BALTIMORE, MD—A new study by eLearning Industry has identified Maryland as one of the top 10 states where young people are leaving formal education, revealing a significant connection to student loan debt.
The research, which analyzed data from the U.S. Census Bureau and Education Data Initiative, found that Maryland has the 10th highest high school dropout rate in the country. The study reported that 70,153 Maryland residents aged 16-24 were high school dropouts in 2023, a rate of 91 per 1,000 in that age group.
The findings, released by the e-learning platform, highlight a dual challenge for the state’s youth. Despite opting out of formal education, Maryland ranks first nationwide for average statewide student loan debt, with an average of $43,781 per borrower…