Student Loan Debt by State

Over $32.4 billion dollars in student loan debt remained unpaid across U.S. states in 2025. Student loan debt can have a lasting impact on a household’s finances, just like the benefits of the right education and application can have a lasting impact on career and income. It’s important to weigh the costs and potential benefits, as the wrong educational investment can leave people carrying student debt for decades. Nationwide, an average of 12.55% of adults carry student loan debt, with an average balance of $36,733. In many cases, older debtors carry even more.

With this in mind, SmartAsset ranked the 50 states based on the average outstanding debt among its student loan recipients, including supplemental data such as the prevalence of student loan debt statewide and debt breakdown by age bracket.

Key Findings

The average student loan debt in Maryland is over $45,000. Maryland has the highest average student loan debt at $45,173 across 849,400 borrowers, or 13.6% of the population. Georgia has the second highest average at $43,276 across over 1.7 million borrowers, followed by Virginia with an average of $41,410 across 1.1 million borrowers.
Borrowers under 35 have the highest student loan debt in New York. While older cohorts tend to have the highest outstanding debt in Maryland, New Yorkers aged 24 and younger have the highest average of the cohort at $16,062; those aged 25 to 34 also rank first-in-class with an average student loan burden of $38,393.
In four states, more than 15% of the population has student loan debt. Just over 15.5% of the population in Mississippi carries an average $38,574 in student loan debt. Georgia ranks second in this metric as well at 15.4%. Louisiana (15.1%) and Ohio (15.1%) also have among the highest prevalence of outstanding student loans.
North Dakotans maintain the lowest student debts. The average outstanding student loan debt in the Peace Garden State comes in at $29,944 for 89,500 total borrowers. However, when examining propensity to take on student loan debt, the populations of Hawaii (8.5%); Alaska (8.9%); Utah (9.1%); Wyoming (9.4%); and Washington (9.9%) have the lowest rates of outstanding student loans.

Average Student Loan Debt by State

States are ranked based on the highest average student loan debt across all borrowers as of September 2025.

Maryland

Average balance for borrowers: $45,173
Total borrowers: 849,400
Population with student loan debt: 13.56%
Total outstanding (billions): $38.4
Average balance for borrower aged 24 and younger: $14,956
Average balance for borrower aged 25 to 34: $38,160
Average balance for borrower aged 35 to 49: $55,442
Average balance for borrower aged 50 to 61: $61,501
Average balance for borrowers 62 and older: $58,671

Georgia

Average balance for borrowers: $43,276
Total borrowers: 1,716,200
Population with student loan debt: 15.35%
Total outstanding (billions): $74.3
Average balance for borrower aged 24 and younger: $14,135
Average balance for borrower aged 25 to 34: $35,974
Average balance for borrower aged 35 to 49: $54,000
Average balance for borrower aged 50 to 61: $58,482
Average balance for borrowers 62 and older: $54,367

Virginia

Average balance for borrowers: $41,410
Total borrowers: 1,100,700
Population with student loan debt: 12.49%
Total outstanding (billions): $45.6
Average balance for borrower aged 24 and younger: $14,932
Average balance for borrower aged 25 to 34: $36,413
Average balance for borrower aged 35 to 49: $51,740
Average balance for borrower aged 50 to 61: $56,057
Average balance for borrowers 62 and older: $53,280

Florida

Average balance for borrowers: $40,697
Total borrowers: 2,761,900
Population with student loan debt: 11.82%
Total outstanding (billions): $112.4
Average balance for borrower aged 24 and younger: $14,376
Average balance for borrower aged 25 to 34: $35,928
Average balance for borrower aged 35 to 49: $48,575
Average balance for borrower aged 50 to 61: $49,226
Average balance for borrowers 62 and older: $47,583

Delaware

Average balance for borrowers: $40,290
Total borrowers: 138,000
Population with student loan debt: 13.12%
Total outstanding (billions): $5.6
Average balance for borrower aged 24 and younger: $15,451
Average balance for borrower aged 25 to 34: $33,941
Average balance for borrower aged 35 to 49: $48,815
Average balance for borrower aged 50 to 61: $57,868
Average balance for borrowers 62 and older: $57,303

