Picking a college is a huge decision, and with tuition costs soaring, you want to make sure you're getting your money's worth. While some schools are academic powerhouses that set you up for life, others... well, not so much. We've crunched the numbers on graduation rates, student debt, and post-grad salaries to find the one college in every state that you might want to think twice about attending.
From sky-high debt to shockingly low graduation rates, here are the colleges that just don't make the grade, ranked from bad to worst.
50. Washington – Heritage University
Washington has some solid university options, but someone has to be last. Heritage University has an 84.1% graduation rate, but hold on—only 4% of students graduate on time. The biggest red flag is the median six-year salary of just $35,900, which is far below the state's average salary of $61,896. It’s no wonder that 11.8% of borrowers end up defaulting on their loans.
49. Oregon – Pacific Northwest College of Art
Art schools are notoriously expensive, and this one is no exception. Students at Pacific Northwest College of Art graduate with an average debt of $22,716, only to earn a median salary of about $27,400 six years later. The graduation rate is a mediocre 57.6%, but surprisingly, the loan default rate is relatively low at 6.9%, considering the low post-grad income.
48. Minnesota – Crown College
Crown College has a graduation rate of 57.1%, but that's where the good news ends. Students typically leave with a hefty $31,720 in debt, and the median salary six years after graduation is only $35,100. With a student-to-professor ratio of 19:1, you might feel a bit lost in the crowd, and 9.3% of borrowers default on their loans.
47. Massachusetts – Montserrat College of Art
In a state with giants like MIT, the bar is set high. Unfortunately, Montserrat College of Art doesn't quite clear it. The graduation rate is a low 48.5%, and students walk away with an average debt of $47,340. The real kicker? The median salary six years post-graduation is a meager $26,500.
46. Hawaii – Chaminade University of Honolulu
Hawaii doesn't have a ton of colleges, but Chaminade University stands out for its high price tag—though, to be fair, everything in Hawaii is expensive. Students graduate with an average debt of $26,468, but the 5.6% default rate is better than the national average. The graduation rate is 48.3%, and the average six-year salary is $38,400.
45. Connecticut – Mitchell College
Mitchell College is considered "over market" for its price. Students leave with an average of $31,848 in loans and can expect a median salary of just $32,000 after six years. While the graduation rate of 46.2% is close to the national average, students complain about outdated classrooms, spotty WiFi, and subpar food.
44. Rhode Island – Rhode Island College
Rhode Island has some great schools, making it tough to pick the worst. Rhode Island College makes the list due to its graduates' starting salary of around $37,000, which is simply not as competitive as other local options. The school also has a 42.6% graduation rate and an 8.2% loan default rate on an average debt of $25,236.
43. Utah – Stevens Henager College-Ogden
Several Stevens Henager College locations are problematic, but the Ogden campus is the worst of the bunch. It has a graduation rate of just 42.4%, with only 18% of students finishing on time. Graduates leave with an average of $34,640 in loans, but the six-year median salary is only $28,800. This disparity likely contributes to the staggering 19.4% loan default rate.
42. Wisconsin – Herzing University-Madison
Herzing University-Madison has a decent graduation rate of 42.1%, but that's about it for the good news. The average student debt is $32,204, with 13.6% of borrowers defaulting. While the six-year median salary of $37,800 doesn't sound terrible, it's significantly lower than Wisconsin's average salary of $60,773.
41. Kansas – Sterling College
Sterling College is another school priced over market for its value. The average student loan debt is $24,892, and the median salary six years post-graduation is $35,700. Only 42% of students manage to graduate, though 24% of those who do finish on time. On the plus side, the student-to-professor ratio is a healthy 12:1.
40. North Dakota – Mayville State University
Mayville State University is one of the better options on this "worst of" list. It's affordable, with in-state tuition around $14,557, so students leave with a manageable debt of just over $27,000. The median six-year salary is $39,300, and 91% of graduates are employed within two years. Still, the graduation rate is only 40.6%, and 11.4% of borrowers default on their loans.
39. Arkansas – Philander Smith College
The main appeal of Philander Smith College is its low cost. Beyond that, the numbers are grim. The graduation rate is just 39%, and students leave with an average of $26,616 in debt. Six years later, the median salary is a startlingly low $24,400, which helps explain the 20.1% loan default rate.
38. Nebraska – Peru State College
Peru State College is a mixed bag. It has a graduation rate of 36.7%, but 18% of students graduate on time. The average student debt is a reasonable $22,404, and the median six-year salary is $37,500. Even so, about 9% of graduates still default on their loans.
37. Vermont – Johnson State College
Though fairly priced for in-state students, Johnson State College leaves its graduates with a high average debt of $31,736. The graduation rate is just 36.7%, and the median salary six years later is $33,200. About 9.6% of graduates default on their loans. The college has since merged with Northern Vermont University, so perhaps these stats will improve over time.
