LOGAN — Utah and Idaho rank among the nation’s top states where student loan delinquency is falling the fastest, according to a new WalletHub analysis, suggesting borrowers in both states are making significant progress after the end of the pandemic-era payment pause.
The report analyzed proprietary consumer data comparing the fourth quarter of 2025 with the first quarter of 2026. Wyoming topped the rankings, followed by Vermont, Idaho and Rhode Island. Utah placed sixth.
In Idaho, the share of delinquent student loans fell 35.5% during the quarter, the third-largest decline in the country. Utah saw a 26.5% decrease, ranking sixth nationally.
WalletHub reported that 8.71% of Idaho student loan accounts remained delinquent during the first quarter of 2026, compared with 7.64% in Utah.
The rankings come as borrowers continue adjusting to the resumption of federal student loan payments following the multiyear moratorium that began during the COVID-19 pandemic. As monthly payments have resumed, delinquency rates have gradually declined, reducing the risk of damaged credit scores, wage garnishment and other financial consequences for many borrowers.
“Being delinquent on student loans has the potential to ruin your finances and your credit score, but if you’ve only recently become delinquent you do have time to get back on track,” WalletHub Editor John Kiernan said.
Kiernan noted that federal student loans generally are not reported to credit bureaus as delinquent until borrowers are at least 90 days behind on payments, while some private lenders may report missed payments after as little as 30 days.
“If you’re having trouble paying, it’s important to contact your lender as soon as possible to try to work out a solution,” he said.
WalletHub said Idaho’s improvement may be aided by the state’s relatively modest debt burden. Idaho ranks 36th nationally for student loan debt, 28th for consumer debt growth and 40th for overall debt delinquency, suggesting broader financial pressures are lower than in many states.
Utah’s report did not include the same detailed analysis but showed the state had one of the nation’s largest quarter-over-quarter improvements, with just over 7.6% of student loan accounts remaining delinquent during the first quarter of 2026.
Wyoming recorded the nation’s largest improvement, with student loan delinquency dropping nearly 60% during the quarter.
The analysis was based on WalletHub consumer data collected through July 1, 2026, comparing delinquency rates between the fourth quarter of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026.