Illinois

Average balance for borrowers: $40,243
Total borrowers: 1,622,400
Population with student loan debt: 12.76%
Total outstanding (billions): $65.3
Average balance for borrower aged 24 and younger: $15,016
Average balance for borrower aged 25 to 34: $36,805
Average balance for borrower aged 35 to 49: $49,863
Average balance for borrower aged 50 to 61: $54,702
Average balance for borrowers 62 and older: $50,731

New York

Average balance for borrowers: $40,207
Total borrowers: 2,477,900
Population with student loan debt: 12.47%
Total outstanding (billions): $99.6
Average balance for borrower aged 24 and younger: $16,062
Average balance for borrower aged 25 to 34: $38,393
Average balance for borrower aged 35 to 49: $49,566
Average balance for borrower aged 50 to 61: $52,912
Average balance for borrowers 62 and older: $50,086

North Carolina

Average balance for borrowers: $39,914
Total borrowers: 1,389,000
Population with student loan debt: 12.57%
Total outstanding (billions): $55.4
Average balance for borrower aged 24 and younger: $14,845
Average balance for borrower aged 25 to 34: $35,110
Average balance for borrower aged 35 to 49: $49,720
Average balance for borrower aged 50 to 61: $51,569
Average balance for borrowers 62 and older: $48,974

Hawaii

Average balance for borrowers: $39,788
Total borrowers: 122,900
Population with student loan debt: 8.50%
Total outstanding (billions): $4.9
Average balance for borrower aged 24 and younger: $13,514
Average balance for borrower aged 25 to 34: $31,496
Average balance for borrower aged 35 to 49: $49,618
Average balance for borrower aged 50 to 61: $56,180
Average balance for borrowers 62 and older: $53,261

South Carolina

Average balance for borrowers: $39,715
Total borrowers: 786,100
Population with student loan debt: 14.35%
Total outstanding (billions): $31.2
Average balance for borrower aged 24 and younger: $14,888
Average balance for borrower aged 25 to 34: $34,850
Average balance for borrower aged 35 to 49: $49,707
Average balance for borrower aged 50 to 61: $51,024
Average balance for borrowers 62 and older: $48,180

California

Average balance for borrowers: $39,503
Total borrowers: 3,971,900
Population with student loan debt: 10.07%
Total outstanding (billions): $156.9
Average balance for borrower aged 24 and younger: $13,184
Average balance for borrower aged 25 to 34: $35,006
Average balance for borrower aged 35 to 49: $49,685
Average balance for borrower aged 50 to 61: $50,725
Average balance for borrowers 62 and older: $46,577

Oregon

Average balance for borrowers: $39,147
Total borrowers: 529,800
Population with student loan debt: 12.40%
Total outstanding (billions): $20.7
Average balance for borrower aged 24 and younger: $12,671
Average balance for borrower aged 25 to 34: $32,717
Average balance for borrower aged 35 to 49: $47,650
Average balance for borrower aged 50 to 61: $48,022
Average balance for borrowers 62 and older: $45,697

New Jersey

Average balance for borrowers: $38,816
Total borrowers: 1,241,500
Population with student loan debt: 13.07%
Total outstanding (billions): $48.2
Average balance for borrower aged 24 and younger: $15,552
Average balance for borrower aged 25 to 34: $36,161
Average balance for borrower aged 35 to 49: $47,380
Average balance for borrower aged 50 to 61: $56,346
Average balance for borrowers 62 and older: $56,927

Alabama

Average balance for borrowers: $38,772
Total borrowers: 668,000
Population with student loan debt: 12.95%
Total outstanding (billions): $25.9
Average balance for borrower aged 24 and younger: $14,271
Average balance for borrower aged 25 to 34: $33,302
Average balance for borrower aged 35 to 49: $48,647
Average balance for borrower aged 50 to 61: $51,197
Average balance for borrowers 62 and older: $44,332

