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Colleges in Each State with the Least Student Debt in 2026
Student debt continues to be a pressing issue in the United States, impacting millions of graduates. However, some colleges stand out for their commitment to minimizing debt for their students upon graduation.
In this article, we will explore the colleges across each state that have produced graduates with the least debt, highlighting their efforts to provide affordable education.
Here’s some context:
- As of 2026, Americans owe approximately $1.73 trillion in student loan debt, affecting around 45 million borrowers.
- This figure exceeds U.S. credit card debt by approximately $650 billion.
- The average student loan debt for the Class of 2021 was about $39,950, reflecting a steady increase.
- The median monthly student loan payment for borrowers aged 22 to 32 is now around $220.
We commend these institutions for their role in addressing the student debt crisis.
Below are the states with the colleges that have the least debt for their graduates:
- South Carolina – Medical University of South Carolina
- New Jersey – Beth Medrash Govoha
- Kentucky – Berea College
- Texas – Parker University
- Massachusetts – Harvard University
- New York – United States Merchant Marine Academy
- Missouri – Logan University
- Iowa – Palmer College of Chiropractic
- North Carolina – Duke University
- Virginia – University of Management and Technology
Summary of Findings
- The Medical University of South Carolina leads with a median debt of just $4,000 for its graduates.
- Harvard University records the least debt among graduates in Massachusetts, with a median of $6,500.
- Duke University maintains a similar position in North Carolina, with graduates facing a median debt of $7,500.
- Only one school in this list exceeds the $20,000 mark: graduates from the University of Sioux Falls in South Dakota have a median debt of $22,750.
How We Conducted Our Research
This analysis utilized data from the Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
We focused on the variable GRAD_DEBT_MDN to determine the median debt for students completing their studies.
Additionally, our research concentrated on institutions primarily awarding bachelor’s degrees.
By sorting each state based on this variable, we identified the colleges that leave their graduates with the least debt.
To find the college in your state with the lowest debt burden for graduates, check out the table above.
Author
McLeod Brown is a former writer and researcher for the Zippia Career Advice blog. His work at Zippia focused on understanding the relationship between colleges, debt, and jobs. A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Wilmington with a BA in Business Administrator, he is now pursuing a masters of science in analytics from the Institute of Advanced Analytics.
