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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 631 | Earlham College Indiana | D | $23,488 | $267 | $50,797 | 2.1 yrs |
| 632 | Meredith College North Carolina | D | $25,000 | $284 | $51,539 | 2.1 yrs |
| 633 | University of Central Missouri Missouri | D | $21,000 | $239 | $49,560 | 2.1 yrs |
| 634 | LaGrange College Georgia | D | $25,730 | $293 | $51,745 | 2.1 yrs |
| 635 | Lamar University Texas | D | $21,250 | $242 | $49,652 | 2.1 yrs |
| 636 | University of Alaska - Southeast Alaska | D | $19,111 | $217 | $48,475 | 2.1 yrs |
| 637 | Northern Kentucky University Kentucky | D | $23,000 | $262 | $50,220 | 2.2 yrs |
| 638 | Pfeiffer University North Carolina | D | $26,163 | $297 | $51,562 | 2.2 yrs |
| 639 | Sweet Briar College Virginia | D | $27,000 | $307 | $51,943 | 2.2 yrs |
| 640 | University of Alaska - Fairbanks Alaska | D | $20,291 | $231 | $48,866 | 2.2 yrs |
| 641 | Western Carolina University North Carolina | D | $21,868 | $249 | $49,458 | 2.2 yrs |
| 642 | Quincy University Illinois | D | $24,000 | $273 | $50,369 | 2.2 yrs |
| 643 | University of Dubuque Iowa | D | $25,750 | $293 | $51,190 | 2.2 yrs |
| 644 | Middle Tennessee State University Tennessee | D | $20,000 | $227 | $48,541 | 2.2 yrs |
| 645 | Fort Hays State University Kansas | D | $21,000 | $239 | $48,928 | 2.2 yrs |
| 646 | University of Wisconsin - Superior Wisconsin | D | $22,500 | $256 | $49,606 | 2.2 yrs |
| 647 | West Virginia Wesleyan College West Virginia | D | $27,000 | $307 | $51,593 | 2.2 yrs |
| 648 | University of New Orleans Louisiana | D | $18,750 | $213 | $47,872 | 2.2 yrs |
| 649 | Spring Hill College Alabama | D | $27,000 | $307 | $51,500 | 2.3 yrs |
| 650 | Mississippi University for Women Mississippi | D | $15,000 | $171 | $46,128 | 2.3 yrs |
| 651 | Wright State University Ohio | D | $22,750 | $259 | $49,500 | 2.3 yrs |
| 652 | Aquinas College Michigan | D | $23,000 | $262 | $49,584 | 2.3 yrs |
| 653 | Augusta University Georgia | D | $20,500 | $233 | $48,472 | 2.3 yrs |
| 654 | Hastings College Nebraska | D | $27,000 | $307 | $51,303 | 2.3 yrs |
| 655 | Millikin University Illinois | D | $27,000 | $307 | $51,262 | 2.3 yrs |
| 656 | Stephen F. Austin State University Texas | D | $23,409 | $266 | $49,634 | 2.3 yrs |
| 657 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania | D | $26,798 | $305 | $51,019 | 2.3 yrs |
| 658 | Monmouth College Illinois | D | $27,000 | $307 | $51,110 | 2.3 yrs |
| 659 | University of Bridgeport Connecticut | D | $25,750 | $293 | $50,323 | 2.4 yrs |
| 660 | University of Central Oklahoma Oklahoma | D | $21,000 | $239 | $48,351 | 2.4 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.