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CollegeROIData

College Programs with Debt Under $20K (2026)

311 school-major combinations. Programs with under $20,000 in median student debt. These low-debt options often deliver the best ROI, especially at public universities and community colleges.

311
Programs
80/100
Avg ROI Score
$16K
Avg Median Debt
$65K
Avg Year 1 Earnings

Grade Distribution for Debt Under $20K

A
168
B
128
C
15
D
0
F
0

Top 50 Programs, Debt Under $20K

#SchoolMajorROI Score
1Berea CollegeComputer and Information Sciences100/100
2Bethesda UniversityComputer and Information Sciences100/100
3Capitol Technology UniversityComputer/Information Technology Administration and Management100/100
4Capitol Technology UniversityComputer and Information Sciences100/100
5Capitol Technology UniversityComputer Programming100/100
6Caribbean University-BayamonComputer Programming100/100
7Caribbean University-PonceComputer Programming100/100
8Central State UniversityComputer Science100/100
9Collin County Community College DistrictComputer/Information Technology Administration and Management100/100
10Atlantic UniversityComputer Software and Media Applications99/100
11Atlantic UniversityInformation Science/Studies99/100
12Boston CollegeComputer Science98/100
13Boston CollegeMathematics98/100
14California Intercontinental UniversityComputer/Information Technology Administration and Management98/100
15Claremont McKenna CollegeComputer Science98/100
16Columbia Central University-CaguasComputer/Information Technology Administration and Management98/100
17Atlantis UniversityComputer and Information Sciences97/100
18Avila UniversityComputer and Information Sciences97/100
19Bates CollegeMathematics97/100
20Bismarck State CollegeComputer/Information Technology Administration and Management97/100
21Bloomfield CollegeComputer Science97/100
22Bloomfield CollegeApplied Mathematics97/100
23Boston CollegeInformation Science/Studies97/100
24Brandeis UniversityComputer Science97/100
25Brandeis UniversityApplied Mathematics97/100
26Brandeis UniversityMathematics97/100
27California State University-ChicoComputer and Information Sciences97/100
28California State University-ChicoComputer Science97/100
29California State University-Monterey BayComputer Science97/100
30California State University-Monterey BayMathematics97/100
31Carleton CollegeComputer Science97/100
32Carleton CollegeMathematics97/100
33Carleton CollegeStatistics97/100
34Carnegie Mellon UniversityComputer Science97/100
35Carnegie Mellon UniversityStatistics97/100
36Carnegie Mellon UniversityComputer and Information Sciences97/100
37Carnegie Mellon UniversityMathematics97/100
38Cascadia CollegeComputer Programming97/100
39Chadron State CollegeMathematics97/100
40Claremont McKenna CollegeMathematics97/100
41Colgate UniversityComputer Science97/100
42Amherst CollegeMathematics96/100
43Amherst CollegeComputer Science96/100
44Amherst CollegeStatistics96/100
45Bard College at Simon's RockMathematics96/100
46Bard College at Simon's RockComputer Science96/100
47Bard College at Simon's RockApplied Mathematics96/100
48Bethany Lutheran CollegeMathematics96/100
49Bethany Lutheran CollegeComputer Science96/100
50Boston UniversityComputer Science96/100

Browse by Debt Range

Under $20K$20K to $40K$40K to $60KOver $60K

Frequently Asked Questions

311 school-major combinations have median student debt under $20k. The average ROI Score for these programs is 80/100.

Programs with median debt under $20k have an average ROI Score of 80/100. Average first-year earnings are $65K.

Not necessarily. ROI depends on the ratio of debt to earnings, not debt alone. A $50,000 degree leading to $80,000 earnings has better ROI than a $15,000 degree leading to $20,000 earnings. Our ROI Score accounts for this balance.

Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, Bureau of Labor Statistics
Last updated:

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, 2026.