The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Illinois State University have the lowest student loan default rates among public schools in the state.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, UIUC's default rate is 2.5%, while ISU's is 3%.

The statewide average is 14.4% for all schools, including community colleges and private institutions.

University officials credit ISU's low rate to financial counseling and an emphasis on limited borrowing. ISU officials say they also have well-educated graduates who land jobs in their fields that enable them to make payments.

The Education Department's recently released figures are based on the percentage of students whose repayment was to begin between Oct. 1, 2008, and Sept. 30, 2009, and who defaulted before Sept. 30, 2011.