Average Student Debt By State (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Snapshot of 15 labeled rows from our College Scorecard–based extract for this topic. Values run from about 26,500 (NJ) to about 39,500 (NH). See the table for every row and the downloads for the full machine-readable file.
Key Facts
- 15 rows in the on-page table (same universe as the CSV download).
- Minimum observed value: 26,500 (NJ).
- Maximum observed value: 39,500 (NH).
- Source universe and cohort notes match our methodology and Scorecard refresh dated in the page header.
Download the data
Downloads reflect the processed dataset used to generate this page’s charts and tables.
At a glance
Largest values in this extract
Bar length scales to the maximum value among the top rows shown. For ratios where lower is better, read the table and methodology—high bars here still mean “larger number in the file,” not “better outcome.”
Bars show the five largest numeric values in the processed CSV for this page. Interpret direction (higher vs lower is better) using the column name and methodology links.
Full results
Every row in this dataset appears in the table below. Use the downloads for machine-readable JSON or CSV.
| label | Average Debt ($) |
|---|---|
| NH | 39500 |
| DE | 37500 |
| PA | 36500 |
| MN | 32000 |
| CT | 31500 |
| RI | 31000 |
| ME | 30500 |
| MA | 30000 |
| OH | 29500 |
| IA | 29000 |
| WI | 28500 |
| MI | 28000 |
| VT | 27500 |
| NY | 27000 |
| NJ | 26500 |
Analysis & insights
The table lists all 15 rows for Average Student Debt By State (2026 stats). Use the at-a-glance bars for a quick sense of spread; use the table when you need exact labels and every row in one view.
The largest values in this file include NH, DE, PA. Always pair headline numbers with the methodology page and with field definitions in College Scorecard ROI methodology before citing them in external work. Suppression rules and cohort windows can move medians when the Department refreshes underlying files.
FAQ
Student loans & borrowing
What is the difference between federal and private student loans?
Federal loans are originated under U.S. Department of Education programs with standardized repayment and hardship options. Private loans are credit-based contracts from banks or non-federal lenders with terms that vary by borrower.
Why is median loan debt different from total student debt outstanding?
Median debt describes a typical borrower balance in a cohort. Aggregate national debt sums dollars across every borrower—headlines often mix the two. Check whether a figure is “among borrowers” vs “all Americans.”
What do income-driven repayment and forgiveness programs change?
Income-driven plans tie monthly payments to earnings and can discharge remaining balances after qualifying payments. Policy details and eligibility change with federal rules—verify current law before citing dollar impacts.
How should I read default or delinquency rates?
Defaults occur after sustained non-payment past defined thresholds. Rates depend on the cohort tracked (e.g., borrowers who entered repayment in a given year). Compare cohorts and sectors rather than unrelated percentages.
Why might College Scorecard debt fields differ from survey headlines?
Scorecard emphasizes institution-reported borrowing among students who receive federal aid where fields exist. National surveys may include private borrowing or different populations—match population and year before contrasting numbers.
Using this page
What does this page cover on “Average Student Debt By State”?
Data and analysis for average student debt by state
Which sources power the numbers here?
Figures draw on College Scorecard, and Census ACS. Use Data Sources for exact tables, APIs, and methodology notes.
Why might these figures differ from another chart or headline?
If another outlet shows a different total, check whether the cohort (all borrowers vs undergraduates only), academic year, and data source match. Mixing definitions is the most common reason charts appear to conflict.
How often is this page updated?
We refresh when upstream federal releases change and the site rebuild ships new CSV/JSON extracts. The Last updated line points to the latest editorial pass on this HTML.
Data Sources
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and enrollment data
- Data year: 2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Census ACS - U.S. Census Bureau
- Demographic and workforce data
- Data year: 2023
- Source: census.gov