Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) has consistently reported between $15,001 and $50,000 in federal student loan debt since her election to the House of Representatives in 2018, according to House financial disclosures. Despite earning an annual salary of at least $174,000 for nearly eight years, this debt amount has remained unchanged in her most recent disclosure. The congresswoman, who amassed the loans while attending Boston University, has been a prominent advocate for widespread student debt cancellation.
Ocasio-Cortez has previously supported canceling up to $50,000 in debt per student borrower and has criticized proposals for lower amounts. She also pushed for legislation to eliminate student debt, a goal that faced a setback when the Supreme Court ruled against the Biden administration's broad forgiveness plan in June 2023. Following the ruling, she stated that the Biden administration could still pursue loan forgiveness through the Higher Education Act.
Concurrently, Ocasio-Cortez has discussed her decision to freeze her eggs, a process that can cost between $10,000 and $20,000 per cycle, in addition to annual storage fees. She described the decision as a way to feel more in control of her life, noting that she was 29 when sworn into the House and has had to navigate public life during a period typically reserved for private growth. She has indicated that the government would not fund these elective procedures.
Several other members of Congress, including some from the "Squad," also carry student loan debt. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) has reported up to $50,000 in student debt, while Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) has seen a reduction in her law school loans but may still owe up to $50,000. In contrast, Rep. Jared Golden (R-Maine), who also held substantial student debt, reported paying off at least half of his balance.
Ocasio-Cortez's financial disclosures show less than $81,000 in total assets. She attended Boston University from August 2007 to May 2011, majoring in international relations and economics, before working as a bartender in Manhattan prior to her congressional career. Reports indicate that representatives for Ocasio-Cortez did not respond to a request for comment regarding her financial disclosures and debt.