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4 ways pandemic grads can prepare to pay their first student loan bill

Kat Tretina, NerdWallet
Oct 5, 2023
Oct 5, 2023 Updated Sep 25, 2024
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Millions of people who’ve graduated from college since mid-March 2020 have never had to make a federal student loan payment.

Anyone who graduated from college since the pandemic has not had to make a payment on their federal student loans. That time has come to an end. — Anyone who graduated from college since the pandemic has not had to make a payment on their federal student loans. That time has come to an end.
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States with the highest student loan delinquency rates

Arkansas

Arkansas — - Delinquency rate: 9%
- Total number of borrowers: 373,900
- Average student debt balance: $32,400
fizkes // Shutterstock

Kentucky

Kentucky — - Delinquency rate: 9%
- Total number of borrowers: 586,000
- Average student debt balance: $33,400
Mark Hayes // Shutterstock

Alabama

Alabama — - Delinquency rate: 9%
- Total number of borrowers: 614,900
- Average student debt balance: $37,500
fizkes // Shutterstock

Louisiana

Louisiana — - Delinquency rate: 9%
- Total number of borrowers: 639,300
- Average student debt balance: $35,000
Robert Gebbie Photography // Shutterstock

South Carolina

South Carolina — - Delinquency rate: 9%
- Total number of borrowers: 748,800
- Average student debt balance: $37,200
fizkes // Shutterstock

Tennessee

Tennessee — - Delinquency rate: 9%
- Total number of borrowers: 867,800
- Average student debt balance: $36,200
Chaay_Tee // Shutterstock

Indiana

Indiana — - Delinquency rate: 9%
- Total number of borrowers: 926,500
- Average student debt balance: $32,900
Damir Khabirov // Shutterstock

Georgia

Georgia — - Delinquency rate: 9%
- Total number of borrowers: 1,639,600
- Average student debt balance: $41,600
Oxanaso // Shutterstock

West Virginia

West Virginia — - Delinquency rate: 10%
- Total number of borrowers: 215,900
- Average student debt balance: $32,500
Muk Photo // Shutterstock

New Mexico

New Mexico — - Delinquency rate: 10%
- Total number of borrowers: 217,700
- Average student debt balance: $34,400
Andreassolbakken // Shutterstock

Nevada

Nevada — - Delinquency rate: 10%
- Total number of borrowers: 346,200
- Average student debt balance: $35,800
wutzkohphoto // Shutterstock

Oklahoma

Oklahoma — - Delinquency rate: 10%
- Total number of borrowers: 474,100
- Average student debt balance: $32,100
Tero Vesalainen // Shutterstock

Mississippi

Mississippi — - Delinquency rate: 11%
- Total number of borrowers: 417,600
- Average student debt balance: $37,500
This story originally appeared on Sound Dollar and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

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Eliza Haverstock writes for NerdWallet. Email: ehaverstock@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @elizahaverstock.

Kat Tretina writes for NerdWallet. Email: articles@nerdwallet.com.

The article 4 Ways Pandemic Grads Can Prepare to Pay Their First Loan Bill originally appeared on NerdWallet.