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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 661 | University of West Georgia Georgia | D | $23,970 | $273 | $49,587 | 2.4 yrs |
| 662 | Madison Area Technical College Wisconsin | D | $14,060 | $160 | $45,413 | 2.4 yrs |
| 663 | Roosevelt University Illinois | D | $22,000 | $250 | $48,712 | 2.4 yrs |
| 664 | Geneva College Pennsylvania | D | $25,198 | $287 | $50,004 | 2.4 yrs |
| 665 | Purdue University Northwest Indiana | D | $21,229 | $241 | $48,318 | 2.4 yrs |
| 666 | Emporia State University Kansas | D | $19,500 | $222 | $47,601 | 2.4 yrs |
| 667 | San Diego Christian College California | D | $24,941 | $284 | $49,766 | 2.4 yrs |
| 668 | Indiana University Southeast Indiana | D | $19,684 | $224 | $47,596 | 2.4 yrs |
| 669 | Lake Superior State University Michigan | D | $23,250 | $264 | $49,045 | 2.4 yrs |
| 670 | Morgan State University Maryland | D | $27,250 | $310 | $50,698 | 2.4 yrs |
| 671 | Georgia Gwinnett College Georgia | D | $20,076 | $228 | $47,730 | 2.5 yrs |
| 672 | University of Hawaii at Hilo Hawaii | D | $20,500 | $233 | $47,856 | 2.5 yrs |
| 673 | University of Southern Indiana Indiana | D | $20,105 | $229 | $47,605 | 2.5 yrs |
| 674 | Centenary College of Louisiana Louisiana | D | $27,000 | $307 | $50,330 | 2.5 yrs |
| 675 | Chadron State College Nebraska | D | $18,875 | $215 | $47,002 | 2.5 yrs |
| 676 | Valdosta State University Georgia | D | $24,779 | $282 | $49,361 | 2.5 yrs |
| 677 | University of South Alabama Alabama | D | $24,929 | $283 | $49,379 | 2.5 yrs |
| 678 | Portland Community College Oregon | D | $12,999 | $148 | $44,592 | 2.6 yrs |
| 679 | Northwest Missouri State University Missouri | D | $21,500 | $244 | $47,885 | 2.6 yrs |
| 680 | University of Advancing Technology Arizona | D | $28,812 | $328 | $50,719 | 2.6 yrs |
| 681 | Buena Vista University Iowa | D | $25,000 | $284 | $49,156 | 2.6 yrs |
| 682 | Colorado Christian University Colorado | D | $28,312 | $322 | $50,416 | 2.6 yrs |
| 683 | University of Memphis Tennessee | D | $23,300 | $265 | $48,458 | 2.6 yrs |
| 684 | The University of North Carolina at Greensboro North Carolina | D | $22,858 | $260 | $48,160 | 2.7 yrs |
| 685 | Delaware State University Delaware | D | $26,000 | $296 | $49,307 | 2.7 yrs |
| 686 | Georgia State University Georgia | D | $20,903 | $238 | $47,384 | 2.7 yrs |
| 687 | Tuskegee University Alabama | D | $27,000 | $307 | $49,641 | 2.7 yrs |
| 688 | Marymount Manhattan College New York | D | $25,750 | $293 | $49,131 | 2.7 yrs |
| 689 | Huntingdon College Alabama | D | $27,000 | $307 | $49,601 | 2.7 yrs |
| 690 | Oklahoma Christian University Oklahoma | F | $26,000 | $296 | $49,203 | 2.7 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.