Report: AZ among states with least student debt

Arizona is one of the 10 states with the lowest student debt, according to a report by WalletHub.

Arizona is one of the 10 states with the least student debt, according to “2019’s States with the Most and Least Student Debt” report by WalletHub.

The report, released Wednesday, ranked the 50 U.S. states plus the District of Columbia from most to least student debt.

Arizona ranked No. 42, just making the cut to be included in the 10 states with the least student debt.

States were evaluated and scored based on metrics in two categories: “Student-loan indebtedness” and “grant and student work opportunities.” These scores were then averaged to create an overall score that was used to determine the rankings.

“Student-loan indebtedness” included metrics like average student debt, share of students with debt and share of student-loan borrowers over the age of 50.

“Grant and student work opportunities” included metrics like unemployment rates and availability of student jobs and paid internships.

Each metric was graded on a 100point scale, according to WalletHub’s report methodology.

Arizona scored 42 points in studentloan indebtedness, and 39 in grant and student work opportunities for a score of 36.5 points overall.

Meanwhile, South Dakota was ranked No. 1 for the most student debt with a score of 1 point in student-loan indebtedness and 46 in grant and student work opportunities for an overall score of 66.17 points overall.

Utah was ranked No. 51, having the least student debt, with a score of 51 in student-loan indebtedness and 25 in grant and student work opportunities for a score of 51.67 points overall.

States with the least student debt:

1. Utah (51)

2. Hawaii (50)

3. California (49)

4. Wyoming (48)

5. Washington (47)

6. District of Columbia (46)

7. Florida (45)

8. Nevada (44)

9. Alaska (43)

10. Arizona (42)

States with the most student debt:

1. South Dakota

2. Pennsylvania

3. West Virginia

4. New Hampshire

5. Iowa

6. Minnesota

7. Mississippi

8. Ohio

9. Michigan

10. Rhode Island