Best schools for graduating with no debt
(that you can actually get into)

These 15 schools result in the lowest debt for students and have at least a 50% acceptance rate

The Moody Bible Institute is a private Christian college in Chicago, where nearly all students who apply are accepted. All undergraduate programs have a religious emphasis and include biblical and theological training. The college offers bachelor's programs in religious studies such as youth ministry, biblical languages, Jewish studies, and ministry leadership, and fields such as communications, elementary education, and human services.

The secret to Moody's low median debt rate is likely donor funding, which covers any gaps between federal funding and tuition for undergraduates who live on campus in Chicago. Students still pay for room and board, and those who live off campus pay $380 per credit hour for tuition.

Graduates of schools in the CUNY system have some of the lowest student loan debt in the country. Median debt for graduates was below $12,000 at every CUNY college, although only five had acceptance rates above 50%.

These five New York colleges are affordable college options for students who live in-state, resulting in graduates with lower median student loan debt when they finish their program. The schools also serve a higher rate of students from low-income families (between 47-61%). Low tuition costs for New York residents coupled with affordable rates mean just 10% of students take out federal loans at most of the CUNY colleges.

Some noteworthy funding opportunities from New York State that probably help offset the cost include the TAP grant for dependent students with family incomes below $80,000 and the Excelsior Scholarship, which covers tuition for any CUNY or SUNY schools for students and families who earn less than $125,000 per year.

The Utah and Idaho BYU campuses offer a strong option for students seeking a low-cost religious education. Both offer very low tuition rates for Latter-day Saints, and Utah students also benefit from the BYU Cougar Grant, which covers any gaps for Pell recipients.

Under 20% of students take out federal loans to pay for college, and the majority of students come from families earning $75,000 per year or less, especially at the flagship campus in Utah. About two-thirds of students come from families earning less than $75,000 at the Idaho campus, which has an acceptance rate of 97%. Comparatively, the Utah location is more affordable and serves more students from lower income brackets, but is more selective with an acceptance rate of 69%.

It's important to note that these schools are more expensive for those who aren't members of the Church of Latter-day Saints.

Affordability is a key focus at the University of Texas - Rio Grande Valley campus, and the school has been recognized for its low cost to students. Most notably, UTRGV covers tuition gaps for students, and recently raised the program's income limit from $75,000, which covered 91% of students, to $125,000 per year. It also offers a guaranteed tuition plan, meaning students won't see an increase in their tuition for four years, and those taking a full 12 credits can take additional classes for free each quarter.

Texans also benefit from the strong financial aid options available from the state for residents, including the TEXAS and TPEG grants. All in all, only a third of students take out federal loans to cover the cost of college, and graduates owe a median of $13,068.

The CSUs are a great option for California residents who want to finish college with as little debt as possible. Graduates of these four schools have some of the lowest median student loan debt in the country and in California. These schools primarily serve students from families who earn $48,000 or less per year and accept at least 75% of applicants, making them accessible options for higher education.

Between 22% and 39% of students at these colleges take out federal loans depending on the school, which is lower than the median for all colleges (53%). Graduates owe a median of around $13,500 to $14,500 when they finish their degree. California residents benefit from the low tuition rates at these schools alongside extra funding like the Cal Grant, which covers up to $3,354 at CSU schools.

Graduates of public school Southern Utah University tend to finish with low debt compared to most other schools with high acceptance rates, making the university a good option for Utah residents who don't want to attend BYU.

The university serves fewer low-income students compared to other public schools, with student family incomes more evenly distributed across brackets. Just under half of students take out federal loans, and they graduate with a median of $13,661 in federal student loan debt.

The university offers a wide range of scholarships that help bring down tuition costs further, although most are merit-based and have GPA, ACT, or SAT score requirements. Funding is available for first-year students and transfer students. Southern Utah University is also a participant in the Western Undergraduate Exchange program, which offers lower tuition rates for residents of neighboring states in the West and Southwest, including Alaska and Hawaii.

Graduates of this private Christian university in Kansas owe a median of just under $15,000 when they earn their degree. Tuition and fees are much higher than other colleges on this list at nearly $34,000.

While MNU doesn't provide much public information about scholarship options, federal data shows 69% of students receive grant aid at the college with an average grant package of $18,319. Six in ten students take out loans to help pay for college, and MNU serves students from all financial backgrounds, which may make it easier for the college to offer more funding for students from lower income families.

The university also offers the Pioneer Pledge to help graduates who earn a "modest" income after college pay their student loans.