# Colleges With the Lowest Student Debt

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-05-31 | Schools: 50 | Category: Value
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/lowest-student-debt

## Methodology

Ranked by lowest median debt at graduation

CollegeRanker uses a 4-pillar algorithm: Academic Quality (15-20%), Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25-35%), Value & Affordability (20-25%). Social mobility data from Raj Chetty's Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (30M+ anonymized tax records). No subjective surveys.

## Summary

Berea College graduates carry just $3,591 in student debt. This low amount could change a family’s financial future. 

Many families search for colleges with the lowest student debt to avoid crippling loans after graduation. They want to understand how education affects earning potential and financial stability. Chetty's data shows that lower debt often leads to better mobility and success. 

Berea College stands out with a 60% graduation rate and median earnings of $43,150. In contrast, the University of Puerto Rico at Cayey has a 49% graduation rate and earnings of $30,958. These differences highlight how each school supports students on their path to success.

## Key Findings

- Berea College graduates have the lowest debt at $3,591.
- University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo graduates earn $30,512 with $4,500 debt.
- The average earnings across these colleges is $49,472.
- The average graduation rate for this list is 55%.

## Rankings

| Rank | School | Location | Graduation | Earnings (10yr) | Net Price | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|------|--------|----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | [Berea College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/berea-college) | Berea, KY | 60% | $43,150 | $6,106 | $3,591 | 0.08x |
| 2 | [University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-puerto-rico-arecibo) | Arecibo, PR | 51% | $30,512 | $10,680 | $4,500 | 0.15x |
| 3 | [University of Puerto Rico at Cayey](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-puerto-rico-at-cayey) | Cayey, PR | 49% | $30,958 | $10,176 | $5,000 | 0.16x |
| 4 | [University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-puerto-rico-aguadilla) | Aguadilla, PR | 47% | $27,997 | $7,765 | $5,500 | 0.2x |
| 5 | [University of Puerto Rico-Carolina](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-puerto-rico-carolina) | Carolina, PR | 39% | $30,626 | $12,945 | $5,500 | 0.18x |
| 6 | [University of Puerto Rico-Bayamon](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-puerto-rico-bayamon) | Bayamon, PR | 34% | $34,409 | $8,484 | $5,500 | 0.16x |
| 7 | [University of Puerto Rico-Humacao](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-puerto-rico-humacao) | Humacao, PR | 50% | $29,521 | $12,675 | $5,500 | 0.19x |
| 8 | [University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-puerto-rico-rio-piedras) | San Juan, PR | 51% | $35,723 | $9,175 | $5,500 | 0.15x |
| 9 | [Albizu University-Miami](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/albizu-university-miami) | Miami, FL | 48% | $41,544 | $19,849 | $5,500 | 0.13x |
| 10 | [Albizu University-San Juan](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/albizu-university-san-juan) | San Juan, PR | 68% | $41,544 | $9,732 | $5,500 | 0.13x |
| 11 | [University of Puerto Rico at Ponce](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-puerto-rico-at-ponce) | Ponce, PR | 48% | $31,394 | $10,990 | $5,500 | 0.18x |
| 12 | [Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Barranquitas](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/inter-american-university-of-puerto-rico-barranquitas) | Barranquitas, PR | 38% | $23,204 | $8,726 | $5,200 | 0.22x |
| 13 | [Atlantic University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/atlantic-university) | Guaynabo, PR | 38% | $25,272 | $6,425 | $5,457 | 0.22x |
| 14 | [Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Fajardo](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/inter-american-university-of-puerto-rico-fajardo) | Fajardo, PR | 35% | $23,132 | $9,230 | $5,750 | 0.25x |
| 15 | [Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/inter-american-university-of-puerto-rico-aguadilla) | Aguadilla, PR | 41% | $24,776 | $8,742 | $6,250 | 0.25x |
| 16 | [Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/inter-american-university-of-puerto-rico-ponce) | Mercedita, PR | 42% | $26,721 | $9,026 | $6,375 | 0.24x |
| 17 | [Dewey University-Hato Rey](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/dewey-university-hato-rey) | Hato Rey, PR | 53% | $19,761 | $3,577 | $5,185 | 0.26x |
| 18 | [Boricua College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/boricua-college) | New York, NY | 74% | $35,348 | $15,245 | $6,733 | 0.19x |
| 19 | [University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-puerto-rico-mayaguez) | Mayaguez, PR | 48% | $48,992 | $17,936 | $8,250 | 0.17x |
| 20 | [Johns Hopkins University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/johns-hopkins-university) | Baltimore, MD | 94% | $87,555 | $18,809 | $10,250 | 0.12x |
| 21 | [United States Merchant Marine Academy](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/united-states-merchant-marine-academy) | Kings Point, NY | 81% | $90,610 | $6,174 | $8,833 | 0.1x |
| 22 | [North American University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/north-american-university) | Stafford, TX | 29% | N/A | $18,721 | $4,925 | N/A |
