China’s State-Funded Student Loans Benefit Over 30 Million Students

Dragon Media News Desk

China’s state-funded student loan programme had issued a cumulative 695.8 billion yuan, or approximately $102.43 billion, in loans by the end of 2025.

According to figures released by China’s Ministry of Education on Tuesday, more than 30 million students have benefited from the programme. The ministry said China has continued expanding the scheme to ensure that financial difficulties do not prevent students from pursuing higher education.

Since 2012, the annual loan ceiling per student has been raised gradually. Initially set at 6,000 yuan, the limit has now reached 20,000 yuan for undergraduate and vocational college students.

Graduate students are eligible to receive up to 25,000 yuan annually under the state-funded loan programme.

China raised the annual ceiling from 16,000 yuan to 20,000 yuan for undergraduate and vocational college students and from 20,000 yuan to 25,000 yuan for graduate students beginning with the autumn semester of 2024.

The Ministry of Education said the programme supports students from financially disadvantaged families through higher loan limits, interest-related assistance and improved repayment policies.