2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Big Twelve Conference

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The two-year student loan default rate measures how many graduates from the institution go into default on their student loans with two years of graduation. This is a complicated metric with many factors, but in general colleges and universities with high student loan default rates may indicate that students have trouble finding employment or well-paying jobs after college. This may mean that the institution has a less-established reputation with employers or that it graduates a higher percentage of students with degrees in lower-wage fields of study.

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Rank	Institution	Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year)	Acceptance Rate	SAT Score	Your Est. Net Price Avg. Net Price	Median Starting Salary	Save
1	Brigham Young University	1.1	67.78	1,310 – 1,440	16694	58450	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Big Twelve Conference Brigham Young University Provo, UT Management Science is the most commonly chosen undergraduate major at Brigham Young University. BYU has four satellite campuses in Jerusalem, Salt Lake City, Washington D.C., and London. 567 Cougars compete in the NCAA Division I-FBS, with most teams taking part in the Big Twelve Conference. Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 1.1 % Acceptance Rate 67.8% SAT Score 1,310 – 1,440 Avg. Net Price $16,694 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $58,450
2	University of Utah	2.8	85.98	1,130 – 1,350	16583	55239	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Big Twelve Conference University of Utah Salt Lake City, UT The University of Utah’s campus is nestled between mountains and the Great Salt Lake. 28,000 are undergraduate students. The oldest higher education institution in the state, U of U was founded in 1850 and originally called University of Deseret. Class sizes are larger, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 19 to 1. Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 2.8 % Acceptance Rate 86.0% SAT Score 1,130 – 1,350 Avg. Net Price $16,583 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $55,239
3	Texas Christian University	3.5	44.49	1,190 – 1,380	41848	60435	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Big Twelve Conference Texas Christian University Fort Worth, TX 80% of students attending Texas Christian University receive institutional grants to help cover the cost of college. With an impressive 93% first year retention rate, the school has a 14 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Finance, and General are the most common undergraduate majors. Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 3.5 % Acceptance Rate 44.5% SAT Score 1,190 – 1,380 Avg. Net Price $41,848 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $60,435
4	Iowa State University	3.8	88.66	1,090 – 1,330	17779	53873	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Big Twelve Conference Iowa State University Ames, IA Iowa State University's full name is Iowa State University of Science and Technology. The school has an 18 to 1 student to faculty ratio, 88% first year retention rate, and 52% 4-year graduation rate....Read more Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 3.8 % Acceptance Rate 88.7% SAT Score 1,090 – 1,330 Avg. Net Price $17,779 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $53,873
5	University of Central Florida	4	40.11	1,210 – 1,350	13351	47137	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Big Twelve Conference University of Central Florida Orlando, FL Found in Orlando, the University of Central Florida accepts 40% of applicants and requests $30 to apply, but fee waivers may be available. About 42% of students attending the University of Central Florida will receive institutional grant aid....Read more Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 4.0 % Acceptance Rate 40.1% SAT Score 1,210 – 1,350 Avg. Net Price $13,351 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $47,137
6	Baylor University	4.3	51.28	1,230 – 1,420	47001	56532	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Big Twelve Conference Baylor University Waco, TX Baylor University sits along the Brazos River. Alumni include John Lee Hancock, Jeff Dunham, Thomas Harris, and Michael Johnson. A fairly selective school, 14% of accepted students enroll and 91% will stay on after they complete their first year. 81% graduate within six years. Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 4.3 % Acceptance Rate 51.3% SAT Score 1,230 – 1,420 Avg. Net Price $47,001 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $56,532
7	University of Colorado Boulder	4.6	78.08	1,270 – 1,440	26231	54939	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Big Twelve Conference University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, CO The Boulder campus is the flagship school of the University of Colorado system. It was actually founded a few months before Colorado became a state in 1876. Athletes, called the Buffaloes, are part of the Big Twelve Conference....Read more Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 4.6 % Acceptance Rate 78.1% SAT Score 1,270 – 1,440 Avg. Net Price $26,231 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $54,939
8	University of Kansas	5.1	93.48	1,050 – 1,310	19205	51217	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Big Twelve Conference University of Kansas Lawrence, KS Located in Lawrence, the University of Kansas accepts 93% of applicants. They charge $40 for undergraduate applications, but some students qualify for fee waivers. Approximately 87% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid. At the University of Kansas, there is a 86% first year retention rate and 53% of......Read more Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 5.1 % Acceptance Rate 93.5% SAT Score 1,050 – 1,310 Avg. Net Price $19,205 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $51,217
