Over the past decade, , 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, "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, but in some places graduates owe much more.
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 highest.
15. Wisconsin
Number of graduates with debt: 70 percent
Average debt: $29,460
14. Iowa
Number of graduates with debt: 66 percent
Average debt: $29,547
13. Maine
Number of graduates with debt: 63 percent
Average debt: $29,644
12. Mississippi
Number of graduates with debt: 62 percent
Average debt: $29,942
11. Michigan
Number of graduates with debt: 63 percent
Average debt: $30,045
10. New Jersey
Number of graduates with debt: 66 percent
Average debt: $30,104
9. Ohio
Number of graduates with debt: 66 percent
Average debt: $30,239
8. South Carolina
Number of graduates with debt: 60 percent
Average debt: $30,564
7. Massachusetts
Number of graduates with debt: 66 percent
Average debt: $31,466
6. Minnesota
Number of graduates with debt: 70 percent
Average debt: $31,526
5. Rhode Island
Number of graduates with debt: 64 percent
Average debt: $32,920
4. Delaware
Number of graduates with debt: 65 percent
Average debt: $33,849
3. Connecticut
Number of graduates with debt: 64 percent
Average debt: $34,773
2. Pennsylvania
Number of graduates with debt: 71 percent
Average debt: $34,798
1. New Hampshire
Number of graduates with debt: 76 percent
Average debt: $36,101
