2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Missouri Valley 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	Belmont University	1.4	95.28	1,180 – 1,370	37558	42770	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Missouri Valley Conference Belmont University Nashville, TN Located in Nashville, Belmont University accepted 95% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They charge $50 for undergraduate applications, but some students qualify for fee waivers. About 91% of students at Belmont University currently receive grant aid from the school. The college’s first year......Read more Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 1.4 % Acceptance Rate 95.3% SAT Score 1,180 – 1,370 Avg. Net Price $37,558 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $42,770
2	Bradley University	2.4	76.75	1,060 – 1,290	24703	59114	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Missouri Valley Conference Bradley University Peoria, IL Found in Peoria, Bradley University’s acceptance rate is 77%. They require unknown for undergraduate applications. About 100% of students attending Bradley University will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. The institution’s first year retention rate is 82% and its four year graduation......Read more Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 2.4 % Acceptance Rate 76.8% SAT Score 1,060 – 1,290 Avg. Net Price $24,703 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $59,114
3	North Dakota State University	2.5	94.96	1,010 – 1,210	16461	54312	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Missouri Valley Conference North Dakota State University Fargo, ND Located in Fargo, North Dakota State University accepts 95% of applicants. Undergraduates have to send in unknown to apply. About 70% of students attending North Dakota State University currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable....Read more Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 2.5 % Acceptance Rate 95.0% SAT Score 1,010 – 1,210 Avg. Net Price $16,461 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $54,312
4	South Dakota State University	2.7	98.34	1,020 – 1,220	18233	49564	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Missouri Valley Conference South Dakota State University Brookings, SD South Dakota State University is the largest university in the state. Each year, the school receives around 7,300 applications. 94% of enrolled students get grant aid, $4,327 on average. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse is the most commonly chosen major by far. Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 2.7 % Acceptance Rate 98.3% SAT Score 1,020 – 1,220 Avg. Net Price $18,233 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $49,564
5	University of North Dakota	2.8	76.9	1,050 – 1,250	18227	54588	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Missouri Valley Conference University of North Dakota Grand Forks, ND Located in Grand Forks, the University of North Dakota’s acceptance rate is 77%. They charge $35 for undergraduate applications, but some students qualify for fee waivers. Approximately 71% of students attending the University of North Dakota will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. At......Read more Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 2.8 % Acceptance Rate 76.9% SAT Score 1,050 – 1,250 Avg. Net Price $18,227 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $54,588
6	University of Illinois Chicago	3.5	77.35	1,150 – 1,360	11499	53218	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Missouri Valley Conference University of Illinois Chicago Chicago, IL Based in Chicago, the University of Illinois Chicago accepts 77% of applicants. They charge $60 for undergraduate applications, but fee waivers may be offered. About 69% of students at the University of Illinois Chicago currently receive grant aid from the school. The school’s first year retention rate is 80% and around 36% of......Read more Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 3.5 % Acceptance Rate 77.4% SAT Score 1,150 – 1,360 Avg. Net Price $11,499 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $53,218
7	Illinois State University	3.8	88.15	1,010 – 1,220	20871	50599	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Missouri Valley Conference Illinois State University Normal, IL Located in Normal, Illinois State University’s acceptance rate is 88% and charges $55 for undergraduate applications. About 94% of students at Illinois State University will receive grant aid from the school. At Illinois State University, there is a 81% first year retention rate and a 48% four year graduation rate....Read more Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 3.8 % Acceptance Rate 88.2% SAT Score 1,010 – 1,220 Avg. Net Price $20,871 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $50,599
8	University of South Dakota	4.3	98.78	1,020 – 1,220	18466	46290	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Missouri Valley Conference University of South Dakota Vermillion, SD Based in Vermillion, the University of South Dakota accepts 99% of applicants. Undergraduates have to send in $20 to apply. About 70% of students at the University of South Dakota currently receive grant aid from the school. 79% of students continued studying at the University of South Dakota after completing their first year....Read more Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 4.3 % Acceptance Rate 98.8% SAT Score 1,020 – 1,220 Avg. Net Price $18,466 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $46,290
