Special Report
States With the Most Student Debt
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Today’s graduating class will carry more debt than any other class in history. The average student loan debt at graduation rose from $18,550 in 2004 to $28,950 in 2014, a 56% increase, according to The Institute for College Access and Success. At the same time, the cost of tuition of a public four-year program at an in-state school rose 40% between 2005 to 2015 — less than the increase in loan debt.
According to the 10th annual “Student Debt and the Class of 2014,” published by The Institute for College Access and Success, the increase in student loan debts has varied considerably between states. Delaware’s average student loan debt increased by 129% in just 10 years, moving from seventh lowest in the nation in 2004 to the highest in 2014. 24/7 Wall St. reviewed all states to determine which had the highest amount of average student loan debt in 2014. Delaware had the highest average student loan debt at $33,808, while Utah had the lowest at $18,921.
While the national average student loan debt at graduation $28,950, the cost over the full term of the loan is much higher. Current federal loan interest rates range from 4.29% to 6.84%. At 5.0%, the $28,950 debt has a final cost, not including any fees, of $36,847 over a 10-year term — increasing the full cost by 27%.
Click here to see the states with the most student debt.
States with higher median household incomes tend to also have a higher average student loan debt. Of the 10 states with the highest average student loan debts, seven have median household incomes above the national average. Still, some states with similar student loan debts can have significantly different income levels, which can dramatically change how big the relative debt burden is.
Massachusetts and Alabama have nearly identical average student loan debts, at $29,391 and $29,425, respectively. However, the typical household in Massachusetts with a 25-44 year old head of household is $77,266 — $30,724 greater than the typical household in Alabama. So while the student loan debt is equal to 63% of the median yearly household income for in Alabama, it is only equal to 38% in of the income Massachusetts.
Using data from the report, “Student Debt and the Class of 2014” published by The Institute for College Access and Success, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed average student loan debt for new 2014 graduates in every state. TICAS also provided data on the average student loan debt in 2004. We also reviewed data on educational attainment and median household incomes from the U.S. Census Bureau. Median household income in all instances reflects households in which the head of household is a 25-44 years old. Interest rates Federal student loan interest rates are from Federal Student Aid, an Office of the U.S. Department of Education. North Dakota was excluded because there was not sufficient data available.
These are the states with the most and least student debt.
Source: Thinkstock
49. Utah
> Avg. student loan debt: $18,921
> Median household income 25-44 yr. old: $63,885 (17th highest)
> Student loan debt as pct. household income: 29.6% (2nd lowest)
> College attainment rate: 31.1% (15th highest)
Source: Thinkstock
48. New Mexico
> Avg. student loan debt: $18,969
> Median household income 25-44 yr. old: $46,241 (2nd lowest)
> Student loan debt as pct. household income: 41.0% (15th lowest)
> College attainment rate: 26.4% (13th lowest)
Source: Thinkstock
47. Nevada
> Avg. student loan debt: $20,211
> Median household income 25-44 yr. old: $53,772 (18th lowest)
> Student loan debt as pct. household income: 37.6% (10th lowest)
> College attainment rate: 23.1% (6th lowest)
