Student Debt Burden Index
A $30,000 loan is not the same burden everywhere. SDBI divides median federal student debt by the median earnings graduates actually report, then adjusts for the state's cost of living and unemployment rate. Lower is lighter: a score of 60 means debt equals roughly 60% of a typical first salary once local costs are taken into account.
ManageableHeavy
52.0
Average state debt burden
52 states scored across 2,600 institutions
Lightest state
Puerto Rico
21.7 — median debt $8,250
Heaviest state
District of Columbia
97.6 — median debt $23,625
Best debt-to-salary school
Mech-Tech College
14% of first salary
Heaviest school
Manhattan School of Music
143% of first salary
Lighter burden
Heavier burden
Is it worth it?
Schools where debt is lightest against earnings
- 1Mech-Tech CollegePR — debt $3,500, earnings $24,4938.2
- 2Berea CollegeKY — debt $3,591, earnings $35,6768.5
- 3Albizu University-San JuanPR — debt $5,500, earnings $32,1689.8
- 4Meridian Institute of Surgical AssistingTN — debt $6,840, earnings $68,17910.1
- 5Butler Technology and Career Development SchoolsOH — debt $6,396, earnings $51,90611.1
- 6Savannah Technical CollegeGA — debt $3,258, earnings $31,12412.4
- 7Laredo CollegeTX — debt $2,959, earnings $27,43512.9
- 8Kaskaskia CollegeIL — debt $3,750, earnings $33,09513.0
- 9University of Puerto Rico at CayeyPR — debt $5,000, earnings $21,81913.1
- 10University of Puerto Rico-AreciboPR — debt $4,500, earnings $19,54613.2
- 11WyoTechWY — debt $6,800, earnings $45,27613.3
- 12Pratt Community CollegeKS — debt $6,500, earnings $44,79813.5
- 13United States Merchant Marine AcademyNY — debt $8,833, earnings $96,77013.8
- 14Alvin Community CollegeTX — debt $4,519, earnings $38,69313.9
- 15University of Puerto Rico-Rio PiedrasPR — debt $5,500, earnings $22,41714.1
- 16University of Puerto Rico at PoncePR — debt $5,500, earnings $22,40414.1
- 17University of Puerto RicoPR — debt $5,500, earnings $22,38214.1
- 18University of Puerto Rico-CarolinaPR — debt $5,500, earnings $22,31714.1
- 19University of Puerto Rico-MayaguezPR — debt $8,250, earnings $32,70614.5
- 20New England Tractor Trailer Training School of Rhode IslandRI — debt $6,333, earnings $51,03714.6
- 21St Charles Community CollegeMO — debt $6,187, earnings $37,08715.2
- 22Inter American University of Puerto Rico-FajardoPR — debt $5,750, earnings $21,55715.3
- 23Inter American University of Puerto Rico-AguadillaPR — debt $6,250, earnings $23,32215.4
- 24Baptist Health College Little RockAR — debt $10,000, earnings $53,39315.4
- 25Southern Arkansas University TechAR — debt $6,000, earnings $31,84115.5
Think twice
Schools where debt weighs heaviest
- 1Manhattan School of MusicNY — debt $26,994, earnings $18,815216.5
- 2Strayer University-Global RegionDC — debt $40,621, earnings $36,582197.0
- 3Los Angeles Film SchoolCA — debt $25,250, earnings $24,375188.5
- 4Hampshire CollegeMA — debt $26,893, earnings $22,195188.3
- 5Academy of Art UniversityCA — debt $31,000, earnings $30,452185.3
- 6Laurus CollegeCA — debt $32,416, earnings $33,247177.4
- 7Beacon CollegeFL — debt $25,000, earnings $19,919172.3
- 8Strayer University-MarylandMD — debt $40,621, earnings $36,582171.5
- 9Strayer University-New JerseyNJ — debt $40,621, earnings $36,582170.5
- 10California Institute of the ArtsCA — debt $25,000, earnings $28,018162.4
- 11Strayer University-VirginiaVA — debt $40,621, earnings $36,582156.4
- 12Provo CollegeUT — debt $41,733, earnings $32,673155.9
- 13Laguna College of Art and DesignCA — debt $27,000, earnings $31,987153.6
- 14Strayer University-FloridaFL — debt $40,621, earnings $36,582152.5
- 15Rocky Mountain College of Art and DesignCO — debt $31,000, earnings $30,280152.4
- 16Bethune-Cookman UniversityFL — debt $31,000, earnings $28,282150.5
- 17Massachusetts College of Art and DesignMA — debt $25,755, earnings $27,090147.8
- 18Allen UniversitySC — debt $34,290, earnings $23,889147.5
- 19Berklee College of MusicMA — debt $25,000, earnings $26,462146.8
- 20Colorado Technical University-Colorado SpringsCO — debt $29,832, earnings $30,406146.0
- 21Virginia Union UniversityVA — debt $29,000, earnings $27,977146.0
