Catholic colleges with the lowest student debt
Catholic colleges whose graduates leave with the least federal student debt.
Catholic colleges with the lowest student debt82 schools
82 schools qualify, ranked by median debt. The top 25 are shown.
How this list is made
- Catholic undergraduate colleges on the Compass. Seminaries and graduate-only schools are not counted.
- Faith grade B or better (Faith score 70 or higher). Cost and outcomes never change a grade.
- Has the median federal loan debt of graduates from federal data (College Scorecard).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by median debt, lowest first.
Updated Oct. 12, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
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Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce
Ponce, PR · Private nonprofit- Median debt $15,500
- 49% graduate
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Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgetown University | $40,815 | $15,500 | $103,494 | 95% |
| Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce | $13,192 | $15,500 | $24,908 | 49% |
| Thomas Aquinas College | $26,196 | $18,000 | $55,619 | 84% |
| Rockhurst University | $25,884 | $18,250 | $67,102 | 75% |
| University of Notre Dame | $26,780 | $19,000 | $99,980 | 95% |
| Boston College | $41,704 | $19,000 | $103,937 | 91% |
| Santa Clara University | $50,062 | $19,162 | $109,183 | 88% |
| Loyola Marymount University | $48,381 | $19,500 | $78,349 | 79% |
| Seattle University | $34,662 | $19,883 | $75,272 | 76% |
| University of St. Thomas | $19,359 | $19,928 | $59,224 | 69% |
| Ave Maria University | $24,860 | $20,776 | $49,520 | 54% |
| Newman University | $19,971 | $20,801 | $55,041 | 53% |
| University of Portland | $28,210 | $21,370 | $82,804 | 80% |
| Saint Mary's University of Minnesota | $11,704 | $21,500 | $58,170 | 66% |
| Benedictine University | $22,313 | $22,500 | $63,446 | 50% |
| Seton Hall University | $31,446 | $22,750 | $70,196 | 69% |
| University of San Diego | $30,365 | $22,940 | $86,522 | 84% |
| University of San Francisco | $41,431 | $23,000 | $89,812 | 70% |
| Le Moyne College | $22,277 | $23,000 | $62,731 | 73% |
| University of Dallas | $22,610 | $23,117 | $58,285 | 73% |
| DePaul University | $30,902 | $23,168 | $68,751 | 68% |
| University of St. Thomas | $29,155 | $23,250 | $73,739 | 76% |
| University of Dayton | $29,533 | $23,250 | $75,537 | 80% |
| Xavier University | $32,997 | $23,250 | $64,873 | 69% |
| University of Detroit Mercy | $15,232 | $23,250 | $71,030 | 67% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.