These are the 15 worst US states for paying off your student loans

14. New Jersey is among the states where students have the most difficulty paying off their loans.

Overall score, based on the amount of student-loan debt and availability of jobs for postgraduates: 52.44

Rank among states with the highest student-loan debt: 15

Rank among states with high availability of jobs for postgraduates: 28

13. Indiana ranked 29th in how many job opportunities the state has for graduates.

Overall score, based on the amount of student-loan debt and availability of jobs for postgraduates: 52.53

Rank among states with the highest student-loan debt: 14

Rank among states with high availability of jobs for postgraduates: 29

12. Kansas ranked 19th in how many job opportunities the state has for graduates.

Overall score, based on the amount of student-loan debt and availability of jobs for postgraduates: 52.94

Rank among states with the highest student-loan debt: 16

Rank among states with high availability of jobs for postgraduates: 19

11. Delaware has the fifth highest overall student debt among residents.

Overall score, based on the amount of student-loan debt and availability of jobs for postgraduates: 53.79

Rank among states with the highest student-loan debt: 10

Rank among states with high availability of jobs for postgraduates: 32

10. Rhode Island is the worst state for finding a job after graduation.

Overall score, based on the amount of student-loan debt and availability of jobs for postgraduates: 54.89

Rank among states with the highest student-loan debt: 7

Rank among states with high availability of jobs for postgraduates: 50

9. Michigan residents have among the highest amount of debt as a percentage of their overall income.

Overall score, based on the amount of student-loan debt and availability of jobs for postgraduates: 55.19

Rank among states with the highest student-loan debt: 12

Rank among states with high availability of jobs for postgraduates: 8

8. Ohio ranked 14th in how many job opportunities the state has for graduates.

Overall score, based on the amount of student-loan debt and availability of jobs for postgraduates: 58.67

Rank among states with the highest student-loan debt: 8

Rank among states with high availability of jobs for postgraduates: 14

7. Mississippi is the state with the highest percent of student-loan balances past due or in default.

Overall score, based on the amount of student-loan debt and availability of jobs for postgraduates: 59.56

Rank among states with the highest student-loan debt: 9

Rank among states with high availability of jobs for postgraduates: 2

6. Minnesota is among the states that have a higher proportion of people with student-loan debt.

Overall score, based on the amount of student-loan debt and availability of jobs for postgraduates: 60.46

Rank among states with the highest student-loan debt: 3

Rank among states with high availability of jobs for postgraduates: 45

5. Iowa has a relatively low unemployment rate for millennials compared to the other states with high student-loan debt.

Overall score, based on the amount of student-loan debt and availability of jobs for postgraduates: 61.01

Rank among states with the highest student-loan debt: 6

Rank among states with high availability of jobs for postgraduates: 16

4. New Hampshire has among the highest proportion of students who graduate with student-loan debt.

Overall score, based on the amount of student-loan debt and availability of jobs for postgraduates: 63.24

Rank among states with the highest student-loan debt: 2

Rank among states with high availability of jobs for postgraduates: 37

3. West Virginia has many opportunities for students to find work after college, yet still has a high overall debt amount.

Overall score, based on the amount of student-loan debt and availability of jobs for postgraduates: 63.41

Rank among states with the highest student-loan debt: 5

Rank among states with high availability of jobs for postgraduates: 1

2. Pennsylvania has the second highest overall student-loan debt among residents.

Overall score, based on the amount of student-loan debt and availability of jobs for postgraduates: 64.59

Rank among states with the highest student-loan debt: 4

Rank among states with high availability of jobs for postgraduates: 7

1. South Dakota is the state with the highest overall student-loan debt among its residents.

Overall score, based on the amount of student-loan debt and availability of jobs for post-graduates: 66.17

Rank among states with the highest student-loan debt: 1

Rank among states with high availability of jobs for postgraduates: 46