- 22Florida Memorial UniversityFL — debt $30,063, earnings $28,943142.6
- 23Everglades UniversityFL — debt $38,996, earnings $38,557138.9
- 24American InterContinental University SystemAZ — debt $31,000, earnings $27,823138.9
- 25Grambling State UniversityLA — debt $36,500, earnings $25,589137.2
| State | SDBI | Median debt | Median earnings | Cost index | Unemployment | Schools |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Puerto Rico | 21.7 | $8,250 | $21,819 | 51 | 13.2% | 35 |
| Wyoming | 21.9 | $9,267 | $37,335 | 85 | 3.9% | 8 |
| Arizona | 32.4 | $9,500 | $36,536 | 118 | 5.5% | 52 |
| North Dakota | 32.8 | $19,097 | $48,714 | 81 | 3.0% | 12 |
| Kansas | 34.3 | $15,000 | $40,805 | 90 | 4.0% | 41 |
| Arkansas | 38.3 | $16,125 | $34,612 | 78 | 5.2% | 38 |
| Oklahoma | 38.3 | $17,000 | $39,112 | 84 | 4.9% | 39 |
| Nevada | 38.6 | $10,750 | $37,293 | 125 | 7.1% | 16 |
| Utah | 39.5 | $14,875 | $46,001 | 118 | 3.4% | 14 |
| Nebraska | 40.5 | $20,000 | $45,145 | 89 | 3.1% | 23 |
| Iowa | 40.6 | $22,415 | $46,731 | 82 | 3.8% | 43 |
| South Dakota | 41.7 | $23,500 | $46,290 | 79 | 3.3% | 15 |
| Mississippi | 42.6 | $15,000 | $30,633 | 82 | 6.5% | 27 |
| Montana | 44.8 | $18,750 | $38,633 | 89 | 4.0% | 12 |
| Maine | 45.3 | $19,157 | $41,554 | 94 | 4.1% | 21 |
| Minnesota | 46.7 | $18,995 | $45,073 | 107 | 4.0% | 65 |
| Missouri | 46.8 | $20,250 | $39,299 | 87 | 4.3% | 54 |
| Wisconsin | 47.0 | $21,503 | $42,439 | 90 | 3.4% | 51 |
| New Mexico | 47.1 | $16,500 | $32,960 | 89 | 6.3% | 19 |
| Idaho | 47.6 | $19,270 | $40,912 | 97 | 3.8% | 12 |
| Texas | 47.7 | $14,967 | $37,425 | 113 | 5.3% | 175 |
| Ohio | 48.1 | $22,500 | $42,229 | 86 | 5.0% | 116 |
| West Virginia | 48.3 | $21,300 | $34,974 | 75 | 6.3% | 28 |
| Washington | 48.6 | $14,070 | $43,181 | 142 | 5.0% | 54 |
| Kentucky | 48.6 | $20,000 | $34,873 | 81 | 5.2% | 45 |
| Illinois | 50.0 | $17,427 | $40,146 | 109 | 6.0% | 98 |
| Indiana | 50.0 | $24,000 | $44,395 | 89 | 4.5% | 48 |
| Hawaii | 50.1 | $10,500 | $37,204 | 169 | 5.1% | 13 |
| Michigan | 51.6 | $20,842 | $40,161 | 94 | 6.1% | 73 |
| Tennessee | 52.3 | $20,500 | $39,324 | 95 | 5.1% | 53 |
| Vermont | 52.9 | $22,976 | $47,531 | 105 | 3.9% | 8 |
| New Jersey | 53.4 | $15,588 | $44,778 | 144 | 6.3% | 62 |
| Delaware | 54.0 | $20,000 | $45,097 | 116 | 5.4% | 5 |
| Alabama | 54.3 | $22,245 | $36,356 | 84 | 5.2% | 38 |
| Pennsylvania | 55.4 | $25,000 | $48,426 | 102 | 5.4% | 134 |
| Louisiana | 57.7 | $20,500 | $34,205 | 90 | 6.6% | 39 |
| Rhode Island | 58.0 | $24,125 | $48,960 | 111 | 5.9% | 14 |
| North Carolina | 60.4 | $21,684 | $37,037 | 98 | 5.2% | 72 |
| California | 61.0 | $12,936 | $38,619 | 171 | 6.5% | 219 |
| Florida | 61.8 | $16,746 | $37,238 | 131 | 5.0% | 102 |
| Connecticut | 63.3 | $22,650 | $49,091 | 129 | 5.9% | 28 |
| Alaska | 63.5 | $19,661 | $39,779 | 121 | 6.5% | 4 |
| South Carolina | 63.9 | $22,750 | $36,582 | 98 | 5.2% | 49 |
| Oregon | 64.8 | $19,449 | $39,129 | 124 | 5.6% | 34 |
| New York | 64.9 | $19,500 | $45,369 | 142 | 6.3% | 167 |
| Georgia | 66.1 | $20,288 | $36,448 | 113 | 5.3% | 82 |
| Colorado | 68.3 | $18,257 | $39,760 | 142 | 4.6% | 39 |
| Maryland | 72.4 | $19,000 | $40,563 | 147 | 5.1% | 41 |
| New Hampshire | 74.7 | $25,875 | $43,754 | 122 | 3.6% | 16 |
| Virginia | 75.4 | $21,525 | $40,212 | 135 | 4.5% | 62 |
| Massachusetts | 76.9 | $24,250 | $49,022 | 148 | 5.3% | 75 |
| District of Columbia | 97.6 | $23,625 | $42,956 | 166 | 7.1% | 10 |
Data sources & methodology
- U.S. Department of Education — Median federal student debt and median earnings by institution College Scorecard
- U.S. Census Bureau — State median gross rent (local cost index) and unemployment rate American Community Survey
SDBI = (median student debt ÷ median earnings six years after entry) × (state cost index ÷ 100) × (1 + state unemployment rate). Only institutions with at least 500 students and both figures published are scored; state scores use the median school in that state.
Think Bigger Today aggregates data from 2 federal and public sources. Our cross-referenced indices are calculated in-house and are not published anywhere else.