| 23 | [Wellesley College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/wellesley-college) | Wellesley, MA | 91% | $84,803 | $25,496 | $10,000 | 0.12x |
| 24 | [Princeton University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/princeton-university) | Princeton, NJ | 97% | $110,066 | $6,128 | $10,320 | 0.09x |
| 25 | [Brigham Young University-Hawaii](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/brigham-young-university-hawaii) | Laie, HI | 54% | $52,064 | $16,774 | $9,413 | 0.18x |
| 26 | [CUNY Queens College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cuny-queens-college) | Queens, NY | 56% | $62,763 | $4,195 | $10,298 | 0.16x |
| 27 | [Rice University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/rice-university) | Houston, TX | 95% | $89,718 | $13,370 | $11,000 | 0.12x |
| 28 | [Inter American University of Puerto Rico-San German](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/inter-american-university-of-puerto-rico-san-german) | San German, PR | 43% | $25,416 | $9,148 | $8,500 | 0.33x |
| 29 | [Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/puerto-rico-conservatory-of-music) | San Juan, PR | 62% | $19,474 | $7,260 | $8,875 | 0.46x |
| 30 | [Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Bayamon](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/inter-american-university-of-puerto-rico-bayamon) | Bayamon, PR | 34% | $29,936 | $9,284 | $8,250 | 0.28x |
| 31 | [Brigham Young University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/brigham-young-university) | Provo, UT | 82% | $75,790 | $15,564 | $11,069 | 0.15x |
| 32 | [CUNY Lehman College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cuny-lehman-college) | Bronx, NY | 50% | $58,013 | $3,148 | $10,950 | 0.19x |
| 33 | [Brown University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/brown-university) | Providence, RI | 96% | $93,487 | $25,184 | $11,428 | 0.12x |
| 34 | [CUNY Medgar Evers College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cuny-medgar-evers-college) | Brooklyn, NY | 21% | $46,498 | $5,718 | $10,988 | 0.24x |
| 35 | [CUNY Brooklyn College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cuny-brooklyn-college) | Brooklyn, NY | 55% | $60,752 | $3,103 | $11,000 | 0.18x |
| 36 | [CUNY Hunter College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cuny-hunter-college) | New York, NY | 59% | $63,163 | $2,984 | $11,000 | 0.17x |
| 37 | [CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cuny-john-jay-college-of-criminal-justice) | New York, NY | 56% | $56,195 | $3,203 | $11,000 | 0.2x |
| 38 | [CUNY York College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cuny-york-college) | Jamaica, NY | 31% | $56,945 | $4,456 | $11,000 | 0.19x |
| 39 | [Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/inter-american-university-of-puerto-rico-arecibo) | Arecibo, PR | 37% | $24,539 | $9,217 | $9,000 | 0.37x |
| 40 | [Universidad Central de Bayamon](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/universidad-central-de-bayamon) | Bayamón, PR | 37% | $25,021 | $4,827 | $9,393 | 0.38x |
| 41 | [CUNY New York City College of Technology](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cuny-new-york-city-college-of-technology) | Brooklyn, NY | 20% | $49,365 | $5,127 | $10,533 | 0.21x |
| 42 | [CUNY Bernard M Baruch College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cuny-bernard-m-baruch-college) | New York, NY | 72% | $75,971 | $3,033 | $11,512 | 0.15x |
| 43 | [Stanford University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/stanford-university) | Stanford, CA | 92% | $124,080 | $13,807 | $12,000 | 0.1x |
| 44 | [Pomona College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/pomona-college) | Claremont, CA | 93% | $77,779 | $19,285 | $11,782 | 0.15x |
| 45 | [Florida College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/florida-college) | Temple Terrace, FL | 53% | $43,445 | $23,931 | $12,000 | 0.28x |
| 46 | [SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/suny-college-of-environmental-science-and-forestry) | Syracuse, NY | 68% | $55,763 | $18,952 | $11,000 | 0.2x |
| 47 | [Yale University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/yale-university) | New Haven, CT | 96% | $100,533 | $23,777 | $12,975 | 0.13x |
| 48 | [CUNY City College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/cuny-city-college) | New York, NY | 56% | $66,039 | $3,776 | $11,990 | 0.18x |
| 49 | [Duke University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/duke-university) | Durham, NC | 96% | $97,800 | $29,612 | $13,000 | 0.13x |
| 50 | [New Mexico Highlands University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/new-mexico-highlands-university) | Las Vegas, NM | 26% | $45,937 | $14,838 | $11,399 | 0.25x |

## Data Sources

- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov)
- Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (https://opportunityinsights.org/data)
- Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
- Times Higher Education World University Rankings
- NCES IPEDS

## Citation

CollegeRanker. "Colleges With the Lowest Student Debt." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-05-31. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/lowest-student-debt

## License

This data summary is provided for informational purposes. Underlying data from federal sources (College Scorecard, IPEDS) is public domain. Opportunity Insights data is available under their data use agreement at https://opportunityinsights.org/data/.