Location, location, location. If the real estate industry has taught us anything over the years, it’s that one’s location is the most important of housing considerations. And as it turns out, location might also play a factor in your ability to pay off student loan debt.

Student loan debt is working its way into the presidential election cycle, with a growing number of candidates supporting action to help with the problem. And for good reason. Nearly 11 percent of all student loan debt is 90 or more days delinquent or in default. WalletHub, a personal finance website, ran the numbers and found that some parts of the country have significantly higher instances of student debt.

By the Numbers

WalletHub looked at 12 different data points to determine how much student loan debt burdens the residents of each state and to identify how to find a job after college to pay off said student loans. You can read more about the methodology here.

The following points were concluded following the study:

• Connecticut has the highest average student loan debts in the nation.
• Pennsylvania is next, with the second highest overall student debt among its residents.
• Not far behind is Delaware, which ranked as having the fifth highest overall student debt among its residents.
• Nearby New Jersey ranks among the highest among states where students have the most difficulty paying off their loans.
• New Hampshire has a high proportion of students who graduate with student loan debt, meaning that they’ll need to depend on a strong local economy to offer them jobs.
• Towards the middle of the country, Indiana ranked low in job opportunities available for new college graduates.
• Those new Indiana college graduates might want to relocate to Ohio, which offers a slightly better outlook for jobs.
• Nearby Kansas, on the other hand has more job opportunities – so theoretically, students will have better chances of dealing with student loan debts.
• Rhode Island is the worst state in the nation for job prospects for those new college graduates.
• Low wages are a problem in Michigan, where residents have the highest national amount of debt as a percentage of their overall income.
• Mississippi wins the unfortunate top spot as the state with the highest percent of student loans that are past due or in default.
• Minnesota is just the opposite of Mississippi, but the state does have a higher proportion of people with student loan debts. It likely means that the state’s population places a higher importance on going to college no matter the cost.
• South Dakota takes the top position as the state with the most residents who have student loan debt.
• Moving Away from the Student Debt Cycle

Attending a two-year technical college is one way to end the cycle of student loan debt. Becoming a plumber, electrician or heating and cooling technician are options to find a secure career path while avoiding the $93,000 price tag that comes with attending a public college.

Learn how you can prepare yourself for high-paying jobs that are recession-proof and allow you to live practically anywhere in the country. Watch this video to discover more.

---