v3.26.1
Loans and Accrued Interest Receivable and Allowance for Loan Losses - Schedule of Loan Status and Delinquencies (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
Jun. 30, 2026
Mar. 31, 2026
Dec. 31, 2025
Jun. 30, 2025
Mar. 31, 2025
Dec. 31, 2024
Loans in repayment status:            
Accrued interest receivable $ 542,799   $ 528,936      
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      
Federally insured loans - Non-Nelnet Bank            
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]            
Loans in-school/grace/deferment $ 304,960   $ 336,749 $ 393,460    
Loans in-school/grace/deferment, percent 4.70%   4.50% 4.70%    
Loans in forbearance $ 504,082   $ 493,277 $ 555,469    
Loans in forbearance, percent 7.80%   6.60% 6.60%    
Loans in repayment status:            
Loans receivable, gross $ 6,493,397   $ 7,437,243 $ 8,367,085    
Total loans in repayment, percentage 100.00%   100.00% 100.00%    
Total loans in repayment $ 5,684,355   $ 6,607,217 $ 7,418,156    
Loans in repayment, percent 87.50%   88.90% 88.70%    
Total loans, percent 100.00%   100.00% 100.00%    
Accrued interest receivable $ 482,085   $ 506,943 $ 545,288    
Loan discount, net of unamortized premiums and deferred origination costs (26,000)   (23,513) (26,523)    
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 | Loans current            
Loans in repayment status:            
Loans receivable, gross $ 5,013,702   $ 5,701,660 $ 6,378,571    
Loans current, percentage 88.20%   86.30% 86.00%    
Federally insured loans - Non-Nelnet Bank | Loans delinquent 31-60 days            
Loans in repayment status:            
Loans receivable, gross $ 184,769   $ 234,259 $ 261,809    
Loans past due, percentage 3.20%   3.50% 3.50%    
Federally insured loans - Non-Nelnet Bank | Loans delinquent 61-90 days            
Loans in repayment status:            
Loans receivable, gross $ 126,576   $ 147,645 $ 175,562    
Loans past due, percentage 2.20%   2.20% 2.40%    
Federally insured loans - Non-Nelnet Bank | Loans delinquent 91-120 days            
Loans in repayment status:            
Loans receivable, gross $ 71,368   $ 94,765 $ 111,678    
Loans past due, percentage 1.30%   1.40% 1.50%    
Federally insured loans - Non-Nelnet Bank | Loans delinquent 121-270 days            
Loans in repayment status:            
Loans receivable, gross $ 190,828   $ 280,899 $ 360,754    
Loans past due, percentage 3.40%   4.30% 4.90%    
Federally insured loans - Non-Nelnet Bank | Loans delinquent 271 days or greater            
Loans in repayment status:            
Loans receivable, gross $ 97,112   $ 147,989 $ 129,782    
Loans past due, percentage 1.70%   2.30% 1.70%    
Private education loans - Non-Nelnet Bank            
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]            
Loans in-school/grace/deferment $ 2,852   $ 3,094 $ 4,433    
Loans in-school/grace/deferment, percent 2.30%   2.20% 2.80%    
Loans in forbearance $ 2,679   $ 3,049 $ 1,530    
Loans in forbearance, percent 2.20%   2.20% 1.00%    
Loans in repayment status:            
Loans receivable, gross $ 122,818   $ 139,209 $ 156,614    
Total loans in repayment, percentage 100.00%   100.00% 100.00%    
Total loans in repayment $ 117,287   $ 133,066 $ 150,651    
Loans in repayment, percent 95.50%   95.60% 96.20%    
Total loans, percent 100.00%   100.00% 100.00%    
Accrued interest receivable $ 1,062   $ 1,120 $ 1,299    
Loan discount, net of unamortized premiums and deferred origination costs (3,474)   (4,317) (5,162)    
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    
Private education loans - Non-Nelnet Bank | Loans current            
Loans in repayment status:            
Loans receivable, gross $ 114,669   $ 130,018 $ 147,690    
Loans current, percentage 97.80%   97.70% 98.00%    
Private education loans - Non-Nelnet Bank | Loans delinquent 31-60 days            
Loans in repayment status:            
Loans receivable, gross $ 858   $ 1,253 $ 1,246    
Loans past due, percentage 0.70%   0.90% 0.80%    
