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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 421 | Midwestern State University Texas | C | $21,030 | $239 | $55,747 | 1.3 yrs |
| 422 | Augsburg University Minnesota | C | $25,347 | $288 | $58,829 | 1.3 yrs |
| 423 | University of New Haven Connecticut | C | $27,000 | $307 | $60,126 | 1.3 yrs |
| 424 | Frostburg State University Maryland | C | $21,105 | $240 | $55,493 | 1.3 yrs |
| 425 | The College of Wooster Ohio | C | $26,500 | $301 | $59,629 | 1.3 yrs |
| 426 | Kennesaw State University Georgia | C | $23,833 | $271 | $57,552 | 1.3 yrs |
| 427 | Saint Vincent College Pennsylvania | C | $27,000 | $307 | $59,982 | 1.3 yrs |
| 428 | Shenandoah University Virginia | C | $25,000 | $284 | $58,433 | 1.3 yrs |
| 429 | Simpson College Iowa | C | $26,000 | $296 | $59,274 | 1.3 yrs |
| 430 | University of Colorado at Colorado Springs Colorado | C | $20,000 | $227 | $54,659 | 1.3 yrs |
| 431 | University of Nebraska, Omaha Nebraska | C | $19,000 | $216 | $53,909 | 1.3 yrs |
| 432 | Luther College Iowa | C | $27,000 | $307 | $59,850 | 1.3 yrs |
| 433 | Waubonsee Community College Illinois | C | $7,000 | $80 | $44,788 | 1.3 yrs |
| 434 | University of Houston-Downtown Texas | C | $18,750 | $213 | $53,551 | 1.3 yrs |
| 435 | University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh Wisconsin | C | $21,500 | $244 | $55,548 | 1.3 yrs |
| 436 | King's College Pennsylvania | C | $27,000 | $307 | $59,498 | 1.4 yrs |
| 437 | Rollins College Florida | C | $25,500 | $290 | $58,295 | 1.4 yrs |
| 438 | Concordia College - Moorhead Minnesota | C | $26,847 | $305 | $59,317 | 1.4 yrs |
| 439 | University of Wisconsin - River Falls Wisconsin | C | $20,500 | $233 | $54,458 | 1.4 yrs |
| 440 | West Virginia University West Virginia | C | $22,500 | $256 | $55,939 | 1.4 yrs |
| 441 | Ferris State University Michigan | C | $21,000 | $239 | $54,735 | 1.4 yrs |
| 442 | Felician University New Jersey | C | $25,000 | $284 | $57,602 | 1.4 yrs |
| 443 | Biola University California | C | $23,875 | $271 | $56,778 | 1.4 yrs |
| 444 | College of Charleston South Carolina | C | $23,250 | $264 | $56,416 | 1.4 yrs |
| 445 | Oberlin College Ohio | C | $26,000 | $296 | $58,343 | 1.4 yrs |
| 446 | Oklahoma City University Oklahoma | C | $20,835 | $237 | $54,655 | 1.4 yrs |
| 447 | University of Cincinnati Ohio | C | $21,250 | $242 | $54,810 | 1.4 yrs |
| 448 | Bemidji State University Minnesota | C | $19,750 | $225 | $53,755 | 1.4 yrs |
| 449 | Loras College Iowa | C | $26,000 | $296 | $58,289 | 1.4 yrs |
| 450 | Wilmington University Delaware | C | $20,000 | $227 | $53,844 | 1.4 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.