Average Student Debt by College: Searchable Database
Data Notice: Figures, rates, and statistics cited in this article are based on the most recent available data at time of writing and may reflect projections or prior-year figures. Always verify current numbers with official sources before making financial, medical, or educational decisions.
Average Student Debt by College: Searchable Database
The national conversation about student debt often treats all borrowing as equal, but the reality is far more nuanced. A graduate of Princeton typically leaves with under $5,000 in debt, while a graduate of a regional for-profit institution may carry $40,000 or more. Knowing how much students actually borrow at specific schools, and what that debt looks like as a monthly payment, is one of the most practical tools available to families making college decisions.
Student Debt by School
The table below includes a representative mix of Ivy League schools (typically low debt), state flagship universities (moderate debt), and for-profit institutions (often high debt) to illustrate the full spectrum. All figures reflect approximate averages for recent graduating classes.
| School | Avg. Debt at Graduation | % Graduating with Debt | Est. Monthly Payment (10-yr) | Cohort Default Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Princeton | ~$4,000 | ~18% | ~$41 | <1% |
| Harvard | ~$5,000 | ~20% | ~$51 | <1% |
| Yale | ~$5,500 | ~18% | ~$56 | <1% |
| Williams College | ~$5,500 | ~20% | ~$56 | <1% |
| Amherst College | ~$6,000 | ~22% | ~$62 | <1% |
| Stanford | ~$6,000 | ~19% | ~$62 | <1% |
| MIT | ~$7,000 | ~25% | ~$72 | <1% |
| Pomona College | ~$6,500 | ~24% | ~$67 | <1% |
| Caltech | ~$7,500 | ~26% | ~$77 | <1% |
| Brown | ~$9,000 | ~25% | ~$93 | <1% |
| Vanderbilt | ~$9,000 | ~22% | ~$93 | <1% |
| Rice University | ~$12,000 | ~30% | ~$124 | <1% |
| Duke | ~$10,000 | ~28% | ~$103 | <1% |
| Northwestern | ~$13,000 | ~32% | ~$134 | <1% |
| Georgetown | ~$14,000 | ~35% | ~$144 | <1% |
| Cornell | ~$15,000 | ~38% | ~$155 | ~1% |
| UVA (in-state) | ~$22,000 | ~45% | ~$227 | ~2% |
| U. of Michigan (in-state) | ~$20,000 | ~42% | ~$206 | ~2% |
| UCLA (in-state) | ~$18,000 | ~40% | ~$186 | ~2% |
| UC Berkeley (in-state) | ~$17,000 | ~38% | ~$175 | ~2% |
| UT Austin (in-state) | ~$21,000 | ~45% | ~$217 | ~2% |
| Penn State (in-state) | ~$32,000 | ~58% | ~$330 | ~3% |
| Ohio State (in-state) | ~$27,000 | ~52% | ~$279 | ~3% |
| U. of Alabama (in-state) | ~$29,000 | ~50% | ~$299 | ~4% |
| Arizona State | ~$24,000 | ~55% | ~$248 | ~4% |
| U. of Florida (in-state) | ~$16,000 | ~38% | ~$165 | ~2% |
| Rutgers (in-state) | ~$26,000 | ~50% | ~$268 | ~3% |
| U. of Phoenix | ~$38,000 | ~70% | ~$392 | ~12% |
| DeVry University | ~$36,000 | ~65% | ~$371 | ~10% |
| Walden University | ~$42,000 | ~72% | ~$433 | ~8% |
| Grand Canyon University | ~$28,000 | ~60% | ~$289 | ~7% |
| Strayer University | ~$34,000 | ~68% | ~$351 | ~11% |
National Averages for Context
Understanding the broader landscape helps put individual school numbers in perspective:
- Average debt for a bachelor’s degree: ~$29,000
- Median monthly payment: ~$250
- Average repayment period: 20 years (though standard plans are 10 years)
- National cohort default rate: ~2.3%
- Total outstanding student debt in the U.S.: ~$1.77 trillion
Students at schools with strong endowments and no-loan financial aid policies consistently graduate with debt well below the national average. For a list of those schools, see Best Colleges That Meet 100% of Financial Need.
How to Estimate Your Own Debt
Before committing to a school, run the numbers using this straightforward process:
- Complete the school’s net price calculator. Every federally funded institution is required to offer one. It will estimate your annual out-of-pocket cost after grants and scholarships.
- Multiply by four (or five). Many students take longer than four years, which increases total borrowing. Be honest about your timeline.
- Subtract savings and contributions. Include 529 plans, family contributions, expected summer earnings, and any outside scholarships.
- The remainder is your likely debt. This is the amount you will need to borrow. Compare it to expected starting salaries in your intended field to assess affordability.
For a detailed guide to the financial aid process, review Financial Aid Guide: FAFSA, CSS Profile, and Scholarships.
When Debt Is Worth It (and When It Is Not)
Not all student debt is created equal. The key variable is what your degree enables you to earn.
Debt is generally manageable when:
- You are attending a school with strong career outcomes and your total borrowing stays below your expected first-year salary.
- You are entering a high-earning field (engineering, computer science, finance, nursing) where starting salaries comfortably cover monthly payments.
- The school has a low default rate and strong alumni network, both indicators that graduates successfully transition into careers.
Debt becomes dangerous when:
- Total borrowing exceeds your expected starting salary.
- You are attending a school with a high default rate (above 5%), which signals that many graduates struggle to repay.
- The school has low graduation rates. Borrowing without completing a degree is the worst financial outcome because you carry the debt without the earning premium of the diploma.
- You are borrowing at for-profit institutions, where average debt is high and career outcomes are often weaker than at public alternatives offering the same programs.
Debt-to-Income Rules of Thumb
Financial advisors generally recommend these benchmarks:
- Total student debt should not exceed your expected first-year salary. A computer science graduate expecting $90,000 can reasonably borrow up to $90,000. An education major expecting $42,000 should keep total debt well below that figure.
- Monthly loan payments should stay under 10% of gross monthly income. On a $50,000 salary, that means a maximum payment of roughly $417 per month, or about $40,000 in total debt on a standard 10-year plan.
- Consider loan type. Federal loans offer income-driven repayment plans, deferment options, and potential forgiveness programs. Private loans typically do not. Exhaust federal borrowing before turning to private lenders.
Key Takeaways
- Debt varies enormously by school type. Ivy League and top liberal arts colleges average under $10,000 in debt at graduation, state flagships range from $16,000 to $32,000, and for-profit institutions often exceed approximately $35,000.
- Default rates tell a story. Schools with default rates above 5% are red flags worth investigating before enrolling.
- Run the net price calculator. It is the single most useful tool for predicting your actual cost before you apply.
- Keep total debt below your expected first-year salary. This rule protects you from unmanageable payments regardless of your field.
- Federal loans first, always. Private loans should be a last resort given their inflexibility.
Next Steps
- Explore Best Colleges That Meet 100% of Financial Need to find schools that eliminate or minimize borrowing through no-loan financial aid policies.
- Walk through the FAFSA and CSS Profile process with our Financial Aid Guide: FAFSA, CSS Profile, and Scholarships.
- Evaluate whether specific schools are worth the investment using How to Choose the Right College: A Decision Framework.
- Search for merit-based awards that can reduce borrowing with our The Complete Guide to College Scholarships in 2026.
Verify all admissions data with the institution directly. Acceptance rates and requirements change annually.