9	University of Evansville	4.4	78.13	1,090 – 1,330	21611	46734	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Missouri Valley Conference University of Evansville Evansville, IN Affiliated with the United Methodist Church, the University of Evansville dates back to 1854. It has a satellite center in England. A NCAA Division I without football school, the Purple Aces compete in the Missouri Valley Conference. Classes are on the small size, with a 9 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio. Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 4.4 % Acceptance Rate 78.1% SAT Score 1,090 – 1,330 Avg. Net Price $21,611 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $46,734
10	University of Northern Iowa	4.5	87.13	1,010 – 1,220	15931	47222	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Missouri Valley Conference University of Northern Iowa Cedar Falls, IA Based in Cedar Falls, the University of Northern Iowa’s acceptance rate is 87% and charges $40 for undergraduate applications. Approximately 73% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid. At the University of Northern Iowa, there is a 81% first year retention rate and around 44% of undergraduates will earn......Read more Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 4.5 % Acceptance Rate 87.1% SAT Score 1,010 – 1,220 Avg. Net Price $15,931 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $47,222
11	Western Illinois University	5.1	74.96	850 – 1,130	12168	43057	#11 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Missouri Valley Conference Western Illinois University Macomb, IL Found in Macomb, Western Illinois University accepts 75% of applicants. They require $30 for undergraduate applications. About 53% of students attending Western Illinois University currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. At Western Illinois University, there is a 58% first year......Read more Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 5.1 % Acceptance Rate 75.0% SAT Score 850 – 1,130 Avg. Net Price $12,168 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $43,057
12	Missouri State University-Springfield	5.8	90.53	1,020 – 1,250	17104	40553	#12 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Missouri Valley Conference Missouri State University-Springfield Springfield, MO Found in Springfield, Missouri State University-Springfield’s acceptance rate is 91%. They request unknown for undergraduate applications and $60 for graduate applications. Approximately 80% of students attending Missouri State University-Springfield currently receive grant aid from the school. The first year retention rate is......Read more Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 5.8 % Acceptance Rate 90.5% SAT Score 1,020 – 1,250 Avg. Net Price $17,104 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $40,553
13	Murray State University	7.3	85.68	1,010 – 1,240	9738	38473	#13 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Missouri Valley Conference Murray State University Murray, KY Based in Murray, Murray State University’s acceptance rate is 86% and requests $40 to apply, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 95% of students at Murray State University currently receive institutional grant aid. The first year retention rate is 75%....Read more Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 7.3 % Acceptance Rate 85.7% SAT Score 1,010 – 1,240 Avg. Net Price $9,738 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $38,473
14	Southern Illinois University-Carbondale	7.6	86.88	920 – 1,190	16131	43087	#14 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Missouri Valley Conference Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Carbondale, IL Located in Carbondale, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale’s acceptance rate is 87% and requests $40 to apply, but fee waivers may be available. About 78% of students attending Southern Illinois University-Carbondale will receive institutional grant aid. 66% of students continued studying at Southern Illinois......Read more Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 7.6 % Acceptance Rate 86.9% SAT Score 920 – 1,190 Avg. Net Price $16,131 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $43,087
15	Indiana State University	7.7	80.77	1,040 – 1,240	13321	41047	#15 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Missouri Valley Conference Indiana State University Terre Haute, IN Located in Terre Haute, Indiana State University accepts 81% of applicants and requires unknown for undergraduate applications and $45 for graduate applications. About 72% of students at Indiana State University currently receive institutional grant aid. The first year retention rate is 65%....Read more Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 7.7 % Acceptance Rate 80.8% SAT Score 1,040 – 1,240 Avg. Net Price $13,321 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $41,047
16	Youngstown State University	14.1	80.66	950 – 1,180	11740	37590	#16 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Missouri Valley Conference Youngstown State University Youngstown, OH Found in Youngstown, Youngstown State University’s acceptance rate is 81%. Undergraduates have to send in $45 to apply. Approximately 82% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid. At Youngstown State University, there is a 75% first year retention rate and a 23% four year graduation rate....Read more Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 14.1 % Acceptance Rate 80.7% SAT Score 950 – 1,180 Avg. Net Price $11,740 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $37,590