Among the concerns for some of those worried about their finances amid a federal government shutdown, continued increasing inflation, high interest rates and an unsteady jobs market, is the burden of student loan repayment.

In West Virginia, that burden is especially heavy. According to personal finance company WalletHub, West Virginia carries the eighth most student debt in the country. The Mountain State is 25th for average student debt, but third for the proportion of students with debt and fourth for student debt as a percentage of income. Meanwhile, the state is 15th for the unemployment rate of those aged 25-34, 11th for the availability of student jobs, 23rd for the availability of paid internships and 32nd for grant growth.

One bright spot is that at least West Virginia is tied f

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