Utah students carry less college loan debt than borrowers in any other state. A WalletHub analysis released Monday, Sept. 21, placed Utah No. 51 out of 51 in its "States with the Most Student Debt in 2026" survey.

The Deseret News reported that the survey compared all 50 states and the District of Columbia across measures of loan indebtedness, grant availability and student work opportunities. Nationally, outstanding student loan balances exceed $1.72 trillion, averaging more than $40,000 per borrower across 42.6 million Americans.

Mississippi ranked worst.

Utah also landed near the bottom in student debt as a share of income and in the share of loans past due or in default.

"Federal student loan interest rates recently hit a 12-year high and remain elevated, making it important for borrowers to plan carefully when taking on student debt," WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said.

Granite District's college-credit programs

For Millcreek-area families, the statewide ranking reflects advantages that start in high school. Granite School District's Granite Technical Institute enrolls more than 3,000 students each semester across more than 50 career pathways, according to the district's 2026-27 budget FAQ. Most GTI classes are concurrent enrollment. Students earn college credit while still in high school.

Granite high schools also offer Advanced Placement, Concurrent Enrollment and International Baccalaureate classes. Skyline High School is the district's IB school. Concurrent Enrollment classes cost students just $5 per credit.

In February, the Utah State Board of Education awarded Granite a Catalyst Center Implementation Grant to expand career pathways further.

Statewide factors

Utah was the first state to require a standalone personal finance course for high school graduation, adopting the mandate in 2008. Every Utah high schooler must pass the course and a standardized personal finance test before receiving a diploma. Thirty states now have a similar requirement, up from 17 in 2022, according to Intuit's financial literacy rankings.

Low tuition helps too. The Utah Board of Higher Education approved a 2.28% systemwide average tuition increase for 2026-27, below the rate of inflation. Amanda Covington, chair of the board, said the approvals reflect the board's focus on keeping higher education affordable, including maintaining low-cost technical education.

Affordability pressures remain

The ranking does not erase local budget strain. Granite District is absorbing more than $12 million in state funding reductions this year. Its Board of Education approved a roughly 10.26% property tax increase above the certified rate on Aug. 18 in a 6-1 vote.

School lunch debt in the district topped $940,000 as of May, even with some of the state's lowest lunch prices: $1.50 a day at elementary schools, $1.65 at junior highs and $1.75 at high schools.

Granite's per-pupil spending in fiscal year 2025 was $12,904, slightly above the statewide district average of $12,288, according to the Utah State Board of Education.

For families weighing college costs, the $5-per-credit Concurrent Enrollment classes and GTI career pathways remain available at Granite high schools.