More Mo. students paying back college debt

Fewer Missourians are defaulting on their student loans, according to data released by the U.S. Department of Education.

Students in the Show-Me State who were begin repaying their loans in fiscal year 2011 have witnessed a combined default rate decrease to 12.6 percent – down from 13.1 percent the year before. Defaults were lower in Kansas at 11.1 percent, but higher in other neighboring states, according to the Kansas City Star.

In Arkansas, the default rate was 15.8 percent; 17.3 percent in Iowa; and 15. 7 percent in Oklahoma. The national default rate was 13.7 percent, which is down from 14.7 percent the year before.

Read more from the Kansas City Star.