bianca de Marchi/AAPView image in fullscreenMore students than before are likely to never repay their university debt to the Australian government, according to the data from Treasury. Photograph: Bianca de Marchi/AAPAustralian universitiesOne in four humanities students in Australia to take more than 25 years to pay off student loans, treasury findsJob ready graduates program will also leave almost two-thirds of humanities and creative arts students with debts exceeding $50,000 Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Krishani DhanjiMon 4 May 2026 11.00 EDTLast modified on Mon 4 May 2026 11.01 EDTSharePrefer the…
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