Two Georgia universities Rank Among Those Leaving Students With highest Debt
ATLANTA – Students graduating from Brenau University and Clark Atlanta University face some of the highest student loan debt burdens in the nation, according to a new U.S. News & world Report analysis released Wednesday. Both Georgia institutions tied for tenth place on the list of universities leaving students with an average of $27,000 in debt.
The findings come as student loan payments resume for millions of Americans after a three-year pause, intensifying scrutiny of college costs and the financial strain on graduates.The report highlights disparities in debt levels across universities, with historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) disproportionately represented among those with the highest debt figures. This is frequently enough due to factors like smaller endowments and a higher percentage of students relying on federal loans to access higher education.
Clark atlanta University, a private HBCU in Atlanta, reports that approximately 90% of its incoming first-year students utilize federal loans. Brenau University,a private university in Gainesville,Georgia,currently ranks in the #395-434 range among national universities.
The U.S. News & World Report ranking identified the following universities as having the highest average debt among graduates:
- Alabama State university: $31,000
- Jackson State University: $30,470
- Colorado Technical University: $29,832
- Southern University and A&M College: $29,251
- Texas Southern University: $29,000
- morgan State University: $27,250
- Alvernia University: $27,000
- American International College: $27,000
- Bradley University: $27,000
- Brenau University & Clark Atlanta University: $27,000
Founded in 1878,Brenau University was ranked No. 414 in national universities for 2026. Clark Atlanta University, established in 1988, holds the no. 329 spot in the same rankings.
More information on the rankings can be found at usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities/most-debt.