Loan size distribution

The average SBA loan is not a typical SBA loan

Distribution of 7(a) gross approvals, FY2021–FY2025.

The mean of $523,606 is 2.7 times the median of $195,000, because a small number of very large loans pull it upward. Nearly half of all 7(a) loans are $150,000 or less. Any figure quoting the “average SBA loan” overstates the typical borrower's experience substantially.

$195,000median 7(a) loan

$523,606mean — 2.7× the median

47.5%of loans are $150,000 or less

Source: Analysis of SBA 7(a) and 504 FOIA loan-level data (as of 31 March 2026). Cancelled and never-funded approvals excluded. Published by sba-feasibility-study.com.