The average college graduate leaves campus with more than $27,000 in debt, thanks to the soaring cost of tuition. Do you earn enough to help your kids avoid the student debt trap altogether?
According to personal finance site GOBankingRates, which calculated the income required to live comfortably in each U.S. state and send a kid to college without taking out loans, in some places you'd have to pull in six figures.
GOBankingRates looked at the average price of in-state tuition and fees at public institutions and calculated the cost of living in each state. The site also factored in what residents would spend on discretionary items and what they would direct toward savings, using the "50-30-20 rule" of personal finance — meaning 50 percent of income goes to necessities, 30 percent toward discretionary spending and 20 percent toward savings.
Keep in mind that this is the income required to send one kid to an in-state, public institution. Private universities tend to be more expensive and may require an even larger income.
These are the 10 states where you'd have to earn a lot to afford your child's higher education.
10. Oregon
Average in-state tuition and fees: $9,690
Income needed to send a kid to college: $85,762
9. New Jersey
Average in-state tuition and fees: $13,560
Income needed to send a kid to college: $86,820
8. Maryland
Average in-state tuition and fees: $9,370
Income needed to send a kid to college: $87,000
7. New Hampshire
Average in-state tuition and fees: $15,650
Income needed to send a kid to college: $87,334
6. New York
Average in-state tuition and fees: $7,710
Income needed to send a kid to college: $88,476
5. Connecticut
Average in-state tuition and fees: $11,730
Income needed to send a kid to college: $91,140
4. Colorado
Average in-state tuition and fees: $10,260
Income needed to send a kid to college: $91,700
3. Massachusetts
Average in-state tuition and fees: $12,280
Income needed to send a kid to college: $96,574
2. California
Average in-state tuition and fees: $9,350
Income needed to send a kid to college: $106,770
1. Hawaii
Average in-state tuition and fees: $10,670
Income needed to send a kid to college: $126,454
