Washington, D.C. has been called one of America's most college-educated cities. There may be a dark side to all of that higher education, however: It's also the place in the country with the most student debt.
In a state-by-state analysis the White House released on Tuesday, the Department of Education broke down which pockets of the U.S. carry the most and least outstanding debt. At an average of $40,855 per borrower, D.C. debtors' student loans are 140 percent higher than the national average of $28,400, and more than $10,000 more than what borrowers owe in Georgia, the state with the second most student debt.
Here are the 10 states with the most indebted students in ascending order:
10. New York
Average student debt load per person: $27,478
Number of borrowers: 2,821,000
Student loan default rate: 10.1 percent
Median household income: $51,554
8. Alabama
Average student debt load per person: $27,591
Number of borrowers: 591,000
Student loan default rate: 14.2 percent
Median household income: $43,196
7. Vermont
Average student debt load per person: $27,637
Number of borrowers: 96,000
Student loan default rate: 8.6 percent
Median household income: $54,982
6. Florida
Average student debt load per person: $27,907
Number of borrowers: 2,457,000
Student loan default rate: 15.4 percent
Median household income: $47,114
5. South Carolina
Average student debt load per person: $28,271
Number of borrowers: 649,000
Student loan default rate: 13.7 percent
Median household income: $43,437
4. Virginia
Average student debt load per person: $28,467
Number of borrowers: 1,058,000
Student loan default rate: 10.0 percent
Median household income: $66,015
3. Maryland
Average student debt load per person: $30,064
Number of borrowers: 829,000
Student loan default rate: 11.2 percent
Median household income: $69,826
2. Georgia
Average student debt load per person: $30,443
Number of borrowers: 1,454,000
Student loan default rate: 14.5 percent
Median household income: $47,958
1. Washington, D.C.
Average student debt load per person: $40,855
Number of borrowers: 140,000
Student loan default rate: 11.4 percent
Median household income: $61,365