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States with the Most and Least Student Debt (2026)
States with the highest student debt carry far larger balances than the lowest-burden states, a WalletHub analysis found.
- WalletHub's new analysis identified significant state-by-state gaps in student debt burdens, comparing all 50 states and the District of Columbia across 12 key measures of indebtedness and economic opportunity.
- Nationwide, outstanding student loan balances exceeded $1.72 trillion by mid-2026, affecting 42.6 million Americans; federal student loan interest rates recently hit a 12-year high, making borrowing more expensive.
- Mississippi residents carry debt exceeding 54% of median income—the highest nationwide—while Delaware borrowers face nearly $40,000 in average debt. Roughly 9.5 million federal borrowers remain more than nine months behind on payments.
- Millions of federal borrowers face an upcoming repayment transition deadline as they exit the Biden administration's SAVE plan; servicers began sending notices on July 1, giving borrowers 90 days to select new options.
- Large student loan balances delay major financial decisions like home purchases and limit broader economic activity, according to Dina El-Mahdy, a professor of accounting at Morgan State University's Earl G. Graves School of Business and Management.
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14 Articles
California Among States With Lowest Student Debt Burdens, New Study Finds
California has featured among the states with the lowest student debt in a new nationwide study. The Golden State ranked 49th among all 50 states and Washington, D.C., in a […] The post California Among States With Lowest Student Debt Burdens, New Study Finds appeared first on edhat.
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States with the Most and Least Student Debt (2026)
Student debt is a major financial burden in America. Aside from mortgages, student loans represent the largest share of household debt, and the total continues to rise. At the end of the second quarter of 2026, outstanding student loan balances…
Coverage Details
Total News Sources14
Leaning Left0Leaning Right1Center10Last UpdatedBias Distribution91% Center
Bias Distribution
- 91% of the sources are Center
91% Center
C 91%
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