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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 211 | Saint Anselm College | B | $27,000 | $307 | $73,371 | 0.8 yrs |
| 212 | Western Washington University | B | $18,500 | $210 | $62,569 | 0.8 yrs |
| 213 | Auburn University Alabama | B | $21,000 | $239 | $65,337 | 0.8 yrs |
| 214 | Indiana University Bloomington Indiana | B | $19,509 | $222 | $63,742 | 0.8 yrs |
| 215 | Lewis University Illinois | B | $21,500 | $244 | $66,099 | 0.8 yrs |
| 216 | Florida State University Florida | B | $18,000 | $205 | $61,675 | 0.8 yrs |
| 217 | Pacific Lutheran University | B | $22,578 | $257 | $66,990 | 0.8 yrs |
| 218 | South Dakota School of Mines and Technology | B | $27,000 | $307 | $72,257 | 0.8 yrs |
| 219 | University of Massachusetts Boston Massachusetts | B | $21,974 | $250 | $65,865 | 0.8 yrs |
| 220 | University of Puget Sound | B | $25,000 | $284 | $69,594 | 0.8 yrs |
| 221 | Michigan State University Michigan | B | $23,250 | $264 | $67,253 | 0.8 yrs |
| 222 | City University of Seattle Washington | B | $25,000 | $284 | $69,460 | 0.8 yrs |
| 223 | Gettysburg College | B | $26,999 | $307 | $71,517 | 0.8 yrs |
| 224 | Azusa Pacific University | B | $23,219 | $264 | $66,677 | 0.9 yrs |
| 225 | California State University, Bakersfield | B | $16,600 | $189 | $59,009 | 0.9 yrs |
| 226 | University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth | B | $25,000 | $284 | $68,804 | 0.9 yrs |
| 227 | Widener University Pennsylvania | B | $27,000 | $307 | $70,920 | 0.9 yrs |
| 228 | Illinois Wesleyan University Illinois | B | $27,000 | $307 | $70,871 | 0.9 yrs |
| 229 | Lewis & Clark College | B | $19,500 | $222 | $62,205 | 0.9 yrs |
| 230 | Oregon State University Oregon | B | $21,221 | $241 | $64,010 | 0.9 yrs |
| 231 | DePauw University | B | $27,000 | $307 | $70,527 | 0.9 yrs |
| 232 | Wofford College | B | $25,732 | $293 | $68,964 | 0.9 yrs |
| 233 | Roger Williams University Rhode Island | B | $26,940 | $306 | $70,266 | 0.9 yrs |
| 234 | Central Washington University Washington | B | $19,500 | $222 | $61,580 | 0.9 yrs |
| 235 | Baylor University | B | $23,000 | $262 | $65,793 | 0.9 yrs |
| 236 | University of Iowa Iowa | B | $22,500 | $256 | $64,762 | 0.9 yrs |
| 237 | Columbia Southern University | B | $21,339 | $243 | $63,534 | 0.9 yrs |
| 238 | National University | B | $25,000 | $284 | $67,548 | 0.9 yrs |
| 239 | Pacific Union College | B | $27,500 | $313 | $70,484 | 0.9 yrs |
| 240 | Wabash College | B | $27,000 | $307 | $69,952 | 0.9 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.