Ranked

916 uS universities where fewest students need loans

Share of students taking federal loans, lowest first — strong aid, low price, or both.

#UniversityIn-stateCost of attendance BorrowPaying downSATAcceptance
361 Murray State University Murray, Kentucky $9,900 $23,485 35% 57% 1133 86%
362 University of Nebraska Kearney Kearney, Nebraska $8,676 $25,808 35% 70% 1118 89%
363 Connecticut College New London, Connecticut $67,242 $84,623 35% 91% 1432 37%
364 Gonzaga University Spokane, Washington $55,480 $73,178 36% 85% 1335 82%
365 Macalester College Saint Paul, Minnesota $68,104 $82,991 36% 89% 1440 29%
366 Georgia Southern University Statesboro, Georgia $6,022 $24,430 36% 52% 1053 88%
367 University of Wisconsin–Parkside Kenosha, Wisconsin $8,270 $18,199 36% 54% 1090 75%
368 Arizona State University Digital Immersion Scottsdale, Arizona 36% 58% 67%
369 Northeastern State University Tahlequah, Oklahoma $7,810 $21,551 36% 53% 1049 100%
370 East Central University Ada, Oklahoma $8,032 $18,459 36% 48% 1049 58%
371 University of North Texas Denton, Texas $11,309 $26,243 36% 55% 1109 72%
372 University of North Carolina at Wilmington Wilmington, North Carolina $7,277 $26,547 36% 63% 1287 64%
373 Coppin State University Baltimore, Maryland $7,100 $23,748 36% 26% 975 46%
374 University of Arkansas - Little Rock Little Rock, Arkansas $9,748 $22,519 36% 58% 1049 59%
375 California Institute of the Arts Valencia, California $58,996 $77,560 36% 67% 32%
376 University of Minnesota - Morris Morris, Minnesota $14,526 $27,039 36% 73% 1150 75%
377 Kansas State University Manhattan, Kansas $11,221 $27,402 36% 68% 1151 82%
378 Lynn University Boca Raton, Florida $44,480 $67,880 36% 56% 1134 73%
379 University of Toledo Toledo, Ohio $12,744 $26,512 36% 47% 1235 92%
380 University of Michigan - Dearborn Dearborn, Michigan $15,640 $24,040 36% 47% 1115 56%
381 Louisiana State University at Alexandria Alexandria, Louisiana $7,050 $15,550 36% 63% 1022 92%
382 Minot State University Minot, North Dakota $8,702 $19,339 37% 71% 1051 65%
383 University of Northern Colorado Greeley, Colorado $12,416 $29,254 37% 62% 1082 86%
384 Lehigh University Bethlehem, Pennsylvania $64,980 $80,856 37% 88% 1440 26%
385 Appalachian State University Boone, North Carolina $7,579 $23,169 37% 72% 1214 90%
386 Christopher Newport University Newport News, Virginia $16,828 $33,766 37% 76% 1180 86%
387 university of illinois springfield Springfield, Illinois $12,252 $25,521 37% 58% 1102 86%
388 Lake Superior State University Sault Ste Marie, Michigan $14,890 $27,154 37% 62%
389 University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Chattanooga, Tennessee $10,448 $25,489 37% 57% 1147 81%
390 Occidental College Los Angeles, California $66,274 $84,800 37% 88% 1452 44%
391 Oklahoma State University Stillwater, Oklahoma $10,234 $28,290 37% 64% 1150 75%
392 University of Mississippi University, Mississippi $9,772 $28,660 37% 62% 1184 97%
393 University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma Chickasha, Oklahoma $9,000 $20,662 37% 60% 1152 66%
394 SOKA University of America Aliso Viejo, California $38,728 $55,064 37% 79% 1440 43%
395 Georgia Southwestern State University Americus, Georgia $5,220 $20,484 37% 45% 978 75%
396 Pepperdine University Malibu, California $69,918 $93,512 37% 74% 1384 63%
397 University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio $13,976 $32,171 37% 57% 1282 85%
398 University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas $12,102 $26,751 37% 66% 1190 93%
399 Oakland University Rochester Hills, Michigan $15,262 $25,182 37% 53% 1120 88%
400 Santa Clara University Santa Clara, California $61,293 $82,026 37% 88% 1426 48%

Questions

Least debt burden in the US: which university leads?
Murray State University — 35% of students taking federal loans.
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.