There are more than 42.3 million student loan borrowers who have a total of $1.81 trillion in student loan debt. Here is the average student loan debt balance by state.
While average balances across the United States hover in a range, Washington, D.C. has the highest average student loan debt, while North Dakota has the lowest average student loan debt.
Here’s a breakdown of average student loan debt by state in 2025. Be sure to check out all of our student loan debt statistics.
Fast facts about student loans nationwide
The descriptive statistics below reflect the situation of student loan borrowers across the United States through the third quarter of 2025. However, the delinquency facts in the table below are likely skewed by the repayment restart.
- Number of borrowers: 42.3 million
- Average debt balance:$20,281
- Average student debt balance:$39,375
- Number of borrowers with delinquent or non-performing loans: 5.4 million
- Percentage of student loan borrowers who have paid off their debt: 49%
- Estimated number of borrowers eligible for loan forgiveness: 33%
Note, due to the pandemic and all federal student loan payments being paused, the average student loan payment data is skewed. You can see average prior student loan repayments and average student loan debt by graduating class here.
Although debt levels continue to rise, some student loan borrowers are seeing their debt loads decline. Nearly half (49%) of all borrowers who took out loans to pay for their education have repaid the loans in full.
Student Loans by State Fast Facts
While nationwide debt statistics paint a troubling picture, actual debt burdens vary widely from state to state within a range of about $30,000.
While we would expect to see California have the highest number of borrowers, it is interesting to see some other data.
- Most borrowers: California (3.9 million)
- Least borrowers: Wyoming (54,800)
- Lowest average balance: North Dakota ($29,550)
- Highest average balance: Maryland ($45,020)*
*Washington, D.C. is a region, not a state, but its average student loan balance is $56,080.
Student loan debt by state breakdown
You can see a breakdown of your student loan debt status below by state.
state | Total borrowers | Average debt |
|---|---|---|
Alabama | 655,200 | $38,770 |
Alaska | 65,800 | $36,470 |
Arizona | 912,600 | $36,600 |
Arkansas | 404,500 | $34,500 |
ca | 3,918,800 | $39,430 |
Colorado | 769,600 | $38,330 |
Connecticut | 512,900 | $38,020 |
Delaware | 135,800 | $40,500 |
District of Columbia | 115,900 | $56,080 |
Florida | 2,731,100 | $40,460 |
Georgia | 1,689,000 | $43,160 |
Hawaii | 121,200 | $39,600 |
Idaho | 216,300 | $34,210 |
illinois | 1,600,500 | $40,240 |
Indiana | 895,400 | $34,060 |
yeah | 423,000 | $31,680 |
Kansas | 379,700 | $33,970 |
Kentucky | 611,100 | $34,690 |
Louisiana | 681,700 | $35,790 |
who | 187,100 | $35,280 |
Maryland | 839,700 | $45,020 |
Massachusetts | 902,800 | $36,660 |
Michigan | 1,379,000 | $38,070 |
Minnesota | 774,300 | $35,260 |
Mississippi | 450,700 | $38,380 |
Missouri | 824,200 | $36,640 |
Montana | 126,700 | $35,520 |
nebraska | 244000 | $33,610 |
Nevada | 364,400 | $35,400 |
New Hampshire | 188,700 | $36,040 |
New Jersey | 1,226,700 | $38,640 |
New Mexico | 226,100 | $34,940 |
New York | 2,451,100 | $40,020 |
North Carolina | 1,364,800 | $39,930 |
North Dakota | 88000 | $29,550 |
Ohio | 1,765,100 | $35,920 |
Oklahoma | 506,700 | $33,160 |
Oregon | 528000 | $39,020 |
Pennsylvania | 1,842,200 | $37,240 |
rhode island | 148,500 | $34,340 |
South Carolina | 771,600 | $39,660 |
South Dakota | 116,500 | $31,760 |
Tennessee | 888,800 | $38,030 |
Texas | 3,895,200 | $34,580 |
Utah | 314,500 | $34,660 |
Vermont | 75,200 | $38,560 |
Virginia | 1,086,600 | $41,320 |
Washington | 780,000 | $37,690 |
West Virginia | 227,300 | $33,440 |
wisconsin | 711000 | $33,470 |
Wyoming | 54800 | $31,020 |
“The Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2020 – May 2021,” Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, October 7, 2022, https://www.federalreserve.gov/publications/2021-Economy-well-being-of-us-households-in-2020-student-loans.htm
United States Government. “President Joe Biden announces $7.4 billion in student debt cancellation for 277,000 additional Americans, pursuing all available methods to cancel student debt” April 12, 2024, https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/04/12/president-joe-biden-anounces-7-4-billion-in-student-debt-cancellation-for-277000-more-americans-pursuing-every-path-available-to-cancel-student-debt/
Education Data Initiative, “Student Loan Debt by State,” May 13, 2024.
Editor: Ashley Barnett
Reviewed by: Robert Farrington
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