2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Southwestern Athletic 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	Southern University and A & M College	7	49.87	880 – 1,040	18937	33033	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Southwestern Athletic Conference Southern University and A & M College Baton Rouge, LA Located in Baton Rouge, Southern University and A & M College accepted 50% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and requests $20 to apply, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 15% of attending students currently receive grant aid from the school....Read more Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 7.0 % Acceptance Rate 49.9% SAT Score 880 – 1,040 Avg. Net Price $18,937 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $33,033
2	Mississippi Valley State University	10.3	51.16	760 – 970	12304	25817	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Southwestern Athletic Conference Mississippi Valley State University Itta Bena, MS Found in Itta Bena, Mississippi Valley State University accepts 51% of applicants and requests unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. About 48% of students at Mississippi Valley State University will receive grant aid from the school. At Mississippi Valley State University, there is a 62% first year retention......Read more Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 10.3 % Acceptance Rate 51.2% SAT Score 760 – 970 Avg. Net Price $12,304 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $25,817
3	Alabama A & M University	11.4	66.22	840 – 1,040	14064	27851	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Southwestern Athletic Conference Alabama A & M University Normal, AL Based in Normal, Alabama A & M University accepted 66% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle. They require $30 for undergraduate applications. Approximately 66% of students attending Alabama A & M University will receive grant aid from the school. The first year retention rate is 58%....Read more Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 11.4 % Acceptance Rate 66.2% SAT Score 840 – 1,040 Avg. Net Price $14,064 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $27,851
4	Jackson State University	11.7	48.23	850 – 1,050	19892	30530	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Southwestern Athletic Conference Jackson State University Jackson, MS Found in Jackson, Jackson State University’s acceptance rate is 48% and requests $25 to apply, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 71% of students at Jackson State University will receive institutional grant aid. The college’s first year retention rate is 62% and around 24% of students will graduate within four......Read more Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 11.7 % Acceptance Rate 48.2% SAT Score 850 – 1,050 Avg. Net Price $19,892 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $30,530
5	Bethune-Cookman University	12.2	88.24	830 – 990	14705	28282	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Southwestern Athletic Conference Bethune-Cookman University Daytona Beach, FL Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 12.2 % Acceptance Rate 88.2% SAT Score 830 – 990 Avg. Net Price $14,705 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $28,282
6	Grambling State University	12.4	23.68	890 – 1,040	19092	25589	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Southwestern Athletic Conference Grambling State University Grambling, LA Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 12.4 % Acceptance Rate 23.7% SAT Score 890 – 1,040 Avg. Net Price $19,092 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $25,589
7	Alabama State University	13.2	95.64	850 – 1,040	13504	27453	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Southwestern Athletic Conference Alabama State University Montgomery, AL Found in Montgomery, Alabama State University accepts 96% of applicants and requires $25 for undergraduate applications and $30 for graduate applications. About 59% of students attending Alabama State University currently receive institutional grant aid. The college’s first year retention rate is 64% and its four year......Read more Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 13.2 % Acceptance Rate 95.6% SAT Score 850 – 1,040 Avg. Net Price $13,504 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $27,453
8	Alcorn State University	13.6	45.33	840 – 1,010	13155	27752	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Southwestern Athletic Conference Alcorn State University Alcorn State, MS Alcorn State University is highly selective, accepting 3,000 out of 6,530 applicants. 19% of accepted students enrolled. Established in 1871, this HBCU was built on the site of the old Oakland College, a school that never truly reopened after the Civil War. Women were admitted starting in 1895. Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 13.6 % Acceptance Rate 45.3% SAT Score 840 – 1,010 Avg. Net Price $13,155 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $27,752
9	Texas Southern University	13.6	93.35	830 – 1,010	15021	32986	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Southwestern Athletic Conference Texas Southern University Houston, TX Located in Houston, Texas Southern University’s acceptance rate is 93% and requires $42 for undergraduate applications and $75 for graduate applications. About 84% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. The college’s first year retention rate is 68% and its four......Read more Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 13.6 % Acceptance Rate 93.4% SAT Score 830 – 1,010 Avg. Net Price $15,021 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $32,986
10	Prairie View A & M University	19	74.41	870 – 1,040	14065	36350	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Southwestern Athletic Conference Prairie View A & M University Prairie View, TX Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 19.0 % Acceptance Rate 74.4% SAT Score 870 – 1,040 Avg. Net Price $14,065 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $36,350
11	University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff	21.3	57.54	880 – 1,050	11649	31161	#11 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Southwestern Athletic Conference University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Pine Bluff, AR The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is a public HBCU that has eight academic divisions, though Business Administration and Management, General is the most popular area of study. It’s a fairly selective school, and has a 15 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio. Alumni include professional athletes, jazz musicians, and politicians. Student Loan Default Rate (2 Year) 21.3 % Acceptance Rate 57.5% SAT Score 880 – 1,050 Avg. Net Price $11,649 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $31,161

School data is from 2022–2023 (top 500 results shown) for schools with at least 100 undergraduate students.

2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Southwestern Athletic Conference

About

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Southwestern Athletic Conference

7.0 %

49.9%

880 – 1,040

$18,937

$33,033

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Southwestern Athletic Conference

10.3 %

51.2%

760 – 970

$12,304

$25,817

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Southwestern Athletic Conference

11.4 %

66.2%

840 – 1,040

$14,064

$27,851

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Southwestern Athletic Conference

11.7 %

48.2%

850 – 1,050

$19,892

$30,530

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Southwestern Athletic Conference

12.2 %

88.2%

830 – 990

$14,705

$28,282

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Southwestern Athletic Conference

12.4 %

23.7%

890 – 1,040

$19,092

$25,589

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Southwestern Athletic Conference

13.2 %

95.6%

850 – 1,040

$13,504

$27,453

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Southwestern Athletic Conference

13.6 %

45.3%

840 – 1,010

$13,155

$27,752

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Southwestern Athletic Conference

13.6 %

93.4%

830 – 1,010

$15,021

$32,986

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Southwestern Athletic Conference

19.0 %

74.4%

870 – 1,040

$14,065

$36,350

2026 Top Colleges Ranked by Student Loan Default Rate – Southwestern Athletic Conference

21.3 %

57.5%

880 – 1,050

$11,649

$31,161

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