The states where borrowers owe the most in federal student loans, ranked by average balance

Across the 50 states, federal student loan borrowers owe thousands on average. The total federal student loan portfolio now exceeds $1.72 trillion, with 42.3 million borrowers. Borrowers in Maryland owe an average of $45,589 — over $4,000 more than the national average. Texas has the highest number of borrowers, while California has the highest total balance. 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 Fargo, North Dakota. /iStockphoto Balance: $2.7 billion Borrowers: 88,400 Estimated average balance per borrower: $30,543 49. /iStockphoto Balance: $3.7 billion Borrowers: 116,700 Estimated average balance per borrower: $31,705 48. Iowa Des Moines, Iowa. Balance: $13.5 billion Borrowers: 423,400 Estimated average balance per borrower: $31,885 47. Wyoming Rock Springs, Wyoming. /iStockphoto Balance: $1.8 billion Borrowers: 54,800 Estimated average balance per borrower: $32,847 46. Oklahoma Tulsa, Oklahoma. /iStockphoto Balance: $17.1 billion Borrowers: 510,700 Estimated average balance per borrower: $33,483 45. Nebraska Omaha, /iStockphoto Balance: $8.2 billion Borrowers: 243,500 Estimated average balance per borrower: $33,676 44. West Virginia Wheeling Island, West Virgina. /iStockphoto Balance: $7.7 billion Borrowers: 228,300 Estimated average balance per borrower: $33,728 43. Wisconsin Milwaukee, Wisconsin. /iStockphoto Balance: $24.0 billion Borrowers: 709,100 Estimated average balance per borrower: $33,846 42. Rhode Island Providence, /iStockphoto State total balance: $5.1 billions Borrowers: 149,700 Estimated average balance per borrower: $34,068 41. Indiana Indianapolis, Indiana. /iStockphoto Balance: $31.0 billions Borrowers: 898,500 Estimated average balance per borrower: $34,502 40. Balance: $13.1 billion Borrowers: 379,300 Estimated average balance per borrower: $34,537 39. Idaho Boise, Balance: $7.5 billion Borrowers: 216,500 Estimated average balance per borrower: $34,642 38. Texas Dallas, /iStockphoto Balance: $138.3 billion Borrowers: 3,949,800 Estimated average balance per borrower: $35,014 37. Kentucky Lexington, Kentucky. Balance: $21.6 billion Borrowers: 615,600 Estimated average balance per borrower: $35,088 36. New Mexico Albuquerque, New Mexico. /iStockphoto Balance: $8.0 billion Borrowers: 226,000 Estimated average balance per borrower: $35,398 35. Utah Park City, Utah. Balance: $11.1 billion Borrowers: 313,300 Estimated average balance per borrower: $35,429 34. Arkansas Little Rock, Arkansas. Balance: $14.5 billion Borrowers: 408,400 Estimated average balance per borrower: $35,504 33. Minnesota Rochester, Minnesota. Balance: $27.5 billion Borrowers: 772,600 Estimated average balance per borrower: $35,594 32. Montana Helena, Montana. Balance: $4.5 billions Borrowers: 126,400 Estimated average balance per borrower: $35,601 31. Nevada Reno, Nevada. /iStockphoto Balance: $13.2 billion Borrowers: 367,900 Estimated average balance per borrower: $35,879 30. Maine Portland, Maine. /iStockphoto Balance: $6.7 billions Borrowers: 186,600 Estimated average balance per borrower: $35,906 29. Louisiana New Orleans, Louisiana. /iStockphoto Balance: $25.1 billions Borrowers: 694,000 Estimated average balance per borrower: $36,167 28. New Hampshire Manchester, New Hampshire. /iStockphoto Balance: $6.8 billion Borrowers: 187,700 Estimated average balance per borrower: $36,228 27. Ohio Cincinnati, Ohio. /iStockphoto Balance: $64.3 billion Borrowers: 1,770,800 Estimated average balance per borrower: $36,311 26. Missouri Kansas City, Missouri. Balance: $30.6 billion Borrowers: 826,500 Estimated average balance per borrower: $37,024 25. Massachusetts Boston, Massachusetts. /iStockphoto Balance: $33.4 billion Borrowers: 900,600 Estimated average balance per borrower: $37,086 24. Arizona Tucson, Arizona. Balance: $34.0 billion Borrowers: 916,100 Estimated average balance per borrower: $37,114 23. Alaska Anchorage, Alaska. /iStockphoto Balance: $2.4 billion Borrowers: 64,500 Estimated average balance per borrower: $37,209 22. Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. /iStockphoto Balance: $69.6 billion Borrowers: 1,853,900 Estimated average balance per borrower: $37,542 21. Washington Bellevue, Washington. Balance: $29.6 billion Borrowers: 776,100 Estimated average balance per borrower: $38,139 20. Connecticut Hartford, /iStockphoto Balance: $19.8 billion Borrowers: 515,400 Estimated average balance per borrower: $38,417 19. Michigan Lansing, Michigan. Balance: $53.2 billion Borrowers: 1,377,300 Estimated average balance per borrower: $38,626 18. Tennessee Nashville, Tennessee. /iStockphoto Balance: $34.6 billion Borrowers: 894,900 Estimated average balance per borrower: $38,664 17. Vermont Montpelier, Vermont. Balance: $2.9 billion Borrowers: 74,800 Estimated average balance per borrower: $38,770 16. Colorado Denver, Colorado. /iStockphoto Balance: $29.7 billion Borrowers: 764,600 Estimated average balance per borrower: $38,844 15. Mississippi Jackson, Balance: $17.8 billions Borrowers: 456,300 Estimated average balance per borrower: $39,009 14. Alabama Mobile, Balance: $26.0 billion Borrowers: 664,000 Estimated average balance per borrower: $39,157 13. New Jersey Newark, /iStockphoto Balance: $48.4 billion Borrowers: 1,235,500 Estimated average balance per borrower: $39,174 12. Oregon Portland, Oregon 4nadia/ Balance: $20.8 billion Borrowers: 526,600 Estimated average balance per borrower: $39,499 11. California San Francisco, Balance: $156.7 billion Borrowers: 3,919,500 Estimated average balance per borrower: $39,980 10. South Carolina Columbia, Balance: $31.4 billion Borrowers: 782,300 Estimated average balance per borrower: $40,138 9. North Carolina Charlotte, /iStockphoto Balance: $55.8 billion Borrowers: 1,379,300 Estimated average balance per borrower: $40,455 8. Hawaii Honolulu, /iStockphoto Balance: $4.9 billion Borrowers: 121,000 Estimated average balance per borrower: $40,496 7. /iStockphoto Balance: $5.6 billion Borrowers: 137,800 Estimated average balance per borrower: $40,639 6. New York New York City. Balance: $99.9 billion Borrowers: 2,456,600 Estimated average balance per borrower: $40,666 5. Illinois Chicago, /iStockphoto Balance: $65.3 billion Borrowers: 1,601,500 Estimated average balance per borrower: $40,774 4. Florida Miami, Balance: $113.1 billion Borrowers: 2,747,700 Estimated average balance per borrower: $41,162 3. /iStockphoto Balance: $45.5 billion Borrowers: 1,085,500 Estimated average balance per borrower: $41,916 2. Balance: $74.6 billion Borrowers: 1,702,700 Estimated average balance per borrower: $43,813 1. /iStockphoto Balance: $38.4 billion Borrowers: 842,300 Estimated average balance per borrower: $45,589 Read the original article on Business Insider

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