A total of 47.9 million borrowers have student loan debt, with the average federal student loan debt at $37,574 per borrower and the average private student loan debt at $54,921 per borrower, according to the Education Data Initiative.
However, residents of some states have more debt, on average, than others. Scholaroo conducted a survey of 1,000 college students in the U.S. and collected data from public sources to determine the total cumulative loan amount in each of the 50 states, and the average amount of debt per borrower.
Here’s a look at the states with the least and highest amounts of student loan debt per borrower.
50. North Dakota
- Average student loan debt: $30,000
49. Iowa
- Average student loan debt: $31,000
48. Wyoming
- Average student loan debt: $31,000
47. South Dakota
- Average student loan debt: $32,000
46. Oklahoma
- Average student loan debt: $32,000
45. West Virginia
- Average student loan debt: $32,000
44. Wisconsin
- Average student loan debt: $32,000
43. Nebraska
- Average student loan debt: $32,000
42. Rhode Island
- Average student loan debt: $33,000
41. Utah
- Average student loan debt: $33,000
40. Idaho
- Average student loan debt: $33,000
39. Kentucky
- Average student loan debt: $33,000
38. Kansas
- Average student loan debt: $33,000
37. Indiana
- Average student loan debt: $33,000
36. Texas
- Average student loan debt: $33,000
35. Maine
- Average student loan debt: $33,000
34. Arkansas
- Average student loan debt: $34,000
33. Montana
- Average student loan debt: $34,000
32. Nevada
- Average student loan debt: $34,000
31. Minnesota
- Average student loan debt: $34,000
30. New Mexico
- Average student loan debt: $34,000
29. Alaska
- Average student loan debt: $34,000
28. New Hampshire
- Average student loan debt: $34,000
27. Massachusetts
- Average student loan debt: $35,000
26. Louisiana
- Average student loan debt: $35,000
25. Ohio
- Average student loan debt: $35,000
24. Connecticut
- Average student loan debt: $35,000
23. Arizona
- Average student loan debt: $35,000
22. Washington
- Average student loan debt: $36,000
21. Missouri
- Average student loan debt: $36,000
20. New Jersey
- Average student loan debt: $36,000
19. Pennsylvania
- Average student loan debt: $36,000
18. Michigan
- Average student loan debt: $36,000
17. Tennessee
- Average student loan debt: $37,000
16. Hawaii
- Average student loan debt: $37,000
15. California
- Average student loan debt: $37,000
14. Mississippi
- Average student loan debt: $37,000
13. Colorado
- Average student loan debt: $37,000
12. Oregon
- Average student loan debt: $37,000
11. Alabama
- Average student loan debt: $37,000
10. Delaware
- Average student loan debt: $38,000
9. Vermont
- Average student loan debt: $38,000
8. North Carolina
- Average student loan debt: $38,000
7. Illinois
- Average student loan debt: $38,000
6. New York
- Average student loan debt: $38,000
5. Florida
- Average student loan debt: $38,000
4. South Carolina
- Average student loan debt: $39,000
3. Virginia
- Average student loan debt: $39,000
2. Georgia
- Average student loan debt: $42,000
1. Maryland
- Average student loan debt: $43,000
All data is sourced from Scholaroo’s Student Loan Debt Index and is accurate as of March 8, 2023.
Photo Disclaimer: Please note photos are for representational purposes only.