Private education loans - Non-Nelnet Bank | Loans delinquent 61-90 days            
Loans in repayment status:            
Loans receivable, gross $ 854   $ 515 $ 564    
Loans past due, percentage 0.70%   0.40% 0.40%    
Private education loans - Non-Nelnet Bank | Loans delinquent 91 days or greater            
Loans in repayment status:            
Loans receivable, gross $ 906   $ 1,280 $ 1,151    
Loans past due, percentage 0.80%   1.00% 0.80%    
Consumer loans and other financing receivables - Non-Nelnet Bank            
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]            
Loans in forbearance $ 1,489   $ 1,698 $ 1,355    
Loans in forbearance, percent 0.10%   0.20% 0.30%    
Loans in repayment status:            
Loans receivable, gross $ 1,213,556   $ 1,122,717 $ 411,470    
Total loans in repayment, percentage 100.00%   100.00% 100.00%    
Total loans in repayment $ 1,212,067   $ 1,121,019 $ 410,115    
Loans in repayment, percent 99.90%   99.80% 99.70%    
Total loans, percent 100.00%   100.00% 100.00%    
Accrued interest receivable $ 2,238   $ 1,497 $ 2,260    
Loan discount, net of unamortized premiums and deferred origination costs (20,524)   (17,845) (6,296)    
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    
Consumer loans and other financing receivables - Non-Nelnet Bank | Loans current            
Loans in repayment status:            
Loans receivable, gross $ 1,173,003   $ 1,085,883 $ 399,263    
Loans current, percentage 96.80%   96.90% 97.30%    
Consumer loans and other financing receivables - Non-Nelnet Bank | Loans delinquent 31-60 days            
Loans in repayment status:            
Loans receivable, gross $ 15,436   $ 13,723 $ 3,731    
Loans past due, percentage 1.30%   1.20% 0.90%    
Consumer loans and other financing receivables - Non-Nelnet Bank | Loans delinquent 61-90 days            
Loans in repayment status:            
Loans receivable, gross $ 11,384   $ 10,797 $ 3,096    
Loans past due, percentage 0.90%   1.00% 0.80%    
Consumer loans and other financing receivables - Non-Nelnet Bank | Loans delinquent 91 days or greater            
Loans in repayment status:            
Loans receivable, gross $ 12,244   $ 10,616 $ 4,025    
Loans past due, percentage 1.00%   0.90% 1.00%    
Federally insured loans - Nelnet Bank            
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]            
Loans in-school/grace/deferment $ 29,991   $ 6,162 $ 2,665    
Loans in-school/grace/deferment, percent 3.50%   3.60% 2.50%    
Loans in forbearance $ 43,723   $ 8,787 $ 5,550    
Loans in forbearance, percent 5.10%   5.10% 5.20%    
Loans in repayment status:            
Loans receivable, gross $ 853,341   $ 172,320 $ 106,555    
Total loans in repayment, percentage 100.00%   100.00% 100.00%    
Total loans in repayment $ 779,627   $ 157,371 $ 98,340    
Loans in repayment, percent 91.40%   91.30% 92.30%    
Total loans, percent 100.00%   100.00% 100.00%    
Accrued interest receivable $ 46,323   $ 10,939 $ 5,194    
Loan discount, net of unamortized premiums and deferred origination costs 6,174   910 1,221    
Allowance for loan losses (3,016)   (676) (355)    
Financing receivable, after allowance for credit loss 902,822   183,493 112,615    
Federally insured loans - Nelnet Bank | Loans current            
Loans in repayment status:            
Loans receivable, gross $ 713,274   $ 141,357 $ 88,408    
Loans current, percentage 91.50%   89.90% 89.90%    
Federally insured loans - Nelnet Bank | Loans delinquent 30-59 days            
Loans in repayment status:            
Loans receivable, gross $ 19,771   $ 5,686 $ 2,806    
Loans past due, percentage 2.50%   3.60% 2.90%    
Federally insured loans - Nelnet Bank | Loans delinquent 60-89 days            
Loans in repayment status:            
Loans receivable, gross $ 13,982   $ 2,703 $ 2,001    
Loans past due, percentage 1.80%   1.70% 2.00%    
Federally insured loans - Nelnet Bank | Financing receivables, 90-119 days past due            
Loans in repayment status:            
