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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 691 | Fort Lewis College Colorado | F | $18,389 | $209 | $46,349 | 2.7 yrs |
| 692 | Indiana State University Indiana | F | $24,000 | $273 | $48,387 | 2.7 yrs |
| 693 | Our Lady of the Lake University Texas | F | $24,999 | $284 | $48,675 | 2.7 yrs |
| 694 | Rocky Mountain College Montana | F | $26,000 | $296 | $49,036 | 2.7 yrs |
| 695 | University of Maine Maine | F | $25,000 | $284 | $48,653 | 2.7 yrs |
| 696 | Community College of Baltimore County Maryland | F | $11,528 | $131 | $43,729 | 2.7 yrs |
| 697 | University of Maine at Machias Maine | F | $25,000 | $284 | $48,653 | 2.7 yrs |
| 698 | University of Maine System Maine | F | $25,000 | $284 | $48,653 | 2.7 yrs |
| 699 | Northern State University South Dakota | F | $22,320 | $254 | $47,618 | 2.8 yrs |
| 700 | Oklahoma Baptist University Oklahoma | F | $24,801 | $282 | $48,434 | 2.8 yrs |
| 701 | Mercer County Community College New Jersey | F | $10,500 | $119 | $43,264 | 2.8 yrs |
| 702 | Northern Michigan University Michigan | F | $21,474 | $244 | $47,107 | 2.8 yrs |
| 703 | Lewis-Clark State College Idaho | F | $18,500 | $210 | $46,001 | 2.9 yrs |
| 704 | Fairmont State University West Virginia | F | $21,000 | $239 | $46,857 | 2.9 yrs |
| 705 | Saint Leo University Florida | F | $25,278 | $287 | $48,364 | 2.9 yrs |
| 706 | Peru State College Nebraska | F | $21,875 | $249 | $47,071 | 2.9 yrs |
| 707 | McMurry University Texas | F | $27,000 | $307 | $48,779 | 2.9 yrs |
| 708 | Palm Beach State College Florida | F | $7,081 | $81 | $41,923 | 3 yrs |
| 709 | Northeastern State University Oklahoma | F | $17,367 | $197 | $45,379 | 3 yrs |
| 710 | University of Louisiana at Monroe Louisiana | F | $21,500 | $244 | $46,769 | 3 yrs |
| 711 | Bowling Green State University Ohio | F | $25,000 | $284 | $47,896 | 3 yrs |
| 712 | Coastal Carolina University South Carolina | F | $23,750 | $270 | $47,258 | 3.1 yrs |
| 713 | Broward College Florida | F | $7,500 | $85 | $41,939 | 3.1 yrs |
| 714 | National-Louis University Illinois | F | $19,750 | $225 | $45,799 | 3.2 yrs |
| 715 | Newberry College South Carolina | F | $26,805 | $305 | $48,040 | 3.2 yrs |
| 716 | University of Central Arkansas Arkansas | F | $20,346 | $231 | $45,938 | 3.2 yrs |
| 717 | Seattle Central College Washington | F | $12,000 | $136 | $43,307 | 3.2 yrs |
| 718 | Southeastern Louisiana University Louisiana | F | $22,113 | $251 | $46,482 | 3.2 yrs |
| 719 | Mercyhurst University Pennsylvania | F | $25,305 | $288 | $47,452 | 3.2 yrs |
| 720 | Guilford College North Carolina | F | $26,000 | $296 | $47,590 | 3.2 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.