Vermont

Average balance for borrowers: $38,583
Total borrowers: 76,200
Population with student loan debt: 11.75%
Total outstanding (billions): $2.9
Average balance for borrower aged 24 and younger: $13,971
Average balance for borrower aged 25 to 34: $32,685
Average balance for borrower aged 35 to 49: $49,782
Average balance for borrower aged 50 to 61: $53,333
Average balance for borrowers 62 and older: $58,000

Mississippi

Average balance for borrowers: $38,574
Total borrowers: 457,300
Population with student loan debt: 15.54%
Total outstanding (billions): $17.6
Average balance for borrower aged 24 and younger: $13,333
Average balance for borrower aged 25 to 34: $31,699
Average balance for borrower aged 35 to 49: $49,171
Average balance for borrower aged 50 to 61: $50,523
Average balance for borrowers 62 and older: $43,310

Colorado

Average balance for borrowers: $38,387
Total borrowers: 777,600
Population with student loan debt: 13.05%
Total outstanding (billions): $29.9
Average balance for borrower aged 24 and younger: $12,929
Average balance for borrower aged 25 to 34: $32,506
Average balance for borrower aged 35 to 49: $47,392
Average balance for borrower aged 50 to 61: $51,810
Average balance for borrowers 62 and older: $50,000

Tennessee

Average balance for borrowers: $38,179
Total borrowers: 900,500
Population with student loan debt: 12.46%
Total outstanding (billions): $34.4
Average balance for borrower aged 24 and younger: $14,167
Average balance for borrower aged 25 to 34: $33,673
Average balance for borrower aged 35 to 49: $46,651
Average balance for borrower aged 50 to 61: $49,001
Average balance for borrowers 62 and older: $45,397

Michigan

Average balance for borrowers: $38,153
Total borrowers: 1,392,300
Population with student loan debt: 13.73%
Total outstanding (billions): $53.1
Average balance for borrower aged 24 and younger: $14,923
Average balance for borrower aged 25 to 34: $35,292
Average balance for borrower aged 35 to 49: $45,694
Average balance for borrower aged 50 to 61: $48,323
Average balance for borrowers 62 and older: $44,329

Connecticut

Average balance for borrowers: $38,002
Total borrowers: 520,500
Population with student loan debt: 14.16%
Total outstanding (billions): $19.8
Average balance for borrower aged 24 and younger: $15,661
Average balance for borrower aged 25 to 34: $34,831
Average balance for borrower aged 35 to 49: $45,511
Average balance for borrower aged 50 to 61: $53,971
Average balance for borrowers 62 and older: $57,910

Washington

Average balance for borrowers: $37,837
Total borrowers: 786,000
Population with student loan debt: 9.88%
Total outstanding (billions): $29.7
Average balance for borrower aged 24 and younger: $12,692
Average balance for borrower aged 25 to 34: $32,090
Average balance for borrower aged 35 to 49: $46,367
Average balance for borrower aged 50 to 61: $48,536
Average balance for borrowers 62 and older: $47,021

Pennsylvania

Average balance for borrowers: $37,190
Total borrowers: 1,871,200
Population with student loan debt: 14.31%
Total outstanding (billions): $69.6
Average balance for borrower aged 24 and younger: $15,713
Average balance for borrower aged 25 to 34: $34,615
Average balance for borrower aged 35 to 49: $46,000
Average balance for borrower aged 50 to 61: $50,968
Average balance for borrowers 62 and older: $50,376

Massachusetts

Average balance for borrowers: $36,762
Total borrowers: 912,900
Population with student loan debt: 12.79%
Total outstanding (billions): $33.6
Average balance for borrower aged 24 and younger: $16,002
Average balance for borrower aged 25 to 34: $35,625
Average balance for borrower aged 35 to 49: $45,881
Average balance for borrower aged 50 to 61: $51,582
Average balance for borrowers 62 and older: $54,959

