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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 361 | State University of New York at Oswego New York | C | $20,880 | $237 | $57,566 | 1.2 yrs |
| 362 | Clark University Massachusetts | C | $26,759 | $304 | $62,381 | 1.2 yrs |
| 363 | Central Connecticut State University Connecticut | C | $22,300 | $254 | $58,562 | 1.2 yrs |
| 364 | Florida Gulf Coast University Florida | C | $17,622 | $200 | $54,560 | 1.2 yrs |
| 365 | Lake Forest College Illinois | C | $26,158 | $297 | $61,825 | 1.2 yrs |
| 366 | Lebanon Valley College Pennsylvania | C | $27,000 | $307 | $62,621 | 1.2 yrs |
| 367 | McDaniel College Maryland | C | $25,000 | $284 | $60,663 | 1.2 yrs |
| 368 | Elizabethtown College Pennsylvania | C | $27,000 | $307 | $62,399 | 1.2 yrs |
| 369 | Frederick Community College Maryland | C | $8,150 | $93 | $46,449 | 1.2 yrs |
| 370 | Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion Indiana | C | $24,250 | $276 | $59,986 | 1.2 yrs |
| 371 | California Baptist University California | C | $26,063 | $296 | $61,504 | 1.2 yrs |
| 372 | Christopher Newport University Virginia | C | $25,000 | $284 | $60,509 | 1.2 yrs |
| 373 | Fresno Pacific University California | C | $23,146 | $263 | $58,896 | 1.2 yrs |
| 374 | Oakland University Michigan | C | $22,750 | $259 | $58,612 | 1.2 yrs |
| 375 | Robert Morris University Pennsylvania | C | $26,950 | $306 | $62,105 | 1.2 yrs |
| 376 | Kansas State University Kansas | C | $21,250 | $242 | $57,262 | 1.2 yrs |
| 377 | Allegheny College Pennsylvania | C | $27,000 | $307 | $62,069 | 1.2 yrs |
| 378 | Walla Walla University Washington | C | $26,842 | $305 | $61,885 | 1.2 yrs |
| 379 | La Sierra University California | C | $27,000 | $307 | $61,824 | 1.2 yrs |
| 380 | Minnesota State University, Mankato Minnesota | C | $21,106 | $240 | $56,922 | 1.2 yrs |
| 381 | Mount Holyoke College Massachusetts | C | $22,902 | $260 | $58,418 | 1.2 yrs |
| 382 | Northern Illinois University Illinois | C | $22,162 | $252 | $57,808 | 1.2 yrs |
| 383 | Texas State University Texas | C | $21,000 | $239 | $56,906 | 1.2 yrs |
| 384 | University of Nebraska, Lincoln Nebraska | C | $21,000 | $239 | $56,887 | 1.2 yrs |
| 385 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte North Carolina | C | $21,500 | $244 | $57,289 | 1.2 yrs |
| 386 | York College of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania | C | $26,000 | $296 | $61,012 | 1.2 yrs |
| 387 | Susquehanna University Pennsylvania | C | $27,000 | $307 | $61,723 | 1.2 yrs |
| 388 | Lipscomb University Tennessee | C | $19,500 | $222 | $55,541 | 1.2 yrs |
| 389 | Rhode Island College Rhode Island | C | $20,500 | $233 | $56,318 | 1.2 yrs |
| 390 | Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville Illinois | C | $20,500 | $233 | $56,346 | 1.2 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.