For millions of Americans, the cost of a college education doesn’t end after graduation.
As of June 30, 42.3 million people held more than $1.72 trillion in outstanding federal student loans, according to the Department of Education.
With the yearly sticker cost of attending some colleges surpassing the six-figure mark, many students and families turn to loans that can take years — or even decades — to repay.
Across the country, federal student loan borrowers carry an estimated average balance of $40,768 according to Business Insider’s analysis of the latest federal portfolio data released by the Department of Education.
The Department of Education reports the total outstanding federal loan balances and the number of borrowers by their current state of residence. Business Insider reviewed the department’s latest release and ranked all 50 US states by the average balance owed by borrowers living in each state.
While the federal data doesn’t reflect the colleges borrowers attended, where they took out their loans, or how much students currently borrow, it shows where borrowers live now and how the federal student loan portfolio is spread across the nation.
See how every state compares — and where borrowers owe the most on average.
50. North Dakota
Balance: $2.7 billion
Borrowers: 88,400
Estimated average balance per borrower: $30,543
49. South Dakota
Balance: $3.7 billion
Borrowers: 116,700
Estimated average balance per borrower: $31,705
48. Iowa
Balance: $13.5 billion
Borrowers: 423,400
Estimated average balance per borrower: $31,885
47. Wyoming
Balance: $1.8 billion
Borrowers: 54,800
Estimated average balance per borrower: $32,847
46. Oklahoma
Balance: $17.1 billion
Borrowers: 510,700
Estimated average balance per borrower: $33,483
45. Nebraska
Balance: $8.2 billion
Borrowers: 243,500
Estimated average balance per borrower: $33,676
44. West Virginia
Balance: $7.7 billion
Borrowers: 228,300
Estimated average balance per borrower: $33,728
43. Wisconsin
Balance: $24.0 billion
Borrowers: 709,100
Estimated average balance per borrower: $33,846
42. Rhode Island
State total balance: $5.1 billions
Borrowers: 149,700
Estimated average balance per borrower: $34,068
41. Indiana
Balance: $31.0 billions
Borrowers: 898,500
Estimated average balance per borrower: $34,502
40. Kansas
Balance: $13.1 billion
Borrowers: 379,300
Estimated average balance per borrower: $34,537
39. Idaho
Balance: $7.5 billion
Borrowers: 216,500
Estimated average balance per borrower: $34,642
38. Texas
Balance: $138.3 billion
Borrowers: 3,949,800
Estimated average balance per borrower: $35,014
37. Kentucky
Balance: $21.6 billion
Borrowers: 615,600
Estimated average balance per borrower: $35,088
36. New Mexico
Balance: $8.0 billion
Borrowers: 226,000
Estimated average balance per borrower: $35,398
35. Utah
Balance: $11.1 billion
Borrowers: 313,300
Estimated average balance per borrower: $35,429
34. Arkansas
Balance: $14.5 billion
Borrowers: 408,400
Estimated average balance per borrower: $35,504
33. Minnesota
Balance: $27.5 billion
Borrowers: 772,600
Estimated average balance per borrower: $35,594
32. Montana
Balance: $4.5 billions
Borrowers: 126,400
Estimated average balance per borrower: $35,601
31. Nevada
Balance: $13.2 billion
Borrowers: 367,900
Estimated average balance per borrower: $35,879
30. Maine
Balance: $6.7 billions
Borrowers: 186,600
Estimated average balance per borrower: $35,906
29. Louisiana
Balance: $25.1 billions
Borrowers: 694,000
Estimated average balance per borrower: $36,167
28. New Hampshire
Balance: $6.8 billion
Borrowers: 187,700
Estimated average balance per borrower: $36,228
27. Ohio
Balance: $64.3 billion
Borrowers: 1,770,800
Estimated average balance per borrower: $36,311
26. Missouri
Balance: $30.6 billion
Borrowers: 826,500
Estimated average balance per borrower: $37,024
25. Massachusetts
Balance: $33.4 billion
Borrowers: 900,600
Estimated average balance per borrower: $37,086
24. Arizona
Balance: $34.0 billion
Borrowers: 916,100
Estimated average balance per borrower: $37,114
23. Alaska
Balance: $2.4 billion
Borrowers: 64,500
Estimated average balance per borrower: $37,209
22. Pennsylvania
Balance: $69.6 billion
Borrowers: 1,853,900
Estimated average balance per borrower: $37,542
21. Washington
Balance: $29.6 billion
Borrowers: 776,100
Estimated average balance per borrower: $38,139
20. Connecticut
Balance: $19.8 billion
Borrowers: 515,400
Estimated average balance per borrower: $38,417
19. Michigan
Balance: $53.2 billion
Borrowers: 1,377,300
Estimated average balance per borrower: $38,626
18. Tennessee
Balance: $34.6 billion
Borrowers: 894,900
Estimated average balance per borrower: $38,664
17. Vermont
Balance: $2.9 billion
Borrowers: 74,800
Estimated average balance per borrower: $38,770
16. Colorado
Balance: $29.7 billion
Borrowers: 764,600
Estimated average balance per borrower: $38,844
15. Mississippi
Balance: $17.8 billions
Borrowers: 456,300
Estimated average balance per borrower: $39,009
14. Alabama
Balance: $26.0 billion
Borrowers: 664,000
Estimated average balance per borrower: $39,157
13. New Jersey
Balance: $48.4 billion
Borrowers: 1,235,500
Estimated average balance per borrower: $39,174
12. Oregon
Balance: $20.8 billion
Borrowers: 526,600
Estimated average balance per borrower: $39,499
11. California
Balance: $156.7 billion
Borrowers: 3,919,500
Estimated average balance per borrower: $39,980
10. South Carolina
Balance: $31.4 billion
Borrowers: 782,300
Estimated average balance per borrower: $40,138
9. North Carolina
Balance: $55.8 billion
Borrowers: 1,379,300
Estimated average balance per borrower: $40,455
8. Hawaii
Balance: $4.9 billion
Borrowers: 121,000
Estimated average balance per borrower: $40,496
7. Delaware
Balance: $5.6 billion
Borrowers: 137,800
Estimated average balance per borrower: $40,639
6. New York
Balance: $99.9 billion
Borrowers: 2,456,600
Estimated average balance per borrower: $40,666
5. Illinois
Balance: $65.3 billion
Borrowers: 1,601,500
Estimated average balance per borrower: $40,774
4. Florida
Balance: $113.1 billion
Borrowers: 2,747,700
Estimated average balance per borrower: $41,162
3. Virginia
Balance: $45.5 billion
Borrowers: 1,085,500
Estimated average balance per borrower: $41,916
2. Georgia
Balance: $74.6 billion
Borrowers: 1,702,700
Estimated average balance per borrower: $43,813
1. Maryland
Balance: $38.4 billion
Borrowers: 842,300
Estimated average balance per borrower: $45,589
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