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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 301 | Saint Martin's University Washington | C | $22,500 | $256 | $62,092 | 1 yrs |
| 302 | Ithaca College New York | C | $24,000 | $273 | $63,548 | 1 yrs |
| 303 | Florida Atlantic University Florida | C | $17,236 | $196 | $56,746 | 1 yrs |
| 304 | Governors State University Illinois | C | $18,618 | $212 | $58,169 | 1 yrs |
| 305 | Kalamazoo College Michigan | C | $26,077 | $296 | $65,590 | 1 yrs |
| 306 | Montclair State University New Jersey | C | $22,000 | $250 | $61,415 | 1 yrs |
| 307 | State University of New York at New Paltz New York | C | $18,750 | $213 | $58,073 | 1 yrs |
| 308 | SOKA University of America California | C | $15,650 | $178 | $55,017 | 1 yrs |
| 309 | Brigham Young University - Idaho Idaho | C | $13,969 | $159 | $53,406 | 1 yrs |
| 310 | Centre College Kentucky | C | $27,000 | $307 | $66,240 | 1 yrs |
| 311 | Temple University Pennsylvania | C | $24,395 | $277 | $63,727 | 1 yrs |
| 312 | North Dakota State University North Dakota | C | $23,199 | $264 | $62,203 | 1 yrs |
| 313 | University of Hawaii at Manoa Hawaii | C | $18,500 | $210 | $57,624 | 1 yrs |
| 314 | St. Mary's College of Maryland Maryland | C | $21,000 | $239 | $60,110 | 1 yrs |
| 315 | Mount St. Mary's University Maryland | C | $25,391 | $289 | $64,072 | 1 yrs |
| 316 | Gustavus Adolphus College Minnesota | C | $26,774 | $304 | $65,607 | 1 yrs |
| 317 | Samford University Alabama | C | $19,500 | $222 | $58,469 | 1 yrs |
| 318 | Woodbury University California | C | $26,960 | $307 | $65,668 | 1 yrs |
| 319 | Howard University District of Columbia | C | $24,500 | $279 | $63,066 | 1 yrs |
| 320 | Simmons University Massachusetts | C | $24,840 | $282 | $63,494 | 1 yrs |
| 321 | University of Wyoming Wyoming | C | $18,000 | $205 | $56,880 | 1 yrs |
| 322 | Pennsylvania State University Pennsylvania | C | $25,000 | $284 | $63,435 | 1.1 yrs |
| 323 | Drew University New Jersey | C | $25,288 | $288 | $63,646 | 1.1 yrs |
| 324 | Eastern Washington University Washington | C | $19,500 | $222 | $57,897 | 1.1 yrs |
| 325 | Aurora University Illinois | C | $20,318 | $231 | $58,709 | 1.1 yrs |
| 326 | University of Baltimore Maryland | C | $23,250 | $264 | $61,335 | 1.1 yrs |
| 327 | University of Texas Permian Basin Texas | C | $17,750 | $202 | $56,073 | 1.1 yrs |
| 328 | West Chester University of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania | C | $23,500 | $267 | $61,258 | 1.1 yrs |
| 329 | university of illinois springfield Illinois | C | $19,128 | $217 | $57,103 | 1.1 yrs |
| 330 | Wilkes University Pennsylvania | C | $26,000 | $296 | $63,454 | 1.1 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.