Arizona

Average balance for borrowers: $36,650
Total borrowers: 923,600
Population with student loan debt: 12.18%
Total outstanding (billions): $33.9
Average balance for borrower aged 24 and younger: $12,446
Average balance for borrower aged 25 to 34: $31,269
Average balance for borrower aged 35 to 49: $44,695
Average balance for borrower aged 50 to 61: $46,647
Average balance for borrowers 62 and older: $43,710

Missouri

Average balance for borrowers: $36,618
Total borrowers: 835,100
Population with student loan debt: 13.37%
Total outstanding (billions): $30.6
Average balance for borrower aged 24 and younger: $14,261
Average balance for borrower aged 25 to 34: $31,982
Average balance for borrower aged 35 to 49: $44,304
Average balance for borrower aged 50 to 61: $47,893
Average balance for borrowers 62 and older: $43,436

Alaska

Average balance for borrowers: $36,474
Total borrowers: 65,800
Population with student loan debt: 8.89%
Total outstanding (billions): $2.4
Average balance for borrower aged 24 and younger: $10,606
Average balance for borrower aged 25 to 34: $28,910
Average balance for borrower aged 35 to 49: $44,141
Average balance for borrower aged 50 to 61: $48,276
Average balance for borrowers 62 and older: $44,737

New Hampshire

Average balance for borrowers: $36,088
Total borrowers: 191,200
Population with student loan debt: 13.57%
Total outstanding (billions): $6.9
Average balance for borrower aged 24 and younger: $15,556
Average balance for borrower aged 25 to 34: $30,689
Average balance for borrower aged 35 to 49: $44,727
Average balance for borrower aged 50 to 61: $53,712
Average balance for borrowers 62 and older: $57,143

Ohio

Average balance for borrowers: $35,913
Total borrowers: 1,788,200
Population with student loan debt: 15.05%
Total outstanding (billions): $64.2
Average balance for borrower aged 24 and younger: $14,386
Average balance for borrower aged 25 to 34: $31,747
Average balance for borrower aged 35 to 49: $43,194
Average balance for borrower aged 50 to 61: $47,228
Average balance for borrowers 62 and older: $44,866

Louisiana

Average balance for borrowers: $35,875
Total borrowers: 695,200
Population with student loan debt: 15.12%
Total outstanding (billions): $24.9
Average balance for borrower aged 24 and younger: $13,755
Average balance for borrower aged 25 to 34: $32,799
Average balance for borrower aged 35 to 49: $46,058
Average balance for borrower aged 50 to 61: $45,890
Average balance for borrowers 62 and older: $39,332

Nevada

Average balance for borrowers: $35,544
Total borrowers: 369,400
Population with student loan debt: 11.31%
Total outstanding (billions): $13.1
Average balance for borrower aged 24 and younger: $11,308
Average balance for borrower aged 25 to 34: $29,820
Average balance for borrower aged 35 to 49: $43,455
Average balance for borrower aged 50 to 61: $46,023
Average balance for borrowers 62 and older: $42,802

Maine

Average balance for borrowers: $35,510
Total borrowers: 188,400
Population with student loan debt: 13.41%
Total outstanding (billions): $6.7
Average balance for borrower aged 24 and younger: $14,879
Average balance for borrower aged 25 to 34: $31,481
Average balance for borrower aged 35 to 49: $43,186
Average balance for borrower aged 50 to 61: $45,726
Average balance for borrowers 62 and older: $50,000

New Mexico

Average balance for borrowers: $35,165
Total borrowers: 227,500
Population with student loan debt: 10.68%
Total outstanding (billions): $8.0
Average balance for borrower aged 24 and younger: $11,220
Average balance for borrower aged 25 to 34: $26,577
Average balance for borrower aged 35 to 49: $41,453
Average balance for borrower aged 50 to 61: $44,767
Average balance for borrowers 62 and older: $45,455

