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10 worst states for student loan debt

In order to identify the best and worst states for student-loan debtors, WalletHub, a personal finance site, compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia on nine key metrics, including “average student debt,” “unemployment rate for people aged 25 to 34” and “percentage of students with past-due loan balances” to average a state population's overall score.

In addition, student loan indebtedness was calculated using five of those metrics, including "student debt as a percentage of income" as well as the "percentage of student loans in past-due or default status."

Without further ado, here are the worst states in the nation for student debt.
1. Ohio.jpg
Flag of the US state of Ohio on a brushed metal backgound
Duncan Walker/Getty Images

Number 10: Ohio

Student loan indebtedness rank: 43
Overall score: 49.21
2. Mississippi.jpg
Flag of the US state of Mississippi on a brushed metal backgound
Duncan Walker/Getty Images

Number 9: Mississippi

Student loan indebtedness rank: 40
Overall score: 49.21
3. New Hampshire.jpg
Flag of the US state of New Hampshire on a brushed metal backgound
Duncan Walker/Getty Images

Number 8: New Hampshire

Student loan indebtedness rank: 47
Overall score: 47.61
4. South Carolina.jpg
Flag of the US state of South Carolina on a brushed metal backgound
Duncan Walker/Getty Images

Number 7: South Carolina

Student loan indebtedness rank: 44
Overall score: 47.14
5. Vermont.jpg
Flag of the US state of Vermont on a brushed metal backgound
Duncan Walker/Getty Images

Number 6: Vermont

Student loan indebtedness rank: 48
Overall score: 46.43
6. Pennsylvania.jpg
Flag of the US state of Pennsylvania on a brushed metal backgound
Duncan Walker/Getty Images

Number 5: Pennsylvania

Student loan indebtedness rank: 45
Overall score: 46.03
7. Maine.jpg
Flag of the US state of Maine on a brushed metal backgound
Duncan Walker/Getty Images

Number 4: Maine

Student loan indebtedness rank: 46
Overall score: 44.10
8. Oregon.jpg
Flag of the US state of Oregon on a brushed metal backgound
Duncan Walker/Getty Images

Number 3: Oregon

Student loan indebtedness rank: 50
Overall score: 42.95
9. West Virginia.jpg
Flag of the US state of West Virginia on a brushed metal backgound
Duncan Walker/Getty Images

Number 2: West Virginia

Student loan indebtedness rank: 49
Overall score: 39.37
10. DC.jpg
EPS 10 and JPEG
chokkicx/Getty Images

Number 1: District of Columbia

Student loan indebtedness rank: 51
Overall score: 36.71
Nick Otto
Former senior editor, Employee Benefit News
Student loan debt Financial wellness Financial stress Financial planning Recruiting College recruiting Employee communications Employee engagement
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