36. New Hampshire – New England College
You might want to steer clear of New England College. It has a 36.3% graduation rate, and students walk away with an average debt of $34,536. While the median six-year salary is $37,900 and 93% of graduates are employed within two years, a high 12.2% of borrowers default on their loans.
35. California – California College San Diego
California College San Diego has some issues to address. Only 79% of students are employed two years after graduation, and the median six-year salary is around $39,800. That's not a lot to pay off the average debt of $31,884. With a graduation rate of just 36% and only 19% of professors working full-time, it's a risky bet.
34. Kentucky – Lindsey Wilson College
Lindsey Wilson College has a low graduation rate of 34.2% and is priced over market. Students accumulate an average debt of $20,536, and the loan default rate is 9.6%. The median salary six years post-graduation is a disappointing $28,800, though 85% of graduates do find employment within two years.
33. South Dakota – Black Hills State University
Black Hills State University is pricey for what it offers, with in-state students paying $18,723 annually. The graduation rate is a low 33.2%, and only 13% of students finish on time. Graduates leave with about $26,672 in debt, and 9.3% default despite a median six-year salary of $35,900. Its one saving grace is a 93% employment rate two years after graduation.
32. New Jersey – Bloomfield College
In a state full of great colleges, Bloomfield College is a letdown. It has a graduation rate of just 31.9%. Graduates earn a median salary of $38,200, which they use to pay off an average debt of $26,044. However, a high 14.5% of borrowers still default on their loans, even with a 92% employment rate.
31. Iowa – Waldorf University
Waldorf University is another expensive choice, leaving students with an average debt of $27,804. The median salary of $37,800 isn't enough to prevent a 9.7% loan default rate. A low graduation rate of 31.4% is likely a major contributing factor.
30. Alaska – University of Alaska Anchorage
Alaska has limited options, but the University of Alaska Anchorage falls short. Its price is considered over market, and only about 31% of students graduate. The loan default rate is 12.2%, but there's a silver lining: the median starting salary is a respectable $46,000, which is double the average student loan amount.
29. Delaware – Wesley College
Wesley College is priced over market, and students generally graduate with $31,084 in debt. They do go on to earn a median salary of $42,900 after six years, which is a plus. However, the college's graduation rate is a low 31%, and with a 62% acceptance rate, it's strange that so many students struggle to finish.
28. South Carolina – Benedict College
While some South Carolina schools are top-notch, Benedict College is not one of them. It has a 31% graduation rate and a strange disconnect between its low annual price ($9,184) and its massive average student debt ($45,144). The median six-year salary is just $25,400, which likely contributes to the 8.6% loan default rate.
27. Idaho – Lewis-Clark State College
This Idaho college is affordable, with students leaving with just under $20,000 in loans. Despite this, 12.8% still default, even with a median six-year salary of $34,600. The graduation rate sits at a meager 30.8%, with only 11% of students finishing on time.
26. Mississippi – Mississippi Valley State University
Only 29.8% of students at Mississippi Valley State University actually graduate. Despite a reasonable price, students end up with an average debt of $32,252. The post-graduation outlook is bleak, with a median six-year salary of just $23,200 and a high loan default rate of 18.9%.
25. New York – College of New Rochelle
The College of New Rochelle has been named one of the worst universities in the nation. The average starting salary of $40,000 might sound okay, but it doesn't go far in New York. With an average debt of $30,096 and a graduation rate of just 29%, it's no wonder that over 12% of graduates default on their loans.
24. Indiana – Indiana University – Northwest
Indiana University – Northwest has some work to do. The graduation rate is only 28%, with just 9% of students finishing on time. Graduates leave with nearly $22,000 in loans, but the median six-year salary of $36,300 is higher than some others on this list.
23. Montana – Montana State University Billings
It's best to avoid this university if you can. Only 27.8% of students graduate, and 11.5% of borrowers default on their $22,448 average debt. The median salary six years out is $34,600, but a high 89% employment rate two years after graduation offers a glimmer of hope.
22. Maine – University of Maine at Augusta
The University of Maine at Augusta is not the best choice in the state. It has a 27.8% graduation rate and a 17% loan default rate on an average debt of $23,896. The median salary of $27,700 is painfully low, and while 80% of graduates are employed after two years, it's still below the national average.
21. Nevada – Nevada State College
Most state schools are a safe bet, but Nevada State College has a graduation rate of just 27.6%. The average debt is a low $11,000, but 11% of graduates still default. While the average salary 10 years after graduation is $47,600, it seems many struggle in the early years.
20. Alabama – Alabama State University
Alabama State University accepts 98% of its applicants but only graduates 26% of them. The median earnings six years later are just $27,700, and a staggering 21% of students default on their loans within three years.
19. Wyoming – Laramie County Community College
Wyoming has very few colleges, so we're turning to a community college for its worst offender. Laramie County Community College has a 25.9% graduation rate and a 16% loan default rate. On the plus side, 86% of graduates find a job after finishing their studies.
