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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 541 | Wittenberg University | D | $27,000 | $307 | $54,947 | 1.8 yrs |
| 542 | Everett Community College Washington | D | $10,417 | $118 | $45,434 | 1.8 yrs |
| 543 | Ripon College Wisconsin | D | $27,000 | $307 | $54,902 | 1.8 yrs |
| 544 | Knox College | D | $27,000 | $307 | $54,820 | 1.8 yrs |
| 545 | Pratt Institute | D | $26,000 | $296 | $54,295 | 1.8 yrs |
| 546 | University of Wisconsin–Parkside Wisconsin | D | $20,492 | $233 | $51,129 | 1.8 yrs |
| 547 | Alma College | D | $27,000 | $307 | $54,742 | 1.8 yrs |
| 548 | Washburn University | D | $18,127 | $206 | $49,774 | 1.8 yrs |
| 549 | New Mexico Highlands University | D | $11,399 | $130 | $45,937 | 1.8 yrs |
| 550 | Transylvania University | D | $27,000 | $307 | $54,705 | 1.8 yrs |
| 551 | Marian University Wisconsin | D | $25,000 | $284 | $53,501 | 1.8 yrs |
| 552 | Lesley University Massachusetts | D | $21,000 | $239 | $51,173 | 1.8 yrs |
| 553 | Chatham University Pennsylvania | D | $23,250 | $264 | $52,410 | 1.8 yrs |
| 554 | Doane University Nebraska | D | $25,000 | $284 | $53,316 | 1.8 yrs |
| 555 | University of Michigan–Flint Michigan | D | $25,000 | $284 | $53,230 | 1.8 yrs |
| 556 | The Kutztown University of Pennsylvania | D | $26,000 | $296 | $53,775 | 1.8 yrs |
| 557 | Sierra College California | D | $10,500 | $119 | $45,294 | 1.8 yrs |
| 558 | Central College | D | $26,984 | $307 | $54,317 | 1.8 yrs |
| 559 | Minnesota State University Moorhead | D | $20,000 | $227 | $50,527 | 1.8 yrs |
| 560 | New England Institute of Technology | D | $16,668 | $190 | $48,684 | 1.8 yrs |
| 561 | Hiram College | D | $27,000 | $307 | $54,311 | 1.8 yrs |
| 562 | Olivet Nazarene University | D | $25,000 | $284 | $53,213 | 1.8 yrs |
| 563 | University of Southern Maine | D | $19,060 | $217 | $49,958 | 1.8 yrs |
| 564 | University of Nebraska Kearney Nebraska | D | $19,500 | $222 | $50,105 | 1.8 yrs |
| 565 | Capital University Ohio | D | $26,889 | $306 | $54,143 | 1.8 yrs |
| 566 | Lake Superior College | D | $12,775 | $145 | $46,449 | 1.8 yrs |
| 567 | Pennsylvania College of Technology Pennsylvania | D | $23,961 | $272 | $52,567 | 1.8 yrs |
| 568 | Baldwin Wallace University | D | $27,000 | $307 | $54,122 | 1.9 yrs |
| 569 | Goshen College | D | $22,974 | $261 | $51,943 | 1.9 yrs |
| 570 | Mississippi State University | D | $22,142 | $252 | $51,513 | 1.9 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.