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

Allana AkhtarJul 24, 2019, 18:00 IST

Occupy Wall Street demonstrators participating in a street-theater production wear signs around their neck representing their student debt during a protest against the rising national student debt in Union Square, in New York.Reuters/Andrew Burton

South Dakota, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia are the worst states for student loan debt, according to personal finance website WalletHub.
WalletHub determined the worst states for student debt by analyzing where students have the most debt and least job opportunities to help pay it off.
South Dakota, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia are the worst states for student loan debt.
Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The student loan crisis has become a nightmare for many Americans.

National student debt is now over $1.5 trillion, and many are struggling to pay off their loans.

Yet not all Americans suffer from the student debt crisis equally. Black families tend to have more debt than white ones, and the amount of debt you have could look different depending on which state you call home.

In fact, there are some states where it is harder to pay off student loans than others, according to personal finance website WalletHub. WalletHub determined the worst states for student loan deb, where students not only have hefty loans, but also where it's hard to find high-paying jobs and have high costs of living.

WalletHub weighted a total of 12 different data points, divided into two groups: how much student loan debt burdens residents, and the number of opportunities for finding a job after college. The site used data from places like the US Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the US Department of Education College Affordability & Transparency Center, and more.

Here are the 15 worst states for student loan debt.

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

15. Connecticut has the highest average student loan debt among all 50 states.

Overall score, based on the amount of student-loan debt and availability of jobs for postgraduates: 51.80

Rank among states with the highest student-loan debt: 11

Rank among states with high availability of jobs for postgraduates: 43

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

Cookies on the Business Insider India website