2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Division III Independents

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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	Pacific Lutheran University	2.1	78	1,070 – 1,290	23841	52212	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Division III Independents Pacific Lutheran University Tacoma, WA Pacific Lutheran University’s motto is “Education for Lives of Thoughtful Inquiry, Service, Leadership, and Care.” Many students study Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Business Administration and Management, and General. The school opened in 1894, where tuition was $1 per week....Read more Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 2.1 % Acceptance Rate 78.0% SAT Score 1,070 – 1,290 Avg. Net Price $23,841 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $52,212
2	Maine Maritime Academy	3.2	56.06	1,100 – 1,260	21433	93944	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Division III Independents Maine Maritime Academy Castine, ME Located on a peninsula on the Bagaduce River and Penobscot Bay, the Maine Maritime Academy is a non-federal maritime training school. Students aren’t required to join the military after graduation. Many study Marine Science/Merchant Marine Officer. A fairly selective school, 30% of those accepted enroll. Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 3.2 % Acceptance Rate 56.1% SAT Score 1,100 – 1,260 Avg. Net Price $21,433 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $93,944
3	Cairn University-Langhorne	3.8	88.17	1,000 – 1,160	27603	37077	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Division III Independents Cairn University-Langhorne Langhorne, PA Based in Langhorne, Cairn University-Langhorne accepted 88% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and charges $25 for undergraduate applications. About 62% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid....Read more Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 3.8 % Acceptance Rate 88.2% SAT Score 1,000 – 1,160 Avg. Net Price $27,603 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $37,077
4	King's College	3.8	93.05	1,080 – 1,280	25608	51734	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Division III Independents King's College Wilkes-Barre, PA King's College, founded in 1946, began as a college for men however today men make up 54% of the student population and 45% of enrolled students are women. Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other, Physician Assistant, Business Administration and Management, and General are popular majors and 59% of students will......Read more Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 3.8 % Acceptance Rate 93.1% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,280 Avg. Net Price $25,608 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $51,734
5	University of California-Santa Cruz	4.3	65.57	1,180 – 1,390	16526	49716	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Division III Independents University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CA Found in Santa Cruz, the University of California-Santa Cruz accepts 66% of applicants and requests $80 to apply, but fee waivers may be available. About 57% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid. 88% of students decide to stay at the University of California-Santa Cruz after completing their first year....Read more Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 4.3 % Acceptance Rate 65.6% SAT Score 1,180 – 1,390 Avg. Net Price $16,526 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $49,716
6	Albertus Magnus College	5.1	64.37	830 – 1,160	30179	47153	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Division III Independents Albertus Magnus College New Haven, CT Found in New Haven, Albertus Magnus College’s acceptance rate is 64%. They charge unknown for undergraduate applications and $50 for graduate applications. About 97% of students attending Albertus Magnus College currently receive institutional grant aid. At Albertus Magnus College, there is a 74% first year retention rate and......Read more Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 5.1 % Acceptance Rate 64.4% SAT Score 830 – 1,160 Avg. Net Price $30,179 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $47,153
7	Lyon College	5.2	65.54	1,080 – 1,240	22675	37629	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Division III Independents Lyon College Batesville, AR Found in Batesville, Lyon College accepts 66% of applicants. They charge unknown for undergraduate applications and . About 100% of students at Lyon College currently receive institutional grant aid. At Lyon College, there is a 50% first year retention rate and a 37% four year graduation rate....Read more Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 5.2 % Acceptance Rate 65.5% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,240 Avg. Net Price $22,675 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $37,629
8	Hilbert College	7	98	970 – 1,240	22224	45369	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Division III Independents Hilbert College Hamburg, NY Found in Hamburg, Hilbert College accepts 98% of applicants. They charge unknown for undergraduate applications and $25 for graduate applications. Approximately 96% of students attending Hilbert College will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. 71% of students continued their studies at......Read more Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 7.0 % Acceptance Rate 98.0% SAT Score 970 – 1,240 Avg. Net Price $22,224 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $45,369