Education

California vs Massachusetts: Student Loan Debt

Massachusetts has lower average student loan debt than California by $2,900.

California flag
California
CA · West
$38,300
Average federal student loan debt per borrower.
Massachusetts flag
Massachusetts
MA · Northeast
Winner
$35,400
Average federal student loan debt per borrower.

Visual comparison

California$38,300
Massachusetts$35,400

Difference: $2,900 — Massachusetts leads.

National Rankings

Where They Rank Nationally

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

California #40 · $38,300
Massachusetts #25 · $35,400
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
#25 Massachusetts flag Massachusetts
$35,400

California ranks 40th and Massachusetts ranks 25th nationally for student loan debt.

What this means

California vs Massachusetts: Student Loan Debt in context

Massachusetts's student loan debt is $35,400, compared with $38,300 in California. Average federal student loan debt per borrower.

California
$38,300
Massachusetts
$35,400
Difference
$2,900

People also ask

California vs Massachusetts Student Loan Debt — common questions

QWhat is California's student loan debt?

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

QWhat is Massachusetts's student loan debt?

Massachusetts's student loan debt is $35,400.

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

Massachusetts has lower average student loan debt than California by $2,900.

More comparisons: California vs Massachusetts

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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.