The University of New Orleans ranks among the universities whose students graduate with the lightest debt loads, according to U.S. News & World Report. Out of 125 national universities, UNO ranks first in lowest percentage of students graduating with debt. Just 20% of the UNO class of 2010 graduated owing money. UNO ranks 22nd among national universities in terms of average amount of debt.
The list examines the debt load of the class of 2010 and includes loans taken out by students from their colleges, from private financial institutions and federal, state and local governments. Average amount of debt refers to the cumulative amount borrowed by students who incurred debt. For UNO’s class of 2010, that amount was $16,427. Only 21 other national universities had a lower average debt load. The university with the lowest average amount of debt is Princeton University ($5,667).
“This reaffirms our belief that UNO is a fantastic value with superb faculty and excellent academic programs,” said UNO Interim Chancellor Joe M. King. “Especially during these difficult economic times, it is important that we send our graduates into the workforce without the burden of excessive debt. We continue to take great pride in the affordability, accessibility and quality of a UNO education.”
The list of the top 26 national universities is below.
School % of grads with debt Avg. amount of debt
Princeton University (NJ) 24% $4,385
Sam Houston State (TX) 46% $7,602
Yale University (CT) 28% $9,254
Harvard University (MA) 34% $10,102
Cal Tech 43% $10,760
Texas Tech University 40% $11,502
Lamar University (TX) 63% $12,110
Brigham Young University (UT) 31% $13,354
Rice University (TX) 36% $13,944
Louisiana Tech University 49% $14,039
Stanford University (CA) 35% $14,058
University of Houston 44% $14,922
Utah State University 47% $15,194
MIT 44% $15,228
San Diego State University 44% $15,500
University of Nevada–Reno 36% $15,814
Wichita State University (KS) 58% $15,847
University of Georgia 45% $15,938
Florida International University 45% $16,003
University of Florida 40% $16,013
University of California–Berkeley 41% $16,056
University of New Orleans 20% $16,427
New Mexico State University 60% $16,619
University of California–Davis 50% $16,659
University of Nebraska–Lincoln 60% $16,664
Rutgers, the State U. of N.J. 68% $16,766