Source: Thinkstock
46. California
> Avg. student loan debt: $21,382
> Median household income 25-44 yr. old: $65,279 (14th highest)
> Student loan debt as pct. household income: 32.8% (3rd lowest)
> College attainment rate: 31.7% (13th highest)
Source: Thinkstock
45. Arizona
> Avg. student loan debt: $22,609
> Median household income 25-44 yr. old: $54,097 (20th lowest)
> Student loan debt as pct. household income: 41.8% (16th lowest)
> College attainment rate: 27.6% (20th lowest)
Source: Thinkstock
44. Louisiana
> Avg. student loan debt: $23,025
> Median household income 25-44 yr. old: $50,489 (10th lowest)
> Student loan debt as pct. household income: 45.6% (23rd lowest)
> College attainment rate: 22.9% (5th lowest)
43. Oklahoma
> Avg. student loan debt: $23,430
> Median household income 25-44 yr. old: $52,491 (15th lowest)
> Student loan debt as pct. household income: 44.6% (20th lowest)
> College attainment rate: 24.2% (8th lowest)
Source: Thinkstock
42. Wyoming
> Avg. student loan debt: $23,708
> Median household income 25-44 yr. old: $65,231 (15th highest)
> Student loan debt as pct. household income: 36.3% (7th lowest)
> College attainment rate: 26.6% (15th lowest)
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Source: Thinkstock
41. Hawaii
> Avg. student loan debt: $24,554
> Median household income 25-44 yr. old: $70,761 (7th highest)
> Student loan debt as pct. household income: 34.7% (4th lowest)
> College attainment rate: 31.0% (16th highest)
Source: Thinkstock
40. Washington
> Avg. student loan debt: $24,804
> Median household income 25-44 yr. old: $66,336 (11th highest)
> Student loan debt as pct. household income: 37.4% (9th lowest)
> College attainment rate: 33.1% (11th highest)
Source: Thinkstock
39. Florida
> Avg. student loan debt: $24,947
> Median household income 25-44 yr. old: $50,523 (11th lowest)
> Student loan debt as pct. household income: 49.4% (19th highest)
> College attainment rate: 27.3% (16th lowest)
Source: Thinkstock
38. Colorado
> Avg. student loan debt: $25,064
> Median household income 25-44 yr. old: $65,913 (13th highest)
> Student loan debt as pct. household income: 38.0% (12th lowest)
> College attainment rate: 38.3% (2nd highest)
Source: Thinkstock
37. North Carolina
> Avg. student loan debt: $25,218
> Median household income 25-44 yr. old: $49,869 (8th lowest)
> Student loan debt as pct. household income: 50.6% (17th highest)
> College attainment rate: 28.7% (25th highest)
Source: Thinkstock
36. Arkansas
> Avg. student loan debt: $25,344
> Median household income 25-44 yr. old: $46,814 (4th lowest)
> Student loan debt as pct. household income: 54.1% (10th highest)
> College attainment rate: 21.4% (3rd lowest)
Source: Thinkstock
35. Tennessee
> Avg. student loan debt: $25,510
> Median household income 25-44 yr. old: $49,317 (7th lowest)
> Student loan debt as pct. household income: 51.7% (14th highest)
> College attainment rate: 25.3% (11th lowest)
Source: Thinkstock
34. Kansas
> Avg. student loan debt: $25,521
> Median household income 25-44 yr. old: $57,186 (25th lowest)
> Student loan debt as pct. household income: 44.6% (19th lowest)
> College attainment rate: 31.5% (14th highest)
Source: Thinkstock
33. Missouri
> Avg. student loan debt: $25,844
> Median household income 25-44 yr. old: $53,609 (17th lowest)
> Student loan debt as pct. household income: 48.2% (22nd highest)
> College attainment rate: 27.5% (19th lowest)
Source: Thinkstock
32. Kentucky
> Avg. student loan debt: $25,939
> Median household income 25-44 yr. old: $50,396 (9th lowest)
> Student loan debt as pct. household income: 51.5% (15th highest)
> College attainment rate: 22.2% (4th lowest)
Source: Thinkstock
31. South Dakota
> Avg. student loan debt: $26,023
> Median household income 25-44 yr. old: $57,732 (24th highest)
