NEW JERSEY — New Jersey has the ninth-highest student debt burden in the country, according to a new report released Thursday by the personal-finance website WalletHub.
The study, 2025’s States with the Most and Least Student Debt, found that the average student loan balance in New Jersey exceeds $39,000 per borrower. WalletHub compared all 50 states and the District of Columbia across 12 key metrics, including average student debt, unemployment rates among adults ages 25 to 34, and the share of borrowers with past-due loan balances.
Nationally, student loan debt remains a significant financial challenge, with experts noting its effects on everything from housing decisions to retirement savings.
Student Debt in New Jersey (1=Most; 25=Avg.):
- Overall Rank: 9th
- 6th – Avg. Student Debt
- 8th – Proportion of Students with Debt
- 5th – Unemployment Rate of Population Aged 25 to 34
- 14th – % of Student Loans Past Due or in Default
- 30th – Availability of Student Jobs
- 22nd – Availability of Paid Internships
- 22nd – Grant Growth
Here are the top 5 states with the most student debt:
- Mississippi
- New Hampshire
- Pennsylvania
- Delaware
- South Dakota
- Hawaii
- Utah
- California
- New Mexico
- Washington
The full report is available at WalletHub.com.
