EL PASO, Texas -- More Texans than ever have failed to pay back their student loans.

The state has the second highest default rate in the nation at 9.3 percent.

Talk of student loans evoked cringes from current UTEP student Cynthia Solis.

"I'm trying not to even deal with that right now," said Solis. "It's just going to overwhelm me."

Over the last three years, the student loan default rate in Texas has jumped from 5.8 percent to 9.3 percent. The current national rate is 6.7 percent. The numbers from UTEP alumni show a default rate of 6.5 percent.

The figures are not too comforting for UTEP student Hannah Gont who is working on her master's degree. She will graduate with at least $20,000 in student loan debt.

"If I find a job, it's not going to be a problem," said Gont. "If I don't find a job, then that's going to be my concern."

Especially because she has heard about the difficulties from others.

"Some of my friends graduated, and couldn't find a job," said Gont. "The grace period is only six months, and they were not able to find a job right after they graduated."