Student Loan Debt by State: Where Borrowers Are Most Burdened

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Student loan debt in the United States now totals $1.863 trillion across 42.5 million borrowers, averaging over $39,000 each. But that average masks enormous variation by state. Where you live shapes how much you borrow, how fast you can pay it off, and how much of your paycheck disappears every month.

Student loan debt in the United States totals $1.863 trillion as of 2026, spread across 42.5 million borrowers. That works out to more than $39,000 per borrower on average, but depending on which state you live in, that number can look dramatically better or worse.

Which States Have the Highest Student Loan Debt

MD, DC, and GA consistently rank at the top for average borrower balances. Maryland borrowers carry average balances exceeding $43,000. Washington, D.C. borrowers top all 50 states and the District with averages above $55,000, driven by the high concentration of graduate and professional degree holders. Georgia sits in the top five nationally, with average balances around $42,500.

At the other end, North Dakota, Wyoming, and Utah report some of the lowest average balances, typically in the $28,000 to $31,000 range. Smaller public university systems, lower tuition costs at flagship schools, and higher rates of in-state attendance all contribute.

The gap between the highest and lowest states is more than $25,000 per borrower. That difference compounds over a 10-year repayment window into tens of thousands of dollars in additional interest.

How Many Borrowers Owe More Than $100,000

About 2.5 million borrowers nationally owe more than $100,000 in federal student loans. That group represents roughly 6% of all borrowers but holds a disproportionate share of the total debt load. Many are graduate and professional degree holders, which explains the concentration in states with major research universities and medical or law school programs.

States like California, New York, Texas, and Florida have the largest raw counts of six-figure borrowers simply because of population size. But adjusted for borrower population, Virginia, Maryland, and Massachusetts have the highest share of borrowers in the $100,000-plus tier.

For these borrowers, a standard 10-year repayment plan produces monthly payments that exceed $1,000 easily. A $70,000 federal loan balance at the current weighted average federal interest rate of roughly 6.5% produces a monthly payment of approximately $795 on a standard 10-year plan. At $100,000, that monthly obligation climbs to about $1,136.

Did Trump Forgive Student Loans

The short answer is no, not broadly. The Biden-era broad forgiveness programs were struck down by the Supreme Court in 2023, and the current administration has moved in the opposite direction. In 2026, the Trump administration has rolled back several income-driven repayment plan options, including the SAVE plan, which had offered lower monthly payments tied to discretionary income.

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program still exists, but processing has slowed significantly and eligibility disputes have increased. Borrowers who were counting on SAVE plan payments to build toward forgiveness are now in a legal and administrative gray zone, with many payments paused or reclassified.

The practical effect is that more borrowers face higher required monthly payments than they did two years ago, and the pathway to forgiveness through income-driven repayment is considerably narrower than it was in 2024.

Where Borrowers Feel It Most: State Income and Cost of Living

The raw debt balance only tells part of the story. What matters for daily financial survival is the ratio of debt to income and debt to cost of living.

A borrower in Mississippi carrying $35,000 in student debt earns a median household income of about $52,000 and faces lower housing costs, but also lower wage ceilings. A borrower in California with $45,000 in debt earns more on average, but faces median rents in major metros that exceed $2,200 per month. The math on discretionary income available for loan repayment is not obviously better in the high-cost state.

States with no income tax, like Texas and Florida, give borrowers an effective pay increase compared to high-tax states. A borrower in California earning $75,000 pays a marginal state income tax rate of 9.3% on income above $66,295. That same borrower in Texas keeps every dollar of state income. Over a 10-year repayment window, the tax savings in a zero-income-tax state can offset thousands in loan interest. Our post on the true cost of living in high-tax states breaks down exactly how much those differences add up to over time.

If you are weighing a move and student loan repayment is a factor, the state tax picture matters as much as the loan balance. Use our state comparison calculator to run your actual numbers across states. And if you are thinking long-term, the same tax dynamics that affect loan repayment affect retirement savings too, which is covered in our breakdown of best states for retirees to avoid taxes.

Key Takeaways

Total federal student loan debt stands at $1.863 trillion in 2026, averaging over $39,000 across 42.5 million borrowers.
Washington, D.C. borrowers carry the highest average balances at over $55,000; North Dakota and Wyoming borrowers average closer to $28,000 to $30,000.
A $70,000 loan at 6.5% costs roughly $795 per month on a standard 10-year plan, and broad federal forgiveness programs are no longer available under the current administration.

Compare your state's cost of living, tax burden, and income potential side by side at LiveOrDieHere.com to see where your student loan dollars stretch furthest.

Sources

Where to confirm these figures

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