2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Empire Eight

About

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.

Sort by:

View as:

Rank	Institution	Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year)	Acceptance Rate	SAT Score	Your Est. Net Price Avg. Net Price	Median Starting Salary	Save
1	Houghton University	1.6	88.66	1,180 – 1,380	22358	36376	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Empire Eight Houghton University Houghton, NY Located in Houghton, Houghton University accepted 89% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and requires unknown for undergraduate applications and . Approximately 95% of students at Houghton University currently receive grant aid from the school....Read more Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 1.6 % Acceptance Rate 88.7% SAT Score 1,180 – 1,380 Avg. Net Price $22,358 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $36,376
2	Nazareth University	2.2	74.72	1,080 – 1,340	31321	47717	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Empire Eight Nazareth University Rochester, NY Based in Rochester, Nazareth University accepts 75% of applicants. They request unknown for undergraduate applications and . Approximately 99% of students at Nazareth University will receive grant aid from the school....Read more Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 2.2 % Acceptance Rate 74.7% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,340 Avg. Net Price $31,321 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $47,717
3	State University of New York at Cortland	2.2	59.79	1,100 – 1,250	18474	46535	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Empire Eight State University of New York at Cortland Cortland, NY Based in Cortland, State University of New York at Cortland accepts 60% of applicants. Undergraduates have to pay $50 to apply. Approximately 54% of students at State University of New York at Cortland will receive grant aid from the school. 81% of students decide to stay at State University of New York at Cortland after......Read more Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 2.2 % Acceptance Rate 59.8% SAT Score 1,100 – 1,250 Avg. Net Price $18,474 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $46,535
4	St. John Fisher University	2.7	66.4	1,120 – 1,300	28969	61198	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Empire Eight St. John Fisher University Rochester, NY Based in Rochester, St- John Fisher University accepted 66% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They request unknown for undergraduate applications and . Approximately 100% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid. 86% of students decide to stay at St- John Fisher University after......Read more Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 2.7 % Acceptance Rate 66.4% SAT Score 1,120 – 1,300 Avg. Net Price $28,969 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $61,198
5	Russell Sage College	2.8	53.26	1,020 – 1,250	23588	51139	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Empire Eight Russell Sage College Troy, NY Found in Troy, Russell Sage College accepted 53% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. About 100% of attending students currently receive grant aid from the school. At Russell Sage College, there is a 78% first year retention rate and a 52% four......Read more Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 2.8 % Acceptance Rate 53.3% SAT Score 1,020 – 1,250 Avg. Net Price $23,588 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $51,139
6	Alfred University	3.5	73.84	1,110 – 1,320	26127	41703	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Empire Eight Alfred University Alfred, NY Found in Alfred, Alfred University accepts 74% of applicants. They request unknown for undergraduate applications and $60 for graduate applications. Approximately 99% of students attending Alfred University currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. At Alfred University, there is a......Read more Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 3.5 % Acceptance Rate 73.8% SAT Score 1,110 – 1,320 Avg. Net Price $26,127 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $41,703
7	Hartwick College	3.5	69.5	960 – 1,290	26818	50452	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Empire Eight Hartwick College Oneonta, NY Found in Oneonta, Hartwick College’s acceptance rate is 70% and requests unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 100% of students at Hartwick College will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. 70% of students continued studying at Hartwick College after completing......Read more Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 3.5 % Acceptance Rate 69.5% SAT Score 960 – 1,290 Avg. Net Price $26,818 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $50,452
8	Keuka College	3.6	68.08	940 – 1,140	26153	50940	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Empire Eight Keuka College Keuka Park, NY Based in Keuka Park, Keuka College accepted 68% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They charge unknown for undergraduate applications and . Approximately 100% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid. 73% of students continued studying at Keuka College after completing their......Read more Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 3.6 % Acceptance Rate 68.1% SAT Score 940 – 1,140 Avg. Net Price $26,153 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $50,940
9	Elmira College	5	76.96	1,140 – 1,370	24551	49057	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Empire Eight Elmira College Elmira, NY Located in Elmira, Elmira College accepts 77% of applicants. They charge unknown for undergraduate applications and . About 100% of students at Elmira College will receive grant aid from the school. They receive $23,140 on average. The first year retention rate is 70%....Read more Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 5.0 % Acceptance Rate 77.0% SAT Score 1,140 – 1,370 Avg. Net Price $24,551 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $49,057
10	SUNY Brockport	5.1	70.68	1,110 – 1,280	15343	47164	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Empire Eight SUNY Brockport Brockport, NY Located in Brockport, SUNY Brockport accepted 71% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and charges $50 for undergraduate applications. About 82% of attending students currently receive grant aid from the school....Read more Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 5.1 % Acceptance Rate 70.7% SAT Score 1,110 – 1,280 Avg. Net Price $15,343 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $47,164
11	Utica University	6.7	86.79	1,030 – 1,210	22510	57422	#11 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Empire Eight Utica University Utica, NY Located in Utica, Utica University accepted 87% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and requires $40 for undergraduate applications and $50 for graduate applications. Approximately 95% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 6.7 % Acceptance Rate 86.8% SAT Score 1,030 – 1,210 Avg. Net Price $22,510 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $57,422
12	SUNY Morrisville	11.1	90.78	780 – 1,300	16855	39759	#12 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Empire Eight SUNY Morrisville Morrisville, NY Based in Morrisville, SUNY Morrisville’s acceptance rate is 91%. They request $50 for undergraduate applications. Approximately 89% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid. They are given $2,057 on average. The first year retention rate is 57%....Read more Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 11.1 % Acceptance Rate 90.8% SAT Score 780 – 1,300 Avg. Net Price $16,855 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $39,759