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 $57,146 against $22,500 of debt.
| # | University | Grade | You borrow | Monthly | You earn | Debt clears in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 271 | University of Massachusetts at Lowell Massachusetts | B | $23,704 | $270 | $64,874 | 0.9 yrs |
| 272 | Texas Tech University Texas | B | $21,500 | $244 | $62,454 | 0.9 yrs |
| 273 | Benedictine University Illinois | B | $22,500 | $256 | $63,446 | 0.9 yrs |
| 274 | University of Kansas Kansas | B | $21,000 | $239 | $61,945 | 0.9 yrs |
| 275 | Emmanuel College Massachusetts | B | $27,000 | $307 | $68,245 | 0.9 yrs |
| 276 | Macalester College Minnesota | B | $23,000 | $262 | $63,878 | 0.9 yrs |
| 277 | Salisbury University Maryland | B | $21,000 | $239 | $61,515 | 1 yrs |
| 278 | Washington & Jefferson College Pennsylvania | B | $27,000 | $307 | $67,918 | 1 yrs |
| 279 | University of Minnesota - Duluth Minnesota | B | $22,024 | $250 | $62,616 | 1 yrs |
| 280 | Iowa State University Iowa | B | $22,869 | $260 | $63,386 | 1 yrs |
| 281 | University of Arizona Arizona | B | $19,620 | $223 | $59,979 | 1 yrs |
| 282 | Norwich University Vermont | B | $25,000 | $284 | $65,575 | 1 yrs |
| 283 | Ohio State University Ohio | B | $19,976 | $227 | $60,409 | 1 yrs |
| 284 | Seattle Pacific University Washington | B | $24,000 | $273 | $64,506 | 1 yrs |
| 285 | Suffolk University Massachusetts | B | $26,889 | $306 | $67,506 | 1 yrs |
| 286 | Wheaton College Illinois | B | $23,250 | $264 | $63,756 | 1 yrs |
| 287 | University of Mary Washington Virginia | C | $20,500 | $233 | $60,613 | 1 yrs |
| 288 | St. Lawrence University New York | C | $27,000 | $307 | $67,258 | 1 yrs |
| 289 | University of Central Florida Florida | C | $18,190 | $207 | $58,308 | 1 yrs |
| 290 | University of Tulsa Oklahoma | C | $21,500 | $244 | $61,408 | 1 yrs |
| 291 | Montgomery College Maryland | C | $10,415 | $118 | $50,159 | 1 yrs |
| 292 | University of Texas at Tyler Texas | C | $17,137 | $195 | $57,053 | 1 yrs |
| 293 | Utah State University Utah | C | $14,340 | $163 | $54,022 | 1 yrs |
| 294 | University of South Florida Florida | C | $17,988 | $205 | $57,743 | 1 yrs |
| 295 | Berea College Kentucky | C | $3,591 | $41 | $43,150 | 1 yrs |
| 296 | Bradley University Illinois | C | $27,000 | $307 | $66,852 | 1 yrs |
| 297 | Emerson College Massachusetts | C | $23,000 | $262 | $62,832 | 1 yrs |
| 298 | Le Moyne College New York | C | $23,000 | $262 | $62,731 | 1 yrs |
| 299 | University of Tennessee, Knoxville Tennessee | C | $20,500 | $233 | $60,249 | 1 yrs |
| 300 | University of Wisconsin - Platteville Wisconsin | C | $21,977 | $250 | $61,760 | 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.