Ranked

891 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
241 University of Jamestown Jamestown, North Dakota $24,990 $38,013 61% 75% 88%
242 Southern Methodist University Dallas, Texas $67,040 $85,606 21% 75% 1428 63%
243 Transylvania University Lexington, Kentucky $46,870 $60,993 47% 75% 1287 87%
244 University of Dallas Irving, Texas $53,930 $68,583 44% 75% 1227 53%
245 University of California, Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, California $16,005 $41,179 28% 75% 66%
246 Pratt Institute Brooklyn, New York $61,845 $80,049 35% 75% 1290 73%
247 West Chester University of Pennsylvania West Chester, Pennsylvania $10,775 $28,394 54% 75% 1187 78%
248 Ripon College Ripon, Wisconsin $51,900 $63,540 70% 75% 1176 80%
249 University of Wyoming Laramie, Wyoming $7,768 $24,818 28% 75% 97%
250 Mount St. Mary's University Emmitsburg, Maryland $48,630 $63,731 51% 75% 1176 74%
251 John Brown University Siloam Springs, Arkansas $31,756 $44,710 33% 75% 1195 76%
252 Millsaps College Jackson, Mississippi $44,680 $60,061 59% 75% 1181 43%
253 University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, California $16,414 $41,573 18% 75% 33%
254 Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art New York, New York $46,820 $64,190 21% 75% 1410 21%
255 University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point Stevens Point, Wisconsin $9,488 $20,079 49% 74% 1150 92%
256 Pepperdine University Malibu, California $69,918 $93,512 37% 74% 1384 63%
257 Southwestern University Georgetown, Texas $53,813 $67,493 46% 74% 1241 43%
258 Sacred Heart University Fairfield, Connecticut $50,404 $69,289 57% 74% 65%
259 The College of Wooster Wooster, Ohio $61,640 $75,656 45% 74% 1353 60%
260 University of Sioux Falls Sioux Falls, South Dakota $21,750 $34,274 67% 74% 83%
261 Western Washington University Bellingham, Washington $9,582 $30,359 29% 74% 1289 93%
262 San Jose State University San Jose, California $8,410 $26,593 20% 74% 85%
263 University of Mary Washington Fredericksburg, Virginia $14,640 $31,137 29% 74% 1272 80%
264 Oklahoma Christian University Edmond, Oklahoma $27,180 $39,106 45% 74% 1122 97%
265 University of Nebraska, Lincoln Lincoln, Nebraska $10,434 $26,697 33% 74% 1191 87%
266 Biola University La Mirada, California $48,984 $62,757 44% 74% 1261 74%
267 Illinois State University Normal, Illinois $16,144 $34,309 43% 74% 1113 88%
268 Roanoke College Salem, Virginia $38,068 $54,283 80% 74% 1211 83%
269 Champlain College Burlington, Vermont $47,850 $65,009 52% 74% 1312 83%
270 Keene State College Keene, New Hampshire $14,784 $29,993 67% 74% 90%
271 Longwood University Farmville, Virginia $15,744 $34,588 46% 74% 1120 90%
272 University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, Colorado $15,666 $37,684 25% 74% 1357 78%
273 Bennington College Bennington, Vermont $66,262 $87,284 50% 74% 1364 45%
274 Alma College Alma, Michigan $49,552 $63,650 57% 74% 57%
275 Lycoming College Williamsport, Pennsylvania $50,029 $64,105 71% 74% 1160 74%
276 Xavier University Cincinnati, Ohio $50,640 $65,476 53% 73% 1217 86%
277 Hampshire College Amherst, Massachusetts $58,896 $74,195 62% 73% 75%
278 University of Miami Coral Gables, Florida $62,616 $86,078 27% 73% 1415 19%
279 University of New England Biddeford, Maine $44,210 $63,245 41% 73% 92%
280 Goucher College Baltimore, Maryland $53,350 $70,544 53% 73% 1248 78%

Questions

Best repayment in the US: which university leads?
University of Jamestown — 75% 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.

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