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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 571 | Minnesota State University Moorhead Minnesota | D | $20,000 | $227 | $50,527 | 1.8 yrs |
| 572 | New England Institute of Technology Rhode Island | D | $16,668 | $190 | $48,684 | 1.8 yrs |
| 573 | Hiram College Ohio | D | $27,000 | $307 | $54,311 | 1.8 yrs |
| 574 | Olivet Nazarene University Illinois | D | $25,000 | $284 | $53,213 | 1.8 yrs |
| 575 | University of Southern Maine Maine | D | $19,060 | $217 | $49,958 | 1.8 yrs |
| 576 | University of Nebraska Kearney Nebraska | D | $19,500 | $222 | $50,105 | 1.8 yrs |
| 577 | Capital University Ohio | D | $26,889 | $306 | $54,143 | 1.8 yrs |
| 578 | Lake Superior College Minnesota | D | $12,775 | $145 | $46,449 | 1.8 yrs |
| 579 | Pennsylvania College of Technology Pennsylvania | D | $23,961 | $272 | $52,567 | 1.8 yrs |
| 580 | Baldwin Wallace University Ohio | D | $27,000 | $307 | $54,122 | 1.9 yrs |
| 581 | Goshen College Indiana | D | $22,974 | $261 | $51,943 | 1.9 yrs |
| 582 | Mississippi State University Mississippi | D | $22,142 | $252 | $51,513 | 1.9 yrs |
| 583 | Montana State University - Northern Montana | D | $18,500 | $210 | $49,505 | 1.9 yrs |
| 584 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania | D | $25,000 | $284 | $53,032 | 1.9 yrs |
| 585 | Western Michigan University Michigan | D | $26,188 | $298 | $53,562 | 1.9 yrs |
| 586 | Ashland University Ohio | D | $25,000 | $284 | $52,928 | 1.9 yrs |
| 587 | Brenau University Georgia | D | $27,000 | $307 | $54,003 | 1.9 yrs |
| 588 | Beloit College Wisconsin | D | $25,738 | $293 | $53,260 | 1.9 yrs |
| 589 | Bridgewater College Virginia | D | $26,000 | $296 | $53,453 | 1.9 yrs |
| 590 | Millsaps College Mississippi | D | $27,000 | $307 | $53,848 | 1.9 yrs |
| 591 | Lynn University Florida | D | $17,940 | $204 | $49,006 | 1.9 yrs |
| 592 | Lindenwood University Missouri | D | $26,000 | $296 | $53,278 | 1.9 yrs |
| 593 | Angelo State University Texas | D | $20,000 | $227 | $50,116 | 1.9 yrs |
| 594 | Ball State University Indiana | D | $23,250 | $264 | $51,833 | 1.9 yrs |
| 595 | Upper Iowa University Iowa | D | $25,000 | $284 | $52,766 | 1.9 yrs |
| 596 | Andrews University Michigan | D | $26,000 | $296 | $53,187 | 1.9 yrs |
| 597 | Dakota Wesleyan University South Dakota | D | $27,000 | $307 | $53,728 | 1.9 yrs |
| 598 | University of South Dakota South Dakota | D | $23,592 | $268 | $51,926 | 1.9 yrs |
| 599 | Xavier University of Louisiana Louisiana | D | $24,053 | $273 | $52,184 | 1.9 yrs |
| 600 | University of Indianapolis Indiana | D | $26,864 | $305 | $53,610 | 1.9 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.