Student loan debt has grown 250% in the last 10 years—here's where grads owe the least

Over the past decade, student loan debt has skyrocketed, increasing by more than 250 percent across the U.S., according to a new report by consumer spending site ValuePenguin. That adds up to more than $1.4 trillion in collective debt.

The site reports that, "between 2004 and 2014, the U.S. saw an almost 90 percent increase in the number of student loan borrowers, in addition to a nearly 80 percent uptick in average balance size." The average amount of debt per borrower nationwide now is $26,700. In some places graduates owe much more — or less.

ValuePenguin ranked each state according to the average amount of debt per graduate using data from The Institute for College Access & Success. These are the 15 states where the average amount of student debt is the lowest.

Number of graduates with debt: 55 percent
Average debt: $26,171

Number of graduates with debt: 60 percent
Average debt: $26,083

Number of graduates with debt: 57 percent
Average debt: $26,082

Number of graduates with debt: 56 percent
Average debt: $25,840

Number of graduates with debt: 61 percent
Average debt: $25,645

Number of graduates with debt: 52 percent
Average debt: $24,849

Number of graduates with debt: 57 percent
Average debt: $24,600

Number of graduates with debt: 56 percent
Average debt: $23,780

Number of graduates with debt: 47 percent
Average debt: $23,462

Number of graduates with debt: 50 percent
Average debt: $23,456

Number of graduates with debt: 53 percent
Average debt: $23,379

Number of graduates with debt: 46 percent
Average debt: $22,683

Number of graduates with debt: 54 percent
Average debt: $22,191

Number of graduates with debt: 58 percent
Average debt: $20,193

Number of graduates with debt: 41 percent
Average debt: $18,873

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