Ranked

889 uS universities whose graduates repay fastest

Share of borrowers whose loan balance is falling three years after leaving — the clearest published signal that a degree is being paid off rather than deferred.

#UniversityIn-stateCost of attendance BorrowPaying downSATAcceptance
481 University of Louisiana at Monroe Monroe, Louisiana $9,190 $24,932 35% 63% 1116 85%
482 University of North Georgia Dahlonega, Georgia $5,285 $18,177 20% 63% 1106 68%
483 Lesley University Cambridge, Massachusetts $34,256 $51,538 54% 63% — 97%
484 University of Colorado at Colorado Springs Colorado Springs, Colorado $10,149 $24,595 34% 63% 1133 97%
485 University of New Orleans New Orleans, Louisiana $9,172 $23,431 28% 63% 1052 74%
486 Florida State University Tallahassee, Florida $5,656 $25,720 20% 63% 1361 24%
487 Oral Roberts University Tulsa, Oklahoma $35,470 $50,004 42% 63% 1196 99%
488 Trine University Angola, Indiana $36,560 $51,109 39% 63% — 85%
489 Saint Edward's University Austin, Texas $51,384 $66,719 48% 63% 1138 81%
490 University of North Carolina at Wilmington Wilmington, North Carolina $7,277 $26,547 36% 63% 1287 64%
491 Ohio State University Columbus, Ohio $13,244 $30,305 29% 63% 1387 61%
492 Capital University Columbus, Ohio $43,234 $57,130 63% 63% 1068 70%
493 Weber State University Ogden, Utah $6,557 $16,035 10% 63% — —
494 Louisiana State University at Alexandria Alexandria, Louisiana $7,050 $15,550 36% 63% 1022 92%
495 La Roche University Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania $34,052 $47,111 19% 63% 1055 76%
496 Hawaii Pacific University Honolulu, Hawaii $34,392 $50,674 23% 63% 1111 86%
497 University of Oregon Eugene, Oregon $16,137 $34,793 29% 62% 1272 88%
498 Central Washington University Ellensburg, Washington $9,417 $28,816 31% 62% — 91%
499 University of Central Arkansas Conway, Arkansas $10,523 $25,029 40% 62% 1118 89%
500 Alvernia University Reading, Pennsylvania $45,000 $57,565 83% 62% 1170 58%
501 McNeese State University Lake Charles, Louisiana $8,489 $22,810 32% 62% 1087 78%
502 University of Northern Colorado Greeley, Colorado $12,416 $29,254 37% 62% 1082 86%
503 Black Hills State University Spearfish, South Dakota $8,764 $21,277 28% 62% 1087 96%
504 DePaul University Chicago, Illinois $45,999 $63,052 46% 62% 1262 76%
505 Aquinas College Grand Rapids, Michigan $40,218 $51,652 69% 62% 1025 90%
506 Lake Superior State University Sault Ste Marie, Michigan $14,890 $27,154 37% 62% — —
507 University of Houston Houston, Texas $9,717 $26,185 32% 62% 1250 74%
508 Aurora University Aurora, Illinois $29,170 $40,625 47% 62% 1076 81%
509 University of Idaho Moscow, Idaho $9,084 $23,738 38% 62% 1116 76%
510 Stetson University DeLand, Florida $57,410 $72,533 46% 62% 1176 72%
511 University of Mississippi University, Mississippi $9,772 $28,660 37% 62% 1184 97%
512 University of Mississippi Medical Center Jackson, Mississippi — — — 62% — —
513 Northwest Missouri State University Maryville, Missouri $10,611 $24,945 42% 62% 1119 86%
514 University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Milwaukee, Wisconsin $10,398 $22,756 42% 62% 1090 91%
515 University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Flex Milwaukee, Wisconsin — — 29% 62% — 100%
516 Chadron State College Chadron, Nebraska $8,290 $21,132 50% 61% — —
517 Central Connecticut State University New Britain, Connecticut $13,050 $24,870 49% 61% 1080 73%
518 Marian University Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin $35,178 $44,450 78% 61% — 75%
519 Regis University Denver, Colorado $46,340 $54,800 41% 61% 1220 86%
520 School of the Art Institute of Chicago Chicago, Illinois $56,420 $75,625 37% 61% — 77%

Questions

Best repayment in the US: which university leads?
University of Louisiana at Monroe — 63% of borrowers paying their balance down.
Where does this data come from?
The US Department of Education College Scorecard, which publishes what institutions charge, what students borrow and repay, and the test scores of admitted students. Nothing here is estimated — universities without a published figure are left out of the ranking.
Is the cheapest university the best value?
Not necessarily. Price is one half of value; the other is what graduates earn and whether they clear the debt. Each university page links to its earnings and repayment record.
All university data Cheapest tuition Most expensive Fewest borrowers Highest SAT Highest acceptance

Source: US Department of Education College Scorecard. Universities without a published figure for the ranked measure are not listed.