Education

California vs Maine: Student Loan Debt

Maine has lower average student loan debt than California by $3,945.

California flag
California
CA · West
$38,300
Average federal student loan debt per borrower.
Maine flag
Maine
ME · Northeast
Winner
$34,355
Average federal student loan debt per borrower.

Visual comparison

California$38,300
Maine$34,355

Difference: $3,945 — Maine leads.

National Rankings

Where They Rank Nationally

See where both states fall among all 50 states for student loan debt.

California #40 · $38,300
Maine #20 · $34,355
Best Worst

10 Best States — Student Loan Debt

Lower is better
#1 North Dakota flag North Dakota
$29,115
#2 Wyoming flag Wyoming
$30,631
#3 Iowa flag Iowa
$30,698
#4 South Dakota flag South Dakota
$31,171
#5 Nebraska flag Nebraska
$32,206
#6 Oklahoma flag Oklahoma
$32,245
#7 West Virginia flag West Virginia
$32,343
#8 Wisconsin flag Wisconsin
$32,619
#9 Kansas flag Kansas
$33,013
#10 Indiana flag Indiana
$33,234
Selected states
#40 California flag California
$38,300
#20 Maine flag Maine
$34,355

California ranks 40th and Maine ranks 20th nationally for student loan debt.

What this means

California vs Maine: Student Loan Debt in context

Maine's student loan debt is $34,355, compared with $38,300 in California. Average federal student loan debt per borrower.

California
$38,300
Maine
$34,355
Difference
$3,945

People also ask

California vs Maine Student Loan Debt — common questions

QWhat is California's student loan debt?

California's student loan debt is $38,300.

QWhat is Maine's student loan debt?

Maine's student loan debt is $34,355.

QWhich state has a lower student loan debt — California or Maine?

Maine has lower average student loan debt than California by $3,945.

More comparisons: California vs Maine

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Full comparison

Data source and freshness

Data period
Latest incorporated release
Dataset reviewed
July 23, 2026
Method note
Average federal student loan balance per borrower.