Table of Contents
Student loan debt nationwide currently totals $1.813 trillion (including federal and private student loans) as of the second quarter of 2025, according to the Federal Reserve. Among the 50 U.S. states plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, the average federal student loan debt totals are $30.4 billion per state, according to the latest information from the Education Data Initiative (EDI).
Nearly 43 million borrowers in the U.S. have student loan debt. The average federal student loan debt balance per borrower is $39,075 while the total average balance (including private student loans) is estimated to be $42,673, according to EDI.
A recent report from EDI details the average student loan debt by state based on the average debt per borrower (based on federal student loans only) in each state. Overall, residents of the District of Columbia, have the highest student loan debt, averaging $54,561 per borrower. North Dakota residents’ have the lowest average student debt by state, with an average per borrower of $29,115.
Read on to learn more about the average student debt by state and how it may affect you.
Key Points
• Student loan debt in the U.S. increased over 500% from 2004 to 2023.
• Student loan debt is the second-largest source of household debt in the U.S., after mortgages.
• The highest average student loan debt per borrower in 2025 is $54,561 in the District of Columbia.
• North Dakota has the lowest average student loan debt per borrower in 2025 at $29,115.
• Regional differences in student loan debt are influenced by such factors as cost of living, population age, college tuition, and state grant programs.
National Overview of Student Loan Debt Trends
In the last decade, student loan debt has grown faster than other sources of household debt. But not all average student debt by state is equal. Some areas of the country face higher amounts of student loan debt than others.
Rising Debt and Regional Differences
Between 2004 and 2023, student loan debt rose over 500%. It is now the second-largest source of household debt after mortgages, according to the Federal Reserve of St. Louis.
However, there are regional differences in student loan debt that can have an impact on the economy in that area. States with higher costs of living such as California and New York tend to have more student loan debt. Regions of the country with younger populations, such as Utah and Texas, may have higher average student loan debt by state because more people are college age and borrowing undergraduate student loans. And the higher cost of tuition of colleges in certain regions, such as Vermont, Connecticut, and New Hampshire, can correlate to higher student loan debt in the region.
Overall, the Northeast has the highest amount of median student loan debt, while the South and West have the least, based on the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Recommended: How Do Student Loans Work?
💡 Quick Tip: Often, the main goal of refinancing is to lower the interest rate on your student loans — federal and/or private — by taking out one loan with a new rate to replace your existing loans. Refinancing may make sense if you qualify for a lower rate and you don’t plan to use federal repayment programs or protections. Note that refinancing with a longer term can increase your total interest charges.
Student Loan Debt in Each State
For an overview of what the average student loan debt by state looks like across the country, here’s a state-by-state guide, according to the Education Data Initiative.
Note that this information is for federal student loan debt only; private student loans, which represent 8.43% of all student debt, are not reflected.
Alabama
Average borrower debt: $37,819
Total student loan debt: $24.9 billion
Everything you need to know about student loans & scholarships in Alabama
Alaska
Average borrower debt: $35,874
Total student loan debt: $2.4 billion
Everything you need to know about student loans & scholarships in Alaska
Arizona
Average borrower debt: $35,792
Total student loan debt: $32.9 billion
Everything you need to know about student loans & scholarships in Arizona
Arkansas
Average borrower debt: $34,024
Total student loan debt: $13.8 billion
Everything you need to know about student loans & scholarships in Arkansas
California
Average borrower debt: $38,300
Total student loan debt: $151.5 billion
Everything you need to know about student loans & scholarships in California
Colorado
Average borrower debt: $37,393
Total student loan debt: $29.2 billion
Everything you need to know about student loans & scholarships in Colorado
Connecticut
Average borrower debt: $36,837
Total student loan debt: $19.1 billion
Everything you need to know about student loans & scholarships in Connecticut
Delaware
Average borrower debt: $38,856
Total student loan debt: $5.3 billion
Everything you need to know about student loans & scholarships in Delaware
District of Columbia
Average borrower debt: $54,561
Total student loan debt: $6.4 billion
Everything you need to know about student loans & scholarships in Washington D.C.