Minnesota

Average balance for borrowers: $35,141
Total borrowers: 785,400
Population with student loan debt: 13.56%
Total outstanding (billions): $27.6
Average balance for borrower aged 24 and younger: $14,045
Average balance for borrower aged 25 to 34: $31,492
Average balance for borrower aged 35 to 49: $45,096
Average balance for borrower aged 50 to 61: $48,309
Average balance for borrowers 62 and older: $45,977

Montana

Average balance for borrowers: $35,051
Total borrowers: 128,100
Population with student loan debt: 11.26%
Total outstanding (billions): $4.5
Average balance for borrower aged 24 and younger: $12,022
Average balance for borrower aged 25 to 34: $29,412
Average balance for borrower aged 35 to 49: $44,519
Average balance for borrower aged 50 to 61: $44,311
Average balance for borrowers 62 and older: $44,737

Arkansas

Average balance for borrowers: $35,049
Total borrowers: 410,000
Population with student loan debt: 13.28%
Total outstanding (billions): $14.4
Average balance for borrower aged 24 and younger: $13,379
Average balance for borrower aged 25 to 34: $30,076
Average balance for borrower aged 35 to 49: $43,607
Average balance for borrower aged 50 to 61: $45,173
Average balance for borrowers 62 and older: $40,758

Utah

Average balance for borrowers: $34,779
Total borrowers: 318,300
Population with student loan debt: 9.08%
Total outstanding (billions): $11.1
Average balance for borrower aged 24 and younger: $11,135
Average balance for borrower aged 25 to 34: $29,377
Average balance for borrower aged 35 to 49: $45,719
Average balance for borrower aged 50 to 61: $45,886
Average balance for borrowers 62 and older: $46,667

Kentucky

Average balance for borrowers: $34,678
Total borrowers: 619,700
Population with student loan debt: 13.51%
Total outstanding (billions): $21.5
Average balance for borrower aged 24 and younger: $13,937
Average balance for borrower aged 25 to 34: $32,002
Average balance for borrower aged 35 to 49: $41,754
Average balance for borrower aged 50 to 61: $42,453
Average balance for borrowers 62 and older: $38,380

Texas

Average balance for borrowers: $34,608
Total borrowers: 3,969,300
Population with student loan debt: 12.69%
Total outstanding (billions): $137.4
Average balance for borrower aged 24 and younger: $12,646
Average balance for borrower aged 25 to 34: $29,480
Average balance for borrower aged 35 to 49: $43,400
Average balance for borrower aged 50 to 61: $47,571
Average balance for borrowers 62 and older: $43,681

Rhode Island

Average balance for borrowers: $34,267
Total borrowers: 150,000
Population with student loan debt: 13.49%
Total outstanding (billions): $5.1
Average balance for borrower aged 24 and younger: $15,018
Average balance for borrower aged 25 to 34: $32,305
Average balance for borrower aged 35 to 49: $41,920
Average balance for borrower aged 50 to 61: $44,311
Average balance for borrowers 62 and older: $51,220

Idaho

Average balance for borrowers: $34,247
Total borrowers: 219,000
Population with student loan debt: 10.94%
Total outstanding (billions): $7.5
Average balance for borrower aged 24 and younger: $11,296
Average balance for borrower aged 25 to 34: $27,542
Average balance for borrower aged 35 to 49: $43,703
Average balance for borrower aged 50 to 61: $45,357
Average balance for borrowers 62 and older: $43,925

Indiana

Average balance for borrowers: $34,057
Total borrowers: 907,600
Population with student loan debt: 13.11%
Total outstanding (billions): $30.9
Average balance for borrower aged 24 and younger: $13,750
Average balance for borrower aged 25 to 34: $28,826
Average balance for borrower aged 35 to 49: $41,491
Average balance for borrower aged 50 to 61: $45,255
Average balance for borrowers 62 and older: $44,939

Kansas

Average balance for borrowers: $33,991
Total borrowers: 385,100
Population with student loan debt: 12.96%
Total outstanding (billions): $13.1
Average balance for borrower aged 24 and younger: $13,492
Average balance for borrower aged 25 to 34: $29,221
Average balance for borrower aged 35 to 49: $42,429
Average balance for borrower aged 50 to 61: $45,924
Average balance for borrowers 62 and older: $43,578

