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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 511 | Georgian Court University New Jersey | C | $21,816 | $248 | $53,096 | 1.6 yrs |
| 512 | Eastern Mennonite University Virginia | C | $24,813 | $282 | $54,869 | 1.6 yrs |
| 513 | Wartburg College Iowa | C | $27,000 | $307 | $56,201 | 1.6 yrs |
| 514 | Lycoming College Pennsylvania | C | $27,000 | $307 | $56,210 | 1.6 yrs |
| 515 | Taylor University Indiana | C | $20,500 | $233 | $52,198 | 1.6 yrs |
| 516 | Montana State University Montana | C | $22,500 | $256 | $53,263 | 1.6 yrs |
| 517 | Appalachian State University North Carolina | C | $20,231 | $230 | $51,836 | 1.6 yrs |
| 518 | Barry University Florida | C | $26,997 | $307 | $55,966 | 1.6 yrs |
| 519 | Tabor College Kansas | C | $23,887 | $272 | $54,058 | 1.6 yrs |
| 520 | University of Alaska - Anchorage Alaska | C | $20,210 | $230 | $51,871 | 1.6 yrs |
| 521 | Central Michigan University Michigan | C | $27,000 | $307 | $55,874 | 1.7 yrs |
| 522 | Dickinson State University North Dakota | C | $18,442 | $210 | $50,720 | 1.7 yrs |
| 523 | University of North Georgia Georgia | C | $17,750 | $202 | $50,135 | 1.7 yrs |
| 524 | University of Minnesota - Morris Minnesota | C | $18,995 | $216 | $50,919 | 1.7 yrs |
| 525 | Ohio Wesleyan University Ohio | C | $27,000 | $307 | $55,624 | 1.7 yrs |
| 526 | Athens State University Alabama | C | $18,051 | $205 | $50,273 | 1.7 yrs |
| 527 | Curry College Massachusetts | C | $25,000 | $284 | $54,400 | 1.7 yrs |
| 528 | Franklin University Ohio | C | $20,836 | $237 | $51,892 | 1.7 yrs |
| 529 | University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Tennessee | C | $19,500 | $222 | $51,151 | 1.7 yrs |
| 530 | Boise State University Idaho | D | $20,500 | $233 | $51,658 | 1.7 yrs |
| 531 | Radford University Virginia | D | $24,000 | $273 | $53,739 | 1.7 yrs |
| 532 | Alfred University New York | D | $26,000 | $296 | $54,897 | 1.7 yrs |
| 533 | Georgia Southern University Georgia | D | $23,250 | $264 | $53,236 | 1.7 yrs |
| 534 | Wichita State University Kansas | D | $20,500 | $233 | $51,532 | 1.7 yrs |
| 535 | Pittsburg State University Kansas | D | $18,969 | $216 | $50,579 | 1.7 yrs |
| 536 | Wisconsin Lutheran College Wisconsin | D | $26,000 | $296 | $54,664 | 1.7 yrs |
| 537 | Eastern Illinois University Illinois | D | $21,500 | $244 | $51,989 | 1.7 yrs |
| 538 | University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point Wisconsin | D | $21,503 | $244 | $52,021 | 1.7 yrs |
| 539 | Western Illinois University Illinois | D | $25,251 | $287 | $54,163 | 1.7 yrs |
| 540 | Cleveland State University Ohio | D | $21,797 | $248 | $52,131 | 1.7 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.