Florida
Average borrower debt: $39,574
Total student loan debt: $108.1 billion
Everything you need to know about student loans & scholarships in Florida
Georgia
Average borrower debt: $42,226
Total student loan debt: $71.7 billion
Everything you need to know about student loans & scholarships in Georgia
Hawaii
Average borrower debt: $38,929
Total student loan debt: $4.8 billion
Everything you need to know about student loans & scholarships in Hawaii
Idaho
Average borrower debt: $33,621
Total student loan debt: $7.4 billion
Everything you need to know about student loans & scholarships in Idaho
Illinois
Average borrower debt: $39,042
Total student loan debt: $63.4 billion
Everything you need to know about student loans & scholarships in Illinois
Indiana
Average borrower debt: $33,234
Total student loan debt: $30.1 billion
Everything you need to know about student loans & scholarships in Indiana
Iowa
Average borrower debt: $30,698
Total student loan debt: $13.2 billion
Everything you need to know about student loans & scholarships in Iowa
Kansas
Average borrower debt: $33,031
Total student loan debt: $12.7 billion
Everything you need to know about student loans & scholarships in Kansas
Kentucky
Average borrower debt: $33,691
Total student loan debt: $20.7 billion
Everything you need to know about student loans & scholarships in Kentucky
Louisiana
Average borrower debt: $34,821
Total student loan debt: $23.8 billion
Everything you need to know about student loans & scholarships in Louisiana
Maine
Average borrower debt: $34,355
Total student loan debt: $6.5 billion
Everything you need to know about student loans & scholarships in Maine
Maryland
Average borrower debt: $43,781
Total student loan debt: $37.1 billion
Everything you need to know about student loans & scholarships in Maryland
Massachusetts
Average borrower debt: $35,400
Total student loan debt: $32.6 billion
Everything you need to know about student loans & scholarships in Massachusetts
Michigan
Average borrower debt: $36,973
Total student loan debt: $51.6 billion
Everything you need to know about student loans & scholarships in Michigan
Minnesota
Average borrower debt: $34,163
Total student loan debt: $26.9 billion
Everything you need to know about student loans & scholarships in Minnesota
Mississippi
Average borrower debt: $37,552
Total student loan debt: $17.0 billion
Everything you need to know about student loans & scholarships in Mississippi
Missouri
Average borrower debt: $35,650
Total student loan debt: $29.7 billion
Everything you need to know about student loans & scholarships in Missouri
Montana
Average borrower debt: $33,215
Total student loan debt: $4.4 billion
Everything you need to know about student loans & scholarships in Montana
Nebraska
Average borrower debt: $32,206
Total student loan debt: $8.0 billion
Everything you need to know about student loans & scholarships in Nebraska
Nevada
Average borrower debt: $34,756
Total student loan debt: $12.7 billion
Everything you need to know about student loans & scholarships in Nevada
New Hampshire
Average borrower debt: $34,860
Total student loan debt: $6.7 billion
Everything you need to know about student loans & scholarships in New Hampshire
New Jersey
Average borrower debt: $37,287
Total student loan debt: $46.5 billion
Everything you need to know about student loans & scholarships in New Jersey
New Mexico
Average borrower debt: $34,246
Total student loan debt: $7.8 billion
Everything you need to know about student loans & scholarships in New Mexico
New York
Average borrower debt: $38,751
Total student loan debt: $96.3 billion
Everything you need to know about student loans & scholarships in New York
North Carolina
Average borrower debt: $38,929
Total student loan debt: $53.5 billion
Everything you need to know about student loans & scholarships in North Carolina
North Dakota
Average borrower debt: $29,115
Total student loan debt: $2.6 billion
Everything you need to know about student loans & scholarships in North Dakota
Ohio
Average borrower debt: $35,072
Total student loan debt: $62.6 billion
Everything you need to know about student loans & scholarships in Ohio
Oklahoma
Average borrower debt: $32,245
Total student loan debt: $16.4 billion
Everything you need to know about student loans & scholarships in Oklahoma
Oregon
Average borrower debt: $38,036
Total student loan debt: $20.3 billion
Everything you need to know about student loans & scholarships in Oregon
Pennsylvania
Average borrower debt: $36,120
Total student loan debt: $67.4 billion
