Forty-five million Americans collectively owe $1.7 trillion in student loan debt, and women hold nearly two-thirds of it. Black borrowers are the group most negatively affected by student loans, in large part because of systemic racism, the inequitable distribution of wealth, a stratified labor market, and rising college costs. Because Black women exist at the intersection of two marginalized identities and experience sexism and racism at the same time, they make less money and often need to borrow more to cover the cost of attendance, and struggle significantly with repayment. Drawing on data from federal sources and the National Black Student Debt Study, this brief paints a picture of how Black women experience student debt and how the existing repayment system often fails them. It is the first in a four-part series using qualitative data from the National Black Student Debt Study. The forthcoming briefs will cover income-driven repayment plans, the impact of student debt on mental health, and Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) loans. [For a comprehensive report based on the study, "Jim Crow Debt: How Black Borrowers Experience Student Loans," see ED617539.]