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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 451 | New Jersey City University New Jersey | C | $18,500 | $210 | $52,745 | 1.4 yrs |
| 452 | Albion College Michigan | C | $27,000 | $307 | $58,799 | 1.4 yrs |
| 453 | Bastyr University Washington | C | $13,817 | $157 | $49,364 | 1.4 yrs |
| 454 | Gannon University Pennsylvania | C | $27,000 | $307 | $58,845 | 1.4 yrs |
| 455 | Albright College Pennsylvania | C | $27,000 | $307 | $58,700 | 1.4 yrs |
| 456 | Champlain College Vermont | C | $26,814 | $305 | $58,386 | 1.4 yrs |
| 457 | Hood College Maryland | C | $25,000 | $284 | $57,089 | 1.4 yrs |
| 458 | Hope College Michigan | C | $26,800 | $305 | $58,427 | 1.4 yrs |
| 459 | Southern Nazarene University Oklahoma | C | $21,900 | $249 | $54,951 | 1.4 yrs |
| 460 | Trine University Indiana | C | $25,000 | $284 | $57,165 | 1.4 yrs |
| 461 | University of Wisconsin - Green Bay Wisconsin | C | $18,500 | $210 | $52,528 | 1.4 yrs |
| 462 | Eastern Connecticut State University Connecticut | C | $24,250 | $276 | $56,469 | 1.4 yrs |
| 463 | Randolph-Macon College Virginia | C | $27,000 | $307 | $58,448 | 1.4 yrs |
| 464 | Southern Connecticut State University Connecticut | C | $22,250 | $253 | $55,043 | 1.4 yrs |
| 465 | University of Louisville Kentucky | C | $20,500 | $233 | $53,899 | 1.4 yrs |
| 466 | Keuka College New York | C | $27,000 | $307 | $58,289 | 1.4 yrs |
| 467 | Southwestern University Texas | C | $25,000 | $284 | $56,878 | 1.4 yrs |
| 468 | Tarleton State University Texas | C | $19,606 | $223 | $53,040 | 1.5 yrs |
| 469 | University of Idaho Idaho | C | $21,982 | $250 | $54,670 | 1.5 yrs |
| 470 | University of Findlay Ohio | C | $25,439 | $289 | $56,996 | 1.5 yrs |
| 471 | Rockford University Illinois | C | $22,274 | $253 | $54,794 | 1.5 yrs |
| 472 | Campbell University North Carolina | C | $22,500 | $256 | $54,886 | 1.5 yrs |
| 473 | East Carolina University North Carolina | C | $22,750 | $259 | $55,146 | 1.5 yrs |
| 474 | Plymouth State University New Hampshire | C | $26,000 | $296 | $57,304 | 1.5 yrs |
| 475 | Roanoke College Virginia | C | $27,000 | $307 | $58,047 | 1.5 yrs |
| 476 | University of Wisconsin - Whitewater Wisconsin | C | $23,188 | $264 | $55,356 | 1.5 yrs |
| 477 | St. Bonaventure University New York | C | $26,000 | $296 | $57,214 | 1.5 yrs |
| 478 | Grand Valley State University Michigan | C | $24,500 | $279 | $56,118 | 1.5 yrs |
| 479 | John Brown University Arkansas | C | $21,250 | $242 | $53,907 | 1.5 yrs |
| 480 | LeTourneau University Texas | C | $26,000 | $296 | $57,103 | 1.5 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.