At the end of the second quarter, the U.S. Department of Education reported that all outstanding college loan balances totaled a staggering $1.59 trillion, which averages out to $37,000 for each of the nation’s 42.9 million borrowers.
In a new study, WalletHub compared all 50 states and the District of Columbia for how much student debt was being carried by their residents.
WalletHub looked at average student debt; proportion of students with debt; student debt as a share of income; share of student loans in past-due or default status; and share of federal student loan borrowers enrolled in an income-driven repayment plan.
WalletHub also looked at other factors that influence residents' ability to pay off loans, including the unemployment rate among members of the population aged 25 to 34; the underemployment rate; the availability of student jobs; the availability of paid internships; grant growth; and whether the state has enacted a student loan ombudsman law.
Here, in ascending order, is WalletHub's list of the 10 states with the most student debt:
10. Ohio
Ohio ranks 19th in student loan indebtedness and a fourth in grant and student work opportunities.
9. Wisconsin
Wisconsin ranks 13th in student loan indebtedness and 14th in grant and student work opportunities.
8. Michigan
Michigan is among a handful of states that permit cities, counties and other local government units to levy a local income tax—and many of them do, making it that much harder to pay off student debt there. Michigan ranks 18th in student loan indebtedness and third in grant and student work opportunities.
7. Delaware
Delaware ranks nineth in student loan indebtedness and 39th in grant and student work opportunities. T
6. North Dakota
North Dakota ranks sixth in student loan indebtedness and 43rd in grant and student work opportunities.
5. Mississippi
Mississippi ranks first for the highest student debt as a percentage of income, and fourth for the highest percentage of student loan balances past due or in default.
4. South Dakota
The Monument State does not levy personal or corporate income taxes, but plenty of its local municipalities do. South Dakota ranks first with New Hampshire for the highest proportion of students with debt; third in student loan indebtedness; and 42nd in grant and student work opportunities.
3. Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania ranks second with the highest average student debt; fourth in student loan indebtedness; and sixth in grant and student work opportunities. .
2. New Hampshire
New Hampshire ranks first in highest average debt; first with South Dakota in highest proportion of students with debt; first in student loan indebtedness; and 48th in grant and student work opportunities.
1. West Virginia
West Virginia ranks third with Maine for highest proportion of students with debt; third for highest student debt as a percentage of income; second for highest percentage of student loan balances past due or in default; second in student loan indebtedness; and fifth in grant and student work opportunities.
The full report can be viewed here.
