Jersey City, N.J. – September 4, 2018 – Saint Peter’s University today announced that it has been ranked third in the state for lowest average student loan debt in a study titled Student Loan Debt by School by State Report. The study was developed by LendEDU, a marketplace for private student loans, student loan refinancing, credit cards and personal loans. The report provides a comprehensive analysis of student loan debt statistics for more than 1,000 colleges and universities throughout the United States.
According to the study, the average debt per borrower in New Jersey is $30,794. Saint Peter’s is ranked third lowest among all of the public and private institutions in the state with an average student loan debt per borrower of $22,317 in 2017. Among private institutions, Saint Peter’s is ranked second behind Princeton University. The debt rate for Saint Peter’s University students can be attributed to a high percentage of graduates who completed their degree in four years and generous scholarships and financial aid packaging that reduces the need to borrow.
Ninety-eight percent of Saint Peter’s full-time undergraduate students receive financial assistance in the form of academic, need-based and athletic grants. The average financial aid award without loans is $29,853.
“As student loan debt continues to increase across the country, this latest report from LendEDU demonstrates that Saint Peter’s is bucking the trend with a debt rate below the national average,” said Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D., president of Saint Peter’s University. “Saint Peter’s has maintained a steadfast commitment to ensuring our students reach graduation with less debt than their counterparts and we are proud that our efforts in this area are making an impact.”
The Student Loan Debt by School by State Report is based on data from the Peterson’s financial aid survey, which collects responses from 1,080 four-year public and private higher education institutions across the country. To view the complete report click here.
# # end # #
Saint Peter’s University, inspired by its Jesuit, Catholic identity, commitment to individual attention and grounding in the liberal arts, educates a diverse community of learners in undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and professional programs to excel intellectually, lead ethically, serve compassionately and promote justice in our ever-changing urban and global environment. To learn more, please visit www.saintpeters.edu.
Media Contact
Angeline Boyer
(201) 761-6238
aboyer1@saintpeters.edu