> Student loan debt as pct. household income: 45.1% (21st lowest)
> College attainment rate: 27.8% (23rd lowest)
Source: Thinkstock
30. Idaho
> Avg. student loan debt: $26,091
> Median household income 25-44 yr. old: $51,693 (13th lowest)
> Student loan debt as pct. household income: 50.5% (18th highest)
> College attainment rate: 25.0% (10th lowest)
Source: Thinkstock
29. Oregon
> Avg. student loan debt: $26,106
> Median household income 25-44 yr. old: $55,196 (22nd lowest)
> Student loan debt as pct. household income: 47.3% (23rd highest)
> College attainment rate: 30.8% (17th highest)
Source: Thinkstock
28. Mississippi
> Avg. student loan debt: $26,177
> Median household income 25-44 yr. old: $43,630 (the lowest)
> Student loan debt as pct. household income: 60.0% (2nd highest)
> College attainment rate: 21.1% (2nd lowest)
Source: Thinkstock
27. Texas
> Avg. student loan debt: $26,250
> Median household income 25-44 yr. old: $56,829 (24th lowest)
> Student loan debt as pct. household income: 46.2% (25th highest)
> College attainment rate: 27.8% (23rd lowest)
Source: Wikimedia Commons
26. Nebraska
> Avg. student loan debt: $26,278
> Median household income 25-44 yr. old: $57,385 (25th highest)
> Student loan debt as pct. household income: 45.8% (24th lowest)
> College attainment rate: 29.5% (20th highest)
Source: Thinkstock
25. Virginia
> Avg. student loan debt: $26,432
> Median household income 25-44 yr. old: $69,830 (8th highest)
> Student loan debt as pct. household income: 37.9% (11th lowest)
> College attainment rate: 36.7% (6th highest)
Source: Thinkstock
24. Georgia
> Avg. student loan debt: $26,518
> Median household income 25-44 yr. old: $50,875 (12th lowest)
> Student loan debt as pct. household income: 52.1% (12th highest)
> College attainment rate: 29.1% (23rd highest)
Source: Thinkstock
23. Alaska
> Avg. student loan debt: $26,742
> Median household income 25-44 yr. old: $75,947 (4th highest)
> Student loan debt as pct. household income: 35.2% (5th lowest)
> College attainment rate: 28.0% (24th lowest)
Source: Thinkstock
22. West Virginia
> Avg. student loan debt: $26,854
> Median household income 25-44 yr. old: $47,828 (5th lowest)
> Student loan debt as pct. household income: 56.1% (4th highest)
> College attainment rate: 19.2% (the lowest)
Source: Thinkstock
21. Montana
> Avg. student loan debt: $26,946
> Median household income 25-44 yr. old: $52,390 (14th lowest)
> Student loan debt as pct. household income: 51.4% (16th highest)
> College attainment rate: 29.3% (22nd highest)
Source: Thinkstock
20. Maryland
> Avg. student loan debt: $27,457
> Median household income 25-44 yr. old: $76,791 (2nd highest)
> Student loan debt as pct. household income: 35.8% (6th lowest)
> College attainment rate: 38.2% (3rd highest)
Source: Thinkstock
19. New York
> Avg. student loan debt: $27,822
> Median household income 25-44 yr. old: $65,922 (12th highest)
> Student loan debt as pct. household income: 42.2% (17th lowest)
> College attainment rate: 34.5% (9th highest)
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Source: Thinkstock
18. New Jersey
> Avg. student loan debt: $28,318
> Median household income 25-44 yr. old: $76,444 (3rd highest)
> Student loan debt as pct. household income: 37.0% (8th lowest)
> College attainment rate: 37.4% (5th highest)
Source: Thinkstock
17. Wisconsin
> Avg. student loan debt: $28,810
> Median household income 25-44 yr. old: $59,741 (23rd highest)
> Student loan debt as pct. household income: 48.2% (21st highest)
> College attainment rate: 28.4% (25th lowest)
Source: Thinkstock
16. Illinois
> Avg. student loan debt: $28,984
> Median household income 25-44 yr. old: $61,967 (19th highest)
> Student loan debt as pct. household income: 46.8% (24th highest)