Everything you need to know about student loans & scholarships in Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Average borrower debt: $33,400
Total student loan debt: $5.0 billion
Everything you need to know about student loans & scholarships in Rhode Island
South Carolina
Average borrower debt: $38,715
Total student loan debt: $30.0 billion
Everything you need to know about student loans & scholarships in South Carolina
South Dakota
Average borrower debt: $31,171
Total student loan debt: $3.7 billion
Everything you need to know about student loans & scholarships in South Dakota
Tennessee
Average borrower debt: $37,054
Total student loan debt: $33.1 billion
Everything you need to know about student loans & scholarships in Tennessee
Texas
Average borrower debt: $33,770
Total student loan debt: $131.9 billion
Everything you need to know about student loans & scholarships in Texas
Utah
Average borrower debt: $33,872
Total student loan debt: $10.9 billion
Everything you need to know about student loans & scholarships in Utah
Vermont
Average borrower debt: $37,760
Total student loan debt: $2.9 billion
Everything you need to know about student loans & scholarships in Vermont
Virginia
Average borrower debt: $40,287
Total student loan debt: $44.3 billion
Everything you need to know about student loans & scholarships in Virginia
Washington
Average borrower debt: $36,709
Total student loan debt: $29.0 billion
Everything you need to know about student loans & scholarships in Washington
West Virginia
Average borrower debt: $32,343
Total student loan debt: $7.7 billion
Everything you need to know about student loans & scholarships in West Virginia
Wisconsin
Average borrower debt: $32,619
Total student loan debt: $23.6 billion
Everything you need to know about student loans & scholarships in Wisconsin
Wyoming
Average borrower debt: $30,631
Total student loan debt: $1.7 billion
Everything you need to know about student loans & scholarships in Wyoming
đź’ˇ Quick Tip: When rates are low, refinancing student loans could make a lot of sense. How much could you save? Find out using our student loan refi calculator.
How to Use This Data
For students who are preparing to go to college it’s helpful to know the amount of student loan debt they might be facing, based on the average student debt of residents in their state, as well as the state’s total student loan debt.
Planning for College Costs
As prospective students evaluate colleges they might attend, knowing a state’s total student loan debt can provide an idea of how affordable attending school in that state might be. For example, if a state’s student loan debt is high, that might signal higher tuition costs, less access to scholarships and grants, and students having to borrow more student loans in that state.
Conversely, states with a lower total student loan debt may have more generous state-specific financial aid programs or lower in-state tuition for residents. It’s also possible the residents of that state don’t have to borrow as much to attend college.
Either way, once you know a state’s student loan debt, as well as the average borrowers’ debt in that state, you can more thoroughly research the college costs in that area to get a sense of how much you might need to borrow in student loans — whether you are an undergrad or you’re looking to take out graduate student loans.
Understanding Local Economic Impacts
Student loan debt affects not only borrowers, but also local economies. The impact of student debt on the economy can be significant. For example, areas with higher student loan debt may have lower rates of homeownership because borrowers can’t afford downpayments. As a result, there may be a bigger demand for rentals, which can drive up the cost of rent for everyone, including college students.
Student loan debt can also reduce consumer spending, which can slow an area’s economic growth. It can also inhibit the area’s labor market and the wages employees earn. For students thinking about going to college in that area and getting a part-time job to help pay school costs, the vitality of local business and the opportunity for employment can be important considerations.
The Takeaway
The average amount of debt held by borrowers varies from state to state. Residents of the District of Columbia have the highest amount of debt, averaging $54,561 per borrower. North Dakota residents’ have the lowest student loan debt, with an average per borrower of $29,115. In fact, North Dakota is the only state where the average borrower owes less than $30,000.
