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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 541 | Keene State College New Hampshire | D | $25,749 | $293 | $54,368 | 1.7 yrs |
| 542 | Louisiana Tech University Louisiana | D | $22,135 | $252 | $52,279 | 1.7 yrs |
| 543 | Southwest Minnesota State University Minnesota | D | $20,500 | $233 | $51,342 | 1.7 yrs |
| 544 | University of Evansville Indiana | D | $24,606 | $280 | $53,770 | 1.7 yrs |
| 545 | University of West Florida Florida | D | $16,624 | $189 | $49,137 | 1.7 yrs |
| 546 | Tennessee Technological University Tennessee | D | $15,650 | $178 | $48,501 | 1.7 yrs |
| 547 | Alvernia University Pennsylvania | D | $27,000 | $307 | $55,055 | 1.7 yrs |
| 548 | University of Mississippi Mississippi | D | $20,000 | $227 | $50,994 | 1.7 yrs |
| 549 | University of Mississippi Medical Center Mississippi | D | $20,000 | $227 | $50,994 | 1.7 yrs |
| 550 | University of Maine at Fort Kent Maine | D | $20,160 | $229 | $51,077 | 1.7 yrs |
| 551 | Hanover College Indiana | D | $25,250 | $287 | $53,957 | 1.8 yrs |
| 552 | East Texas Baptist University Texas | D | $23,250 | $264 | $52,788 | 1.8 yrs |
| 553 | Wittenberg University Ohio | D | $27,000 | $307 | $54,947 | 1.8 yrs |
| 554 | Everett Community College Washington | D | $10,417 | $118 | $45,434 | 1.8 yrs |
| 555 | Ripon College Wisconsin | D | $27,000 | $307 | $54,902 | 1.8 yrs |
| 556 | Knox College Illinois | D | $27,000 | $307 | $54,820 | 1.8 yrs |
| 557 | Pratt Institute New York | D | $26,000 | $296 | $54,295 | 1.8 yrs |
| 558 | University of Wisconsin–Parkside Wisconsin | D | $20,492 | $233 | $51,129 | 1.8 yrs |
| 559 | Alma College Michigan | D | $27,000 | $307 | $54,742 | 1.8 yrs |
| 560 | Washburn University Kansas | D | $18,127 | $206 | $49,774 | 1.8 yrs |
| 561 | New Mexico Highlands University New Mexico | D | $11,399 | $130 | $45,937 | 1.8 yrs |
| 562 | Transylvania University Kentucky | D | $27,000 | $307 | $54,705 | 1.8 yrs |
| 563 | Marian University Wisconsin | D | $25,000 | $284 | $53,501 | 1.8 yrs |
| 564 | Lesley University Massachusetts | D | $21,000 | $239 | $51,173 | 1.8 yrs |
| 565 | Chatham University Pennsylvania | D | $23,250 | $264 | $52,410 | 1.8 yrs |
| 566 | Doane University Nebraska | D | $25,000 | $284 | $53,316 | 1.8 yrs |
| 567 | University of Michigan–Flint Michigan | D | $25,000 | $284 | $53,230 | 1.8 yrs |
| 568 | The Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania | D | $26,000 | $296 | $53,775 | 1.8 yrs |
| 569 | Sierra College California | D | $10,500 | $119 | $45,294 | 1.8 yrs |
| 570 | Central College Iowa | D | $26,984 | $307 | $54,317 | 1.8 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.