v3.26.1
Loans and Accrued Interest Receivable and Allowance for Loan Losses - Schedule of Loans Receivable and Accrued Interest Receivable (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
Jun. 30, 2026
Mar. 31, 2026
Dec. 31, 2025
Jun. 30, 2025
Mar. 31, 2025
Dec. 31, 2024
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]            
Accrued interest receivable $ 542,799   $ 528,936      
Loan discount and deferred lender fees, net of unamortized loan premiums and deferred origination costs (44,387)   (46,894)      
Allowance for loan losses (165,065) $ (155,191) (132,078) $ (125,349) $ (120,076) $ (114,890)
Financing receivable, after allowance for credit loss 9,802,215   10,006,695      
Non-Nelnet Bank loans            
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]            
Loans receivable, gross 7,829,771   8,699,169      
Allowance for loan losses (136,627)   (106,334)      
Federally insured loans - Non-Nelnet Bank            
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]            
Loans receivable, gross 6,493,397   7,437,243 8,367,085    
Accrued interest receivable 482,085   506,943 545,288    
Allowance for loan losses (38,173) (40,043) (42,080) (47,627) (48,906) (49,091)
Financing receivable, after allowance for credit loss 6,911,309   7,878,593 8,838,223    
Federally insured loans - Non-Nelnet Bank | Stafford and other            
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]            
Loans receivable, gross 1,744,658   1,772,172      
Federally insured loans - Non-Nelnet Bank | Consolidation            
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]            
Loans receivable, gross 4,748,739   5,665,071      
Private education loans - Non-Nelnet Bank            
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]            
Loans receivable, gross 122,818   139,209 156,614    
Accrued interest receivable 1,062   1,120 1,299    
Allowance for loan losses (6,239) (6,385) (6,894) (7,406) (10,394) (11,130)
Financing receivable, after allowance for credit loss 114,167   129,118 145,345    
Consumer loans and other financing receivables - Non-Nelnet Bank            
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]            
Loans receivable, gross 1,213,556   1,122,717 411,470    
Accrued interest receivable 2,238   1,497 2,260    
Allowance for loan losses (92,215) (79,593) (57,360) (48,028) (43,904) (38,468)
Financing receivable, after allowance for credit loss 1,103,055   1,049,009 359,406    
Pay later receivables - Non-Nelnet Bank            
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]            
Loans receivable, gross 699,800   744,200      
Pay later receivables - Non-Nelnet Bank | Student Loan, Federally Insured Loan Securitization            
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]            
Loans receivable, gross 716,300          
Nelnet Bank loans            
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]            
Loans receivable, gross 1,639,097   957,562      
Allowance for loan losses (28,438)   (25,744)      
Federally insured loans - Nelnet Bank            
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]            
Loans receivable, gross 853,341   172,320      
Allowance for loan losses (3,016) (1,725) (676) (355) (362) 0
Federally insured loans - Nelnet Bank | Stafford and other            
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]            
Loans receivable, gross 53,525   23,960      
Federally insured loans - Nelnet Bank | Consolidation            
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]            
Loans receivable, gross 799,816   148,360      
Private education loans - Nelnet Bank            
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]            
Loans receivable, gross 521,159   518,634 516,663    
Accrued interest receivable 8,726   6,599 5,540    
Allowance for loan losses (12,609) (13,182) (12,932) (12,360) (9,893) (10,086)
Financing receivable, after allowance for credit loss 513,709   506,615 501,254    
Consumer and other loans - Nelnet Bank            
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]            
Loans receivable, gross 264,597   266,608 204,423    
Accrued interest receivable 2,365   1,838 1,346    
Allowance for loan losses (12,813) $ (14,263) (12,136) (9,573) $ (6,617) $ (6,115)
Financing receivable, after allowance for credit loss $ 257,153   $ 259,867 $ 198,640