West Virginia

Average balance for borrowers: $33,536
Total borrowers: 230,500
Population with student loan debt: 13.02%
Total outstanding (billions): $7.7
Average balance for borrower aged 24 and younger: $14,024
Average balance for borrower aged 25 to 34: $30,769
Average balance for borrower aged 35 to 49: $40,423
Average balance for borrower aged 50 to 61: $40,673
Average balance for borrowers 62 and older: $38,136

Wisconsin

Average balance for borrowers: $33,343
Total borrowers: 720,700
Population with student loan debt: 12.09%
Total outstanding (billions): $24.0
Average balance for borrower aged 24 and younger: $13,926
Average balance for borrower aged 25 to 34: $30,490
Average balance for borrower aged 35 to 49: $41,645
Average balance for borrower aged 50 to 61: $45,238
Average balance for borrowers 62 and older: $43,260

Nebraska

Average balance for borrowers: $33,253
Total borrowers: 248,100
Population with student loan debt: 12.37%
Total outstanding (billions): $8.3
Average balance for borrower aged 24 and younger: $13,567
Average balance for borrower aged 25 to 34: $30,732
Average balance for borrower aged 35 to 49: $42,071
Average balance for borrower aged 50 to 61: $44,590
Average balance for borrowers 62 and older: $40,650

Oklahoma

Average balance for borrowers: $33,216
Total borrowers: 513,300
Population with student loan debt: 12.53%
Total outstanding (billions): $17.1
Average balance for borrower aged 24 and younger: $12,769
Average balance for borrower aged 25 to 34: $27,842
Average balance for borrower aged 35 to 49: $39,667
Average balance for borrower aged 50 to 61: $43,484
Average balance for borrowers 62 and older: $39,063

Wyoming

Average balance for borrowers: $31,949
Total borrowers: 55,400
Population with student loan debt: 9.43%
Total outstanding (billions): $1.8
Average balance for borrower aged 24 and younger: $11,392
Average balance for borrower aged 25 to 34: $26,471
Average balance for borrower aged 35 to 49: $38,806
Average balance for borrower aged 50 to 61: $43,243
Average balance for borrowers 62 and older: $43,333

South Dakota

Average balance for borrowers: $31,570
Total borrowers: 119,100
Population with student loan debt: 12.88%
Total outstanding (billions): $3.8
Average balance for borrower aged 24 and younger: $13,439
Average balance for borrower aged 25 to 34: $28,676
Average balance for borrower aged 35 to 49: $42,571
Average balance for borrower aged 50 to 61: $42,857
Average balance for borrowers 62 and older: $40,741

Iowa

Average balance for borrowers: $31,494
Total borrowers: 431,200
Population with student loan debt: 13.30%
Total outstanding (billions): $13.6
Average balance for borrower aged 24 and younger: $14,251
Average balance for borrower aged 25 to 34: $28,887
Average balance for borrower aged 35 to 49: $39,441
Average balance for borrower aged 50 to 61: $41,412
Average balance for borrowers 62 and older: $40,291

North Dakota

Average balance for borrowers: $29,944
Total borrowers: 89,500
Population with student loan debt: 11.24%
Total outstanding (billions): $2.7
Average balance for borrower aged 24 and younger: $13,684
Average balance for borrower aged 25 to 34: $27,439
Average balance for borrower aged 35 to 49: $40,299
Average balance for borrower aged 50 to 61: $40,506
Average balance for borrowers 62 and older: $40,000

Data and Methodology

Total outstanding loan balances include principal and interest as of September 30, 2025. Loan and borrower data comes from the Federal Student Loan Portfolio from the Federal Student Aid office. Population data for the states comes from the 1-Year American Community Survey (2024) from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Student Loan Debt by State – 2026 Study

Key Findings

Average Student Loan Debt by State

Data and Methodology

Questions about this study? Contact us at press@smartasset.com