18. North Carolina – Shaw University
Only 25.4% of students graduate from Shaw University, which is odd for a school with a 52% acceptance rate. Graduates leave with an average debt of $28,044 and a six-year median salary of just $29,200. This slim margin likely contributes to the high 19.6% loan default rate.
17. Virginia – Virginia Union University
Virginia Union University struggles to retain its students, with a graduation rate of just 25.4%. It’s an expensive school, and students leave with around $24,524 in debt. Even with a 92% employment rate two years after graduation, the median six-year salary is only $32,000, and 15% of borrowers default.
16. Georgia – The Art Institute of Atlanta
This expensive art school has a graduation rate of just 23%, with only 11% of students finishing on time. Graduates have an average debt of $31,656 and an average post-grad salary of $30,900. It's no surprise that the loan default rate is 18.8%.
15. Ohio – Central State University
Central State University has a dismal 22% graduation rate. Students end up with an average loan of $26,896, but the six-year median salary is only $26,100. Even with a 91% employment rate, a shocking 27.8% of borrowers default on their loans.
14. West Virginia – West Virginia State University
This university has some serious issues. The graduation rate is 21.9%, and students leave with $31,900 in debt. The median six-year salary is just $29,800, which helps explain why 17.1% of graduates default on their loans.
13. Michigan – Baker College in Flint
Struggling along with its host city, Baker College only graduates 21.1% of its students. They leave with $22,852 in debt and face a median six-year salary of just $27,200. The loan default rate is 16% and rising.
12. Illinois – DeVry University
DeVry University has a bad reputation for a reason. The Illinois campus has a 20.6% graduation rate, and students leave with over $30,000 in debt. Strangely, graduates who do make it earn a median salary of $44,100 after six years, but the school still has a high default rate.
11. Maryland – Coppin State University
Coppin State is the "worst" in a state with otherwise decent options. The graduation rate is a low 20.4%, but it's not all bad. Students leave with a manageable debt of $23,936 and earn a median six-year salary of $38,100.
10. Pennsylvania – Strayer University
Strayer University doesn't release much data, but what's available isn't good. It has a graduation rate of 20%, and the student-to-professor ratio is a very high 29:1. While graduates report a median salary of $45,900, only 85% find employment after graduation, which is lower than many others on this list.
9. Tennessee – Le Moyne-Owen College
Le Moyne-Owen has an embarrassingly low graduation rate of 20%. Despite a fair price, students leave with a massive $36,796 in debt. The median six-year salary is just $28,400, leading to a shocking 20.4% loan default rate.
8. Florida – Edward Waters College
There are a lot of red flags at Edward Waters College. It has a 19.6% graduation rate, a six-year median salary of just $25,900, and an average debt of $22,558. These numbers combine to create a painfully high loan default rate of 21.7%.
7. Colorado – Nazarene Bible College
This college is expensive, leaving students with an average debt of $42,340. The median six-year salary is a meager $29,700, and the graduation rate is just 16.4%. It's no wonder that 12.9% of borrowers end up defaulting.
6. New Mexico – University of the Southwest
With an incredibly low graduation rate of 16.1% and a price tag considered over market, this university is one to avoid. Students graduate with $23,112 in debt, and the median six-year salary is $36,200. Interestingly, the acceptance rate is only 45%, suggesting they are trying to be selective, but it doesn't seem to be helping their outcomes.
5. Arizona – Western International University
Only 15% of undergrads at Western International University graduate within six years, and just 1% graduate on time. While the average loan amount of $21,228 isn't terrible, a graduation rate this low makes attending a huge gamble.
4. Oklahoma – Bacone College
Bacone College's graduation rate is a tiny 14.9%, with only 6% of students finishing on time. The price is high, leaving students with an average debt of $25,220. While 90% of graduates are employed within two years, the median six-year salary is just $34,500, and 10.6% of borrowers default.
3. Texas – Texas College
With so many options in a huge state like Texas, there's no reason to choose this one. Texas College has a terribly low graduation rate of 12.4%, with only 4% of students finishing on time. Graduates have an average debt of $21,624, but the median six-year salary is a paltry $23,400. A shocking 23.3% of borrowers default on their loans.
2. Louisiana – Grambling State University
Yikes. Grambling State University has a 10% graduation rate. It’s also expensive, leaving students with $27,656 in debt. The median salary is also low at $28,100, which contributes to a 16.1% loan default rate. As a public university, it has a high number of full-time teachers, but the 25:1 student-to-faculty ratio is extremely high.
1. Missouri – Harris-Stowe State University
And the award for the worst college goes to Harris-Stowe State University, with one of the lowest graduation rates in the entire nation: a jaw-dropping 8%. Of those few who graduate, only 2% finish on time. The average student debt is $30,944, while the median six-year salary is just $26,700. This leads to a massive 21.5% of borrowers defaulting on their loans.