For millions, student loans and student loan refinancing are a necessary part of paying for college. When federal aid and savings aren’t enough to pay for school, some borrowers turn to private student loans, which are available from banks, credit unions, and online lenders. While private lenders are not required to offer the same benefits or protections as federal student loans, they can be helpful for borrowers who have tapped other resources and are looking to fill in gaps in funding. And one thing to keep in mind is that a borrower can refinance these loans in the future, when they might qualify for a lower interest rate or more favorable terms.
If you’ve exhausted all federal student aid options, no-fee private student loans from SoFi can help you pay for school. The online application process is easy, and you can see rates and terms in just minutes. Repayment plans are flexible, so you can find an option that works for your financial plan and budget.
FAQ
What state has the highest average student loan debt?
The state with the highest amount of student loan debt is California, with a total student loan debt of $151.5 billion. However, the District of Columbia has the highest average student loan debt per borrower: $54,561.
What state has the lowest student loan debt?
The state with the lowest student loan debt is Wyoming, with a total student loan debt of $1.7 billion. The state of North Dakota has the lowest average student loan debt per borrower, which is $29,115.
Why does student loan debt vary so much by state?
Costs and population of states can affect student loan debt and cause it to vary from state to state. For instance, states with higher costs of living such as California and New York tend to also have more student loan debt. States with younger populations, such as Utah and Texas, may have higher debt because more people are college age and borrowing student loans. And the higher cost of college tuition in certain states, such as Vermont, Connecticut, and New Hampshire in New England, can correlate to higher student loan debt in the state.
How does the cost of college in each state affect student loan amounts?
States with public and private universities with higher tuition and fees tend to have higher student loan debt per borrower. And states with fewer state grant programs may also increase borrower’s reliance on student loans.
Can state-based loan forgiveness programs reduce debt burdens?
Yes, state-based student loan forgiveness programs can help reduce borrowers’ debt burdens. For some borrowers, these programs can help them reduce their debt or even eliminate it, depending on the program. Many states have programs for professions in high demand such as teachers, doctors and other healthcare workers, and those who work in public service. Not every state has these programs, but many do. Check with your state to see if there is a student loan forgiveness program you may be eligible for.
Photo credit: iStock/FangXiaNuo
SoFi Student Loan Refinance
Terms and conditions apply. SOFI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY OR DISCONTINUE PRODUCTS AND BENEFITS AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE. SoFi Private Student loans are subject to program terms and restrictions, such as completion of a loan application and self-certification form, verification of application information, the student's at least half-time enrollment in a degree program at a SoFi-participating school, and, if applicable, a co-signer. In addition, borrowers must be U.S. citizens or other eligible status, be residing in the U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, or American Samoa, and must meet SoFi’s underwriting requirements, including verification of sufficient income to support your ability to repay. Minimum loan amount is $1,000. See SoFi.com/eligibility for more information. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. SoFi reserves the right to modify eligibility criteria at any time. This information is subject to change. This information is current as of 4/22/2025 and is subject to change. SoFi Private Student loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. NMLS #696891 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org).
SoFi Loan Products
Terms and conditions apply. SoFi Refinance Student Loans are private loans. When you refinance federal loans with a SoFi loan, YOU FORFEIT YOUR ELIGIBILITY FOR ALL FEDERAL LOAN BENEFITS, including all flexible federal repayment and forgiveness options that are or may become available to federal student loan borrowers including, but not limited to: Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), Income-Based Repayment, Income-Contingent Repayment, extended repayment plans, PAYE or SAVE. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. Learn more at SoFi.com/eligibility. SoFi Refinance Student Loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. NMLS #696891 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org).
SoFi Private Student Loans
Please borrow responsibly. SoFi Private Student loans are not a substitute for federal loans, grants, and work-study programs. We encourage you to evaluate all your federal student aid options before you consider any private loans, including ours. Read our FAQs.
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.
Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.
Non affiliation: SoFi isn’t affiliated with any of the companies highlighted in this article.
Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.
Third Party Trademarks: Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Center for Financial Planning, Inc. owns and licenses the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®
SOSLR-Q325-022