Ordered by how long the earnings premium takes to clear the median debt — least time first. The typical graded US university clears its debt in 1.3 years on median earnings of $57,089 against $22,500 of debt.
| # | University | Grade | You borrow | Monthly | You earn | Debt clears in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 271 | University of Minnesota - Duluth | B | $22,024 | $250 | $62,616 | 1 yrs |
| 272 | Iowa State University Iowa | B | $22,869 | $260 | $63,386 | 1 yrs |
| 273 | University of Arizona Arizona | B | $19,620 | $223 | $59,979 | 1 yrs |
| 274 | Norwich University Vermont | B | $25,000 | $284 | $65,575 | 1 yrs |
| 275 | Ohio State University Ohio | B | $19,976 | $227 | $60,409 | 1 yrs |
| 276 | Seattle Pacific University | B | $24,000 | $273 | $64,506 | 1 yrs |
| 277 | Suffolk University | B | $26,889 | $306 | $67,506 | 1 yrs |
| 278 | Wheaton College | B | $23,250 | $264 | $63,756 | 1 yrs |
| 279 | University of Mary Washington Virginia | C | $20,500 | $233 | $60,613 | 1 yrs |
| 280 | St. Lawrence University | C | $27,000 | $307 | $67,258 | 1 yrs |
| 281 | University of Central Florida | C | $18,190 | $207 | $58,308 | 1 yrs |
| 282 | University of Tulsa Oklahoma | C | $21,500 | $244 | $61,408 | 1 yrs |
| 283 | Montgomery College | C | $10,415 | $118 | $50,159 | 1 yrs |
| 284 | University of Texas at Tyler | C | $17,137 | $195 | $57,053 | 1 yrs |
| 285 | Utah State University Utah | C | $14,340 | $163 | $54,022 | 1 yrs |
| 286 | University of South Florida Florida | C | $17,988 | $205 | $57,743 | 1 yrs |
| 287 | Berea College Kentucky | C | $3,591 | $41 | $43,150 | 1 yrs |
| 288 | Bradley University | C | $27,000 | $307 | $66,852 | 1 yrs |
| 289 | Emerson College | C | $23,000 | $262 | $62,832 | 1 yrs |
| 290 | Le Moyne College | C | $23,000 | $262 | $62,731 | 1 yrs |
| 291 | University of Tennessee, Knoxville | C | $20,500 | $233 | $60,249 | 1 yrs |
| 292 | University of Wisconsin - Platteville | C | $21,977 | $250 | $61,760 | 1 yrs |
| 293 | Saint Martin's University Washington | C | $22,500 | $256 | $62,092 | 1 yrs |
| 294 | Ithaca College New York | C | $24,000 | $273 | $63,548 | 1 yrs |
| 295 | Florida Atlantic University | C | $17,236 | $196 | $56,746 | 1 yrs |
| 296 | Governors State University | C | $18,618 | $212 | $58,169 | 1 yrs |
| 297 | Kalamazoo College | C | $26,077 | $296 | $65,590 | 1 yrs |
| 298 | Montclair State University | C | $22,000 | $250 | $61,415 | 1 yrs |
| 299 | State University of New York at New Paltz New York | C | $18,750 | $213 | $58,073 | 1 yrs |
| 300 | SOKA University of America California | C | $15,650 | $178 | $55,017 | 1 yrs |
The universities that clear their debt quickest are rarely the most famous. Payback is a ratio: a modest salary against very little borrowing beats a high salary carrying a large loan. Specialist institutions and low-cost publics dominate here for exactly that reason.
It says nothing about teaching, class size or how much you will enjoy three years there. It also cannot tell you what your subject pays — the federal figures are published per institution, so every course on campus shares one number.
Source: US Department of Education College Scorecard. Figures cover students who received federal financial aid and blend every subject at each institution. Information only, not financial advice.