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Vermont has the highest median monthly student-loan payment among WalletHub users at $258, while Wyoming and Arkansas have the lowest rounded figure at $160. WalletHub’s October 1, 2026 analysis finds a gap of nearly $99 between the highest and lowest state medians. The figures describe WalletHub users, not every borrower in each state, so they are best read as a state comparison rather than a universal bill for residents.
What the 2026 state comparison found
WalletHub calculated the median monthly student-loan payment per user in all 50 states using its latest consumer-finance data. A median is the midpoint: half of the users in a state have a reported payment below it and half above it. It is not the same as an average, and it does not predict an individual borrower’s required payment.
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| State | Median monthly payment per WalletHub user | National rank |
|---|---|---|
| Vermont | $258 | 1 |
| Massachusetts | $250 | 2 |
| Maryland | $249 | 3 |
| New Hampshire | $249 | 4 |
| Connecticut | $247 | 5 |
| New Jersey | $246 | 6 |
| New York | $242 | 7 |
| Illinois | $238 | 8 |
| California | $237 | 9 |
| Rhode Island | $236 | 10 |
| Ohio | $206 | 25 |
| Florida | $203 | 26 |
| West Virginia | $165 | 46 |
| Kentucky | $162 | 47 |
| North Dakota | $161 | 48 |
| Arkansas | $160 | 49 |
| Wyoming | $160 | 50 |
Wyoming’s underlying median was described by WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo as slightly above $159; the published ranking rounds it to $160. Arkansas also appears as $160 in the rounded table. The difference between Vermont’s $258 and Wyoming’s slightly-over-$159 figure is nearly $99 per month, or roughly $1,188 a year.
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How large is the national student-loan burden?
WalletHub’s 2026 national context puts the number of Americans with student loans at about 42.6 million. Together they owe approximately $1.72 trillion, equal to nearly $40,500 per borrower on average. That average balance is a nationwide figure; it is not the balance represented by any state’s median monthly payment.
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Why a state payment is different from your payment
Moving across a state line does not automatically change the amount a lender or federal servicer requires. Your bill is determined by factors such as principal, interest rate, loan type, repayment plan, term, enrollment status and any deferment or forbearance. A state median can differ because the borrowers represented in WalletHub’s data may have different balances and loan mixes.
The published analysis does not provide user counts or state-by-state breakdowns by income, degree type, balance, federal versus private debt, servicer or repayment plan. It therefore does not establish why the highest medians cluster in some states or why the lowest appear in others. Cost of attendance, wages, household budgets and the prevalence of particular degrees could all matter, but the data do not test those explanations.
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The $302 figure: an illustration, not a state median
Lupo gives a separate amortization example: using nearly $40,500 of average student debt and a fixed 6.52% interest rate, identified as the federal undergraduate-loan rate in the analysis, a borrower would need a payment of about $302 per month to repay the balance within 20 years.
That $302 is a mathematical illustration based on the cited balance, rate and term. It is not the median payment in Vermont, Wyoming or any other state, and a borrower’s actual rate, balance and repayment plan may differ. Payments below that level could extend the payoff period or increase total interest unless the balance is reduced by forgiveness, employer assistance or another adjustment.
What to do if your payment is unaffordable
- Build a payment-centered budget. List the required payment, interest rate, balance and due date for each loan alongside housing, utilities, food and other fixed costs.
- Confirm the repayment plan with your servicer. Ask how the required amount was calculated and whether an income-driven or extended option is available for your loan type. Get eligibility and payment estimates in writing.
- Check forgiveness and assistance programs. Review federal, state and public-service programs that match your employment and loan type. Requirements and qualifying-payment rules vary, so verify current terms with the administering agency.
- Ask your employer about education benefits. Some employers offer student-loan contributions or other education assistance. Confirm whether the benefit applies to your loans and how it is delivered.
- Protect your payment history. Set a reliable payment method, monitor servicing notices and contact the servicer before a missed payment rather than after it.
- Evaluate refinancing cautiously. Compare the new rate, term, fees and total interest. Refinancing federal loans with a private lender can remove federal protections and access to federal repayment or forgiveness programs, so do not proceed without confirming the trade-off.
How to interpret the ranking responsibly
- Use it to compare a reported median monthly payment per WalletHub user, not to estimate the bill for every resident.
- Keep the rounded $160 figures distinct from Wyoming’s underlying “slightly over $159” description.
- Do not treat the $302 20-year payoff example as a recommended payment or as evidence that borrowers in any particular state owe more.
- For a personal decision, use your own loan statements and the official rules for your repayment plan.
What the ranking means for borrowers
The state spread is a useful reminder that student-loan obligations are unevenly distributed: the reported median ranges from $160 to $258 per month among WalletHub users. It does not, by itself, identify the cause of that variation or tell an individual what to pay. The practical question is whether your current plan matches your balance, income and payoff goal, and whether you qualify for a safer lower-payment or assistance option.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Frequently Asked Questions
Which state has the highest median monthly student-loan payment?
Vermont, at $258 per month per WalletHub user in WalletHub’s October 1, 2026 ranking.
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Which states have the lowest reported payment?
Wyoming and Arkansas are both listed at a rounded $160 per month. WalletHub describes Wyoming’s underlying median as slightly above $159.
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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Is $302 the average student-loan payment?
No. It is an illustrative payment calculated to amortize nearly $40,500 over 20 years at 6.52%. It is not a state median or a universal recommendation.
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