2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Centennial 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	Swarthmore College	0	7.46	1,490 – 1,560	17930	56211	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Centennial Conference Swarthmore College Swarthmore, PA Swarthmore College was one of the first coeducational colleges in the country. It is associated with the Tri-College Consortium and the Quaker Consortium, which means students can take classes at the University of Pennsylvania, Bryn Mawr, and Haverford, in addition to Swarthmore....Read more Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) -- Acceptance Rate 7.5% SAT Score 1,490 – 1,560 Avg. Net Price $17,930 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $56,211
2	Ursinus College	1.4	91.77	1,220 – 1,390	31625	54542	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Centennial Conference Ursinus College Collegeville, PA 100% of students at Ursinus College receive grant aid, around $43,758 per student. The school sits on a 170-acre campus and has several programs that promote STEM, including the Supporting Inclusive Excellence Program and Science in Motion. Applied Economics is a popular area of study among its undergraduates. Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 1.4 % Acceptance Rate 91.8% SAT Score 1,220 – 1,390 Avg. Net Price $31,625 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $54,542
3	Gettysburg College	1.6	38.9	1,240 – 1,460	35729	57274	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Centennial Conference Gettysburg College Gettysburg, PA Located in Gettysburg, Gettysburg College accepts 39% of applicants and charges $60 for undergraduate applications. Approximately 95% of students attending Gettysburg College will receive institutional grant aid....Read more Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 1.6 % Acceptance Rate 38.9% SAT Score 1,240 – 1,460 Avg. Net Price $35,729 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $57,274
4	Dickinson College	1.7	42.09	1,340 – 1,460	40242	57110	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Centennial Conference Dickinson College Carlisle, PA Found in Carlisle, Dickinson College accepts 42% of applicants and requires $65 for undergraduate applications and . Approximately 94% of students attending Dickinson College currently receive institutional grant aid....Read more Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 1.7 % Acceptance Rate 42.1% SAT Score 1,340 – 1,460 Avg. Net Price $40,242 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $57,110
5	Johns Hopkins University	1.7	6.44	1,520 – 1,580	22844	86306	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Centennial Conference Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD Johns Hopkins University was founded in 1876 and named for its first benefactor. The first research university in the country, its motto in Latin is “veritas vos liberabit,” or “the truth will set you free.” The Blue Jays men’s lacrosse team plays in the Big Ten Conference as an affiliate member and has over 40 national titles....Read more Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 1.7 % Acceptance Rate 6.4% SAT Score 1,520 – 1,580 Avg. Net Price $22,844 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $86,306
6	Bryn Mawr College	1.9	29.43	1,300 – 1,500	39383	53102	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Centennial Conference Bryn Mawr College Bryn Mawr, PA Bryn Mawr College is an extremely selective school. Part of the Seven Sisters College Consortium, it has a 92% first year retention rate and an 8 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio. The school motto is “Veritatem Dilexi,” which is Latin for “I Delight in the Truth.” Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 1.9 % Acceptance Rate 29.4% SAT Score 1,300 – 1,500 Avg. Net Price $39,383 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $53,102
7	Franklin and Marshall College	1.9	28.19	1,330 – 1,470	37475	62544	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Centennial Conference Franklin and Marshall College Lancaster, PA Located in Lancaster, Franklin and Marshall College accepts 28% of applicants. They request $62 for undergraduate applications and . About 68% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid....Read more Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 1.9 % Acceptance Rate 28.2% SAT Score 1,330 – 1,470 Avg. Net Price $37,475 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $62,544
8	Muhlenberg College	2	64.01	1,250 – 1,400	31814	53265	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Centennial Conference Muhlenberg College Allentown, PA In addition to an 82-acre campus, Muhlenberg College also maintains nearby 60-acre Graver Arboretum and 40-acre Raker Wildlife Preserve. Most of their programs focus on liberal arts and pre-professional education – Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General is a popular area of study....Read more Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 2.0 % Acceptance Rate 64.0% SAT Score 1,250 – 1,400 Avg. Net Price $31,814 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $53,265
9	Washington College	2.2	56.89	1,160 – 1,400	33553	48763	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Centennial Conference Washington College Chestertown, MD The Washington College dates back to 1723 when it began as the Kent County Free School, making it the 10th oldest college in the United States. It was also the first college chartered after the American Revolution, and George Washington was heavily involved in the founding. The school received its current name in 1782. Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 2.2 % Acceptance Rate 56.9% SAT Score 1,160 – 1,400 Avg. Net Price $33,553 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $48,763
10	Haverford College	2.5	12.37	1,460 – 1,550	22828	53353	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Centennial Conference Haverford College Haverford, PA Haverford College is a liberal arts school founded in 1833 by the Religious Society of Friends, also known as Quakers. It’s part of the Tri-College Consortium, so students can attend classes at nearby schools: Bryn Mawr and Swarthmore....Read more Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 2.5 % Acceptance Rate 12.4% SAT Score 1,460 – 1,550 Avg. Net Price $22,828 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $53,353
11	McDaniel College	2.6	77.93	1,060 – 1,250	23088	47879	#11 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Centennial Conference McDaniel College Westminster, MD McDaniel College, originally founded in 1867 as Western Maryland College, is a private liberal arts school. 100% of students who attend receive grant aid, $39,979 on average. With a 13 to 1 student to faculty ratio, 56 will graduate in 4 years....Read more Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 2.6 % Acceptance Rate 77.9% SAT Score 1,060 – 1,250 Avg. Net Price $23,088 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $47,879
12	Susquehanna University	3.5	78.71	1,100 – 1,310	27258	51535	#12 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Centennial Conference Susquehanna University Selinsgrove, PA Based in Selinsgrove, Susquehanna University accepts 79% of applicants. They request unknown for undergraduate applications and . Approximately 95% of students attending Susquehanna University currently receive institutional grant aid. On average, these students receive $42,577 each. The first year retention rate is 86%....Read more Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 3.5 % Acceptance Rate 78.7% SAT Score 1,100 – 1,310 Avg. Net Price $27,258 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $51,535