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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 721 | East Central University Oklahoma | F | $17,671 | $201 | $44,962 | 3.3 yrs |
| 722 | University of Akron Ohio | F | $23,250 | $264 | $46,600 | 3.3 yrs |
| 723 | Idaho State University Idaho | F | $20,039 | $228 | $45,608 | 3.3 yrs |
| 724 | University of Maryland Eastern Shore Maryland | F | $27,000 | $307 | $47,697 | 3.3 yrs |
| 725 | McNeese State University Louisiana | F | $23,000 | $262 | $46,453 | 3.3 yrs |
| 726 | Indiana Institute of Technology Indiana | F | $26,391 | $300 | $47,327 | 3.4 yrs |
| 727 | Purdue University Fort Wayne Indiana | F | $21,500 | $244 | $45,872 | 3.4 yrs |
| 728 | Marshall University West Virginia | F | $23,250 | $264 | $46,354 | 3.4 yrs |
| 729 | Bethel University Tennessee | F | $27,249 | $310 | $47,482 | 3.4 yrs |
| 730 | Bob Jones University South Carolina | F | $16,585 | $189 | $44,354 | 3.4 yrs |
| 731 | Bard College New York | F | $24,254 | $276 | $46,543 | 3.5 yrs |
| 732 | Colorado Mesa University Colorado | F | $22,000 | $250 | $45,823 | 3.5 yrs |
| 733 | University of New Mexico New Mexico | F | $18,450 | $210 | $44,792 | 3.5 yrs |
| 734 | Young Harris College Georgia | F | $27,000 | $307 | $47,195 | 3.5 yrs |
| 735 | Winthrop University South Carolina | F | $26,975 | $307 | $47,185 | 3.5 yrs |
| 736 | Evergreen State College Washington | F | $20,500 | $233 | $45,320 | 3.5 yrs |
| 737 | Huntington University Indiana | F | $25,576 | $291 | $46,672 | 3.6 yrs |
| 738 | Coppin State University Maryland | F | $25,000 | $284 | $46,490 | 3.6 yrs |
| 739 | Eastern Kentucky University Kentucky | F | $22,500 | $256 | $45,795 | 3.6 yrs |
| 740 | Black Hills State University South Dakota | F | $26,000 | $296 | $46,674 | 3.6 yrs |
| 741 | Hampshire College Massachusetts | F | $26,893 | $306 | $46,938 | 3.6 yrs |
| 742 | East Tennessee State University Tennessee | F | $19,442 | $221 | $44,859 | 3.6 yrs |
| 743 | Oral Roberts University Oklahoma | F | $27,000 | $307 | $46,885 | 3.7 yrs |
| 744 | Belhaven University Mississippi | F | $26,333 | $299 | $46,440 | 3.8 yrs |
| 745 | Montana State University - Billings Montana | F | $18,209 | $207 | $44,296 | 3.8 yrs |
| 746 | Nicholls State University Louisiana | F | $22,675 | $258 | $45,454 | 3.8 yrs |
| 747 | University of Arkansas - Little Rock Arkansas | F | $22,000 | $250 | $45,265 | 3.8 yrs |
| 748 | Jacksonville State University Alabama | F | $22,189 | $252 | $45,235 | 3.9 yrs |
| 749 | Murray State University Kentucky | F | $20,500 | $233 | $44,737 | 3.9 yrs |
| 750 | Indiana University at South Bend Indiana | F | $21,355 | $243 | $44,947 | 3.9 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.