Loans receivable, gross $ 6,700   $ 980 $ 1,683    
Loans past due, percentage 0.90%   0.60% 1.70%    
Federally insured loans - Nelnet Bank | Financing receivables, 120-270 days past due            
Loans in repayment status:            
Loans receivable, gross $ 18,696   $ 4,844 $ 2,495    
Loans past due, percentage 2.40%   3.10% 2.50%    
Federally insured loans - Nelnet Bank | Loans delinquent 271 days or greater            
Loans in repayment status:            
Loans receivable, gross $ 7,204   $ 1,801 $ 947    
Loans past due, percentage 0.90%   1.10% 1.00%    
Private education loans - Nelnet Bank            
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]            
Loans in-school/grace/deferment $ 69,136   $ 56,667 $ 45,107    
Loans in-school/grace/deferment, percent 13.30%   10.90% 8.70%    
Loans in forbearance $ 1,342   $ 1,684 $ 1,926    
Loans in forbearance, percent 0.30%   0.30% 0.40%    
Loans in repayment status:            
Loans receivable, gross $ 521,159   $ 518,634 $ 516,663    
Total loans in repayment, percentage 100.00%   100.00% 100.00%    
Total loans in repayment $ 450,681   $ 460,283 $ 469,630    
Loans in repayment, percent 86.40%   88.80% 90.90%    
Total loans, percent 100.00%   100.00% 100.00%    
Accrued interest receivable $ 8,726   $ 6,599 $ 5,540    
Loan discount, net of unamortized premiums and deferred origination costs (3,567)   (5,686) (8,589)    
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    
Private education loans - Nelnet Bank | Loans current            
Loans in repayment status:            
Loans receivable, gross $ 443,365   $ 451,221 $ 460,426    
Loans current, percentage 98.30%   98.00% 98.00%    
Private education loans - Nelnet Bank | Loans delinquent 30-59 days            
Loans in repayment status:            
Loans receivable, gross $ 2,639   $ 4,001 $ 3,102    
Loans past due, percentage 0.60%   0.90% 0.70%    
Private education loans - Nelnet Bank | Loans delinquent 60-89 days            
Loans in repayment status:            
Loans receivable, gross $ 2,091   $ 2,327 $ 2,710    
Loans past due, percentage 0.50%   0.50% 0.60%    
Private education loans - Nelnet Bank | Loans delinquent 90 days or greater            
Loans in repayment status:            
Loans receivable, gross $ 2,586   $ 2,734 $ 3,392    
Loans past due, percentage 0.60%   0.60% 0.70%    
Consumer and other loans - Nelnet Bank            
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment [Line Items]            
Loans in-school/grace/deferment $ 9,911   $ 10,006 $ 8,538    
Loans in-school/grace/deferment, percent 3.70%   3.80% 4.20%    
Loans in repayment status:            
Loans receivable, gross $ 264,597   $ 266,608 $ 204,423    
Total loans in repayment, percentage 100.00%   100.00% 100.00%    
Total loans in repayment $ 254,686   $ 256,602 $ 195,885    
Loans in repayment, percent 96.30%   96.20% 95.80%    
Total loans, percent 100.00%   100.00% 100.00%    
Accrued interest receivable $ 2,365   $ 1,838 $ 1,346    
Loan discount, net of unamortized premiums and deferred origination costs 3,004   3,557 2,444    
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    
Consumer and other loans - Nelnet Bank | Loans current            
Loans in repayment status:            
Loans receivable, gross $ 252,216   $ 254,448 $ 194,507    
Loans current, percentage 99.00%   99.20% 99.30%    
Consumer and other loans - Nelnet Bank | Loans delinquent 30-59 days            
Loans in repayment status:            
Loans receivable, gross $ 985   $ 1,225 $ 1,001    
Loans past due, percentage 0.40%   0.50% 0.50%    
Consumer and other loans - Nelnet Bank | Loans delinquent 60-89 days            
Loans in repayment status:            
Loans receivable, gross $ 935   $ 560 $ 193    
Loans past due, percentage 0.40%   0.20% 0.10%    
Consumer and other loans - Nelnet Bank | Loans delinquent 90 days or greater            
Loans in repayment status:            
Loans receivable, gross $ 550   $ 369 $ 184    
Loans past due, percentage 0.20%   0.10% 0.10%