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
481 Stephen F. Austin State University Nacogdoches, Texas $11,128 $25,791 41% 52% 1066 94%
482 Robert Morris University Moon Township, Pennsylvania $35,970 $51,621 41% 66% — 90%
483 Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Terre Haute, Indiana $58,649 $77,890 41% 93% 1427 77%
484 Pittsburg State University Pittsburg, Kansas $8,400 $22,099 41% 60% 1050 89%
485 University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Milwaukee, Wisconsin $10,398 $22,756 42% 62% 1090 91%
486 Northwest Missouri State University Maryville, Missouri $10,611 $24,945 42% 62% 1119 86%
487 Oral Roberts University Tulsa, Oklahoma $35,470 $50,004 42% 63% 1196 99%
488 Towson University Towson, Maryland $11,728 $28,535 42% 68% 1095 82%
489 Antioch University - Seattle Seattle, Washington — — 42% 46% — —
490 Saint Mary's College of California Moraga, California $57,803 $77,659 42% 76% — 87%
491 Wright State University Dayton, Ohio $11,522 $24,373 42% 53% — 96%
492 Lamar University Beaumont, Texas $8,905 $22,254 42% 44% 1061 86%
493 University of Iowa Iowa City, Iowa $11,283 $28,596 42% 71% 1200 84%
494 Creighton University Omaha, Nebraska $48,856 $63,423 42% 81% 1321 80%
495 Anderson University Anderson, South Carolina $34,970 $50,192 42% 58% 1202 55%
496 State University of New York at New Paltz New Paltz, New York $8,572 $28,428 42% 71% 1265 62%
497 University of Maine System Orono, Maine $13,326 $27,328 42% 72% — 97%
498 University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Eau Claire, Wisconsin $9,642 $21,705 42% 76% 1220 82%
499 Lewis University Romeoville, Illinois $39,200 $47,313 42% 66% 1096 71%
500 Bemidji State University Bemidji, Minnesota $10,237 $22,744 42% 68% 1090 56%
501 University of Wisconsin - Platteville Platteville, Wisconsin $8,644 $21,266 42% 78% 1190 89%
502 Arkansas State University Jonesboro, Arkansas $8,090 $25,082 42% 58% 1090 82%
503 Auburn University at Montgomery Montgomery, Alabama $9,700 $21,353 42% 44% 1093 92%
504 DigiPen Institute of Technology Redmond, Washington $38,950 $55,588 43% 79% 1297 64%
505 The University of North Carolina at Pembroke Pembroke, North Carolina $3,648 $17,261 43% 44% 1056 93%
506 South Dakota State University Brookings, South Dakota $9,299 $24,636 43% 76% 1120 98%
507 Ball State University Muncie, Indiana $11,082 $26,146 43% 65% 1160 86%
508 Butler University Indianapolis, Indiana $47,560 $65,970 43% 85% 1274 85%
509 St. Mary's College of Maryland St. Mary's City, Maryland $15,298 $31,865 43% 80% 1261 69%
510 University of Michigan–Flint Flint, Michigan $14,704 $20,915 43% 41% 1102 70%
511 Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti, Michigan $16,240 $29,640 43% 44% 1066 80%
512 Emerson College Boston, Massachusetts $57,056 $80,399 43% 78% 1358 51%
513 University of Wisconsin - River Falls River Falls, Wisconsin $9,008 $19,781 43% 76% 1150 82%
514 Illinois State University Normal, Illinois $16,144 $34,309 43% 74% 1113 88%
515 University of Puget Sound Tacoma, Washington $62,898 $78,378 43% 82% 1296 72%
516 Bentley University Waltham, Massachusetts $61,000 $79,548 43% 91% 1352 45%
517 Western Governors University Salt Lake City, Utah $8,658 $16,728 43% 54% — —
518 Earlham College Richmond, Indiana $53,930 $67,684 43% 78% 1219 73%
519 Wheaton College Wheaton, Illinois $45,546 $59,263 43% 88% 1380 87%
520 Iowa State University Ames, Iowa $10,787 $24,018 43% 76% 1204 89%

Questions

Least debt burden in the US: which university leads?
Stephen F. Austin State University — 41% 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.
All university data Cheapest tuition Most expensive Best loan repayment Highest SAT Highest acceptance

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