> College attainment rate: 32.8% (12th highest)
Source: Thinkstock
15. Vermont
> Avg. student loan debt: $29,060
> Median household income 25-44 yr. old: $63,242 (18th highest)
> Student loan debt as pct. household income: 46.0% (25th lowest)
> College attainment rate: 34.9% (8th highest)
Source: Thinkstock
14. South Carolina
> Avg. student loan debt: $29,163
> Median household income 25-44 yr. old: $48,981 (6th lowest)
> Student loan debt as pct. household income: 59.5% (3rd highest)
> College attainment rate: 26.3% (12th lowest)
Source: Thinkstock
13. Indiana
> Avg. student loan debt: $29,222
> Median household income 25-44 yr. old: $53,252 (16th lowest)
> Student loan debt as pct. household income: 54.9% (6th highest)
> College attainment rate: 24.7% (9th lowest)
Source: Thinkstock
12. Ohio
> Avg. student loan debt: $29,353
> Median household income 25-44 yr. old: $54,070 (19th lowest)
> Student loan debt as pct. household income: 54.3% (9th highest)
> College attainment rate: 26.6% (15th lowest)
Source: Thinkstock
11. Massachusetts
> Avg. student loan debt: $29,391
> Median household income 25-44 yr. old: $77,266 (the highest)
> Student loan debt as pct. household income: 38.0% (13th lowest)
> College attainment rate: 41.2% (the highest)
Source: Thinkstock
10. Alabama
> Avg. student loan debt: $29,425
> Median household income 25-44 yr. old: $46,542 (3rd lowest)
> Student loan debt as pct. household income: 63.2% (the highest)
> College attainment rate: 23.5% (7th lowest)
Source: Thinkstock
9. Michigan
> Avg. student loan debt: $29,450
> Median household income 25-44 yr. old: $54,168 (21st lowest)
> Student loan debt as pct. household income: 54.4% (8th highest)
> College attainment rate: 27.4% (18th lowest)
Source: Thinkstock
8. Iowa
> Avg. student loan debt: $29,732
> Median household income 25-44 yr. old: $61,296 (20th highest)
> Student loan debt as pct. household income: 48.5% (20th highest)
> College attainment rate: 27.7% (21st lowest)
Source: Thinkstock
7. Connecticut
> Avg. student loan debt: $29,750
> Median household income 25-44 yr. old: $73,982 (6th highest)
> Student loan debt as pct. household income: 40.2% (14th lowest)
> College attainment rate: 38.0% (4th highest)
Source: Thinkstock
6. Maine
> Avg. student loan debt: $30,908
> Median household income 25-44 yr. old: $55,420 (23rd lowest)
> Student loan debt as pct. household income: 55.8% (5th highest)
> College attainment rate: 29.4% (21st highest)
Source: Thinkstock
5. Minnesota
> Avg. student loan debt: $31,579
> Median household income 25-44 yr. old: $69,296 (9th highest)
> Student loan debt as pct. household income: 45.6% (22nd lowest)
> College attainment rate: 34.3% (10th highest)
Source: Thinkstock
4. Rhode Island
> Avg. student loan debt: $31,841
> Median household income 25-44 yr. old: $59,873 (22nd highest)
> Student loan debt as pct. household income: 53.2% (11th highest)
> College attainment rate: 30.4% (19th highest)
Source: Thinkstock
3. Pennsylvania
> Avg. student loan debt: $33,264
> Median household income 25-44 yr. old: $60,743 (21st highest)
> Student loan debt as pct. household income: 54.8% (7th highest)
> College attainment rate: 29.0% (24th highest)
2. New Hampshire
> Avg. student loan debt: $33,410
> Median household income 25-44 yr. old: $75,603 (5th highest)
> Student loan debt as pct. household income: 44.2% (18th lowest)
> College attainment rate: 35.0% (7th highest)
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Source: Wikimedia Commons
1. Delaware
> Avg. student loan debt: $33,808
> Median household income 25-44 yr. old: $65,037 (16th highest)
> Student loan debt as pct. household income: 52.0% (13th highest)
> College attainment rate: 30.6% (18th highest)
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