9	University of Arizona	5.4	86.14	1,110 – 1,370	19055	47665	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Big Twelve Conference University of Arizona Tucson, AZ The University of Arizona is older than the state, having been founded in 1885 (Arizona only became a state in 1912). A public research university, the school charges $50 for undergraduate applications. The Arizona Wildcats, or simply “Cats,” play in the Big Twelve Conference. Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 5.4 % Acceptance Rate 86.1% SAT Score 1,110 – 1,370 Avg. Net Price $19,055 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $47,665
10	University of Houston	5.7	73.92	1,160 – 1,340	14309	52768	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Big Twelve Conference University of Houston Houston, TX Found in Houston, the University of Houston’s acceptance rate is 74%. They require $75 for undergraduate applications. Approximately 56% of students attending the University of Houston currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 5.7 % Acceptance Rate 73.9% SAT Score 1,160 – 1,340 Avg. Net Price $14,309 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $52,768
11	Texas Tech University	5.8	72.65	1,110 – 1,290	16919	52588	#11 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Big Twelve Conference Texas Tech University Lubbock, TX Texas Tech University’s motto is “From here, it’s possible.” The school has a first year retention rate of 85%. Wearing scarlet and black, the Scarlet Raiders compete in Football, Basketball, and Baseball. Their mascot is The Masked Rider. Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 5.8 % Acceptance Rate 72.7% SAT Score 1,110 – 1,290 Avg. Net Price $16,919 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $52,588
12	Kansas State University	6.4	81.69	1,050 – 1,280	20527	49330	#12 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Big Twelve Conference Kansas State University Manhattan, KS Located in Manhattan, Kansas State University accepted 82% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They request $40 for undergraduate applications. About 89% of students attending Kansas State University currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 6.4 % Acceptance Rate 81.7% SAT Score 1,050 – 1,280 Avg. Net Price $20,527 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $49,330
13	University of Cincinnati-Main Campus	6.6	85.29	1,180 – 1,350	24696	48310	#13 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Big Twelve Conference University of Cincinnati-Main Campus Cincinnati, OH Found in Cincinnati, the University of Cincinnati-Main Campus accepted 85% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They request $50 for undergraduate applications. Approximately 67% of students attending the University of Cincinnati-Main Campus will receive grant aid from the school....Read more Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 6.6 % Acceptance Rate 85.3% SAT Score 1,180 – 1,350 Avg. Net Price $24,696 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $48,310
14	Oklahoma State University-Main Campus	6.8	75.04	1,040 – 1,280	19561	46855	#14 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Big Twelve Conference Oklahoma State University-Main Campus Stillwater, OK Oklahoma State University’s Cowboys and Cowgirls compete in the NCAA Division I-FBS Big Twelve Conference and have brought home over 50 team championships. The average athletic scholarship is $20,218. OSU is somewhat selective. Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 6.8 % Acceptance Rate 75.0% SAT Score 1,040 – 1,280 Avg. Net Price $19,561 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $46,855
15	Arizona State University Campus Immersion	7.1	89.89	1,090 – 1,320	17779	52843	#15 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Big Twelve Conference Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ Arizona State University was founded in 1885, first known as the Territorial Normal School, an institution to train teachers. The campus is home to the Grady Gammage Memorial Auditorium, which was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. ASU has an 87% first year retention rate, and many students major in Computer Science. Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 7.1 % Acceptance Rate 89.9% SAT Score 1,090 – 1,320 Avg. Net Price $17,779 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $52,843
16	Arizona State University Digital Immersion	7.1	66.69	860 – 1,020	0	52843	#16 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Big Twelve Conference Arizona State University Digital Immersion Scottsdale, AZ Based in Scottsdale, Arizona State University Digital Immersion accepts 67% of applicants and requests $70 to apply, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 0% of students attending Arizona State University Digital Immersion currently receive grant aid from the school. At Arizona State University Digital Immersion,......Read more Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 7.1 % Acceptance Rate 66.7% SAT Score 860 – 1,020 Avg. Net Price $0 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $52,843
17	West Virginia University	8.6	89	1,020 – 1,230	15169	45181	#17 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Big Twelve Conference West Virginia University Morgantown, WV Based in Morgantown, West Virginia University’s acceptance rate is 89%. They request $50 for undergraduate applications, but fee waivers may be offered. Approximately 91% of students attending West Virginia University will receive grant aid from the school....Read more Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 8.6 % Acceptance Rate 89.0% SAT Score 1,020 – 1,230 Avg. Net Price $15,169 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,181