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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 151 | James Madison University | B | $20,093 | $228 | $69,954 | 0.7 yrs |
| 152 | Washington State University | B | $19,500 | $222 | $68,905 | 0.7 yrs |
| 153 | Washington State University at Vancouver | B | $19,500 | $222 | $68,905 | 0.7 yrs |
| 154 | Whitman College | B | $18,437 | $210 | $67,589 | 0.7 yrs |
| 155 | Chapman University California | B | $20,500 | $233 | $70,070 | 0.7 yrs |
| 156 | DigiPen Institute of Technology | B | $27,000 | $307 | $79,878 | 0.7 yrs |
| 157 | Colorado State University - Global Campus | B | $25,000 | $284 | $76,813 | 0.7 yrs |
| 158 | California State University, Chico | B | $16,552 | $188 | $64,172 | 0.7 yrs |
| 159 | California State University, Fresno | B | $14,505 | $165 | $61,244 | 0.7 yrs |
| 160 | Clemson University | B | $21,500 | $244 | $71,513 | 0.7 yrs |
| 161 | Irvine Valley College | B | $6,500 | $74 | $49,156 | 0.7 yrs |
| 162 | Brandeis University Massachusetts | B | $25,648 | $292 | $77,231 | 0.7 yrs |
| 163 | Metropolitan State University | B | $17,100 | $194 | $64,705 | 0.7 yrs |
| 164 | University of Utah Utah | B | $19,000 | $216 | $67,170 | 0.7 yrs |
| 165 | The College of New Jersey | B | $23,250 | $264 | $73,323 | 0.7 yrs |
| 166 | Butler University | B | $26,000 | $296 | $77,235 | 0.7 yrs |
| 167 | Oregon Institute of Technology | B | $22,500 | $256 | $72,273 | 0.7 yrs |
| 168 | University of Denver | B | $21,844 | $248 | $71,155 | 0.7 yrs |
| 169 | Adelphi University | B | $25,000 | $284 | $75,482 | 0.7 yrs |
| 170 | Bryn Mawr College | B | $25,000 | $284 | $75,217 | 0.7 yrs |
| 171 | Sacred Heart University | B | $25,000 | $284 | $75,059 | 0.7 yrs |
| 172 | University of Massachusetts Amherst Massachusetts | B | $22,763 | $259 | $71,631 | 0.7 yrs |
| 173 | California State University, Northridge | B | $13,872 | $158 | $59,115 | 0.7 yrs |
| 174 | Colorado College | B | $18,257 | $208 | $65,222 | 0.7 yrs |
| 175 | Drake University | B | $23,000 | $262 | $71,901 | 0.7 yrs |
| 176 | Rochester Institute of Technology New York | B | $26,778 | $304 | $76,571 | 0.7 yrs |
| 177 | Wagner College | B | $25,000 | $284 | $74,360 | 0.7 yrs |
| 178 | California State University, San Bernardino | B | $14,715 | $167 | $59,977 | 0.7 yrs |
| 179 | Smith College | B | $17,550 | $200 | $64,027 | 0.7 yrs |
| 180 | Creighton University | B | $25,000 | $284 | $73,911 | 0.7 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.