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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 421 | Waubonsee Community College | C | $7,000 | $80 | $44,788 | 1.3 yrs |
| 422 | University of Houston-Downtown | C | $18,750 | $213 | $53,551 | 1.3 yrs |
| 423 | University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh | C | $21,500 | $244 | $55,548 | 1.3 yrs |
| 424 | King's College | C | $27,000 | $307 | $59,498 | 1.4 yrs |
| 425 | Rollins College Florida | C | $25,500 | $290 | $58,295 | 1.4 yrs |
| 426 | Concordia College - Moorhead | C | $26,847 | $305 | $59,317 | 1.4 yrs |
| 427 | University of Wisconsin - River Falls | C | $20,500 | $233 | $54,458 | 1.4 yrs |
| 428 | West Virginia University | C | $22,500 | $256 | $55,939 | 1.4 yrs |
| 429 | Ferris State University Michigan | C | $21,000 | $239 | $54,735 | 1.4 yrs |
| 430 | Felician University New Jersey | C | $25,000 | $284 | $57,602 | 1.4 yrs |
| 431 | Biola University | C | $23,875 | $271 | $56,778 | 1.4 yrs |
| 432 | College of Charleston | C | $23,250 | $264 | $56,416 | 1.4 yrs |
| 433 | Oberlin College | C | $26,000 | $296 | $58,343 | 1.4 yrs |
| 434 | Oklahoma City University | C | $20,835 | $237 | $54,655 | 1.4 yrs |
| 435 | University of Cincinnati Ohio | C | $21,250 | $242 | $54,810 | 1.4 yrs |
| 436 | Bemidji State University | C | $19,750 | $225 | $53,755 | 1.4 yrs |
| 437 | Loras College | C | $26,000 | $296 | $58,289 | 1.4 yrs |
| 438 | Wilmington University | C | $20,000 | $227 | $53,844 | 1.4 yrs |
| 439 | New Jersey City University | C | $18,500 | $210 | $52,745 | 1.4 yrs |
| 440 | Albion College | C | $27,000 | $307 | $58,799 | 1.4 yrs |
| 441 | Bastyr University | C | $13,817 | $157 | $49,364 | 1.4 yrs |
| 442 | Gannon University | C | $27,000 | $307 | $58,845 | 1.4 yrs |
| 443 | Albright College Pennsylvania | C | $27,000 | $307 | $58,700 | 1.4 yrs |
| 444 | Champlain College | C | $26,814 | $305 | $58,386 | 1.4 yrs |
| 445 | Hood College | C | $25,000 | $284 | $57,089 | 1.4 yrs |
| 446 | Hope College | C | $26,800 | $305 | $58,427 | 1.4 yrs |
| 447 | Southern Nazarene University | C | $21,900 | $249 | $54,951 | 1.4 yrs |
| 448 | Trine University | C | $25,000 | $284 | $57,165 | 1.4 yrs |
| 449 | University of Wisconsin - Green Bay | C | $18,500 | $210 | $52,528 | 1.4 yrs |
| 450 | Eastern Connecticut State University | C | $24,250 | $276 | $56,469 | 1.4 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.