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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 781 | Capella University Minnesota | F | $14,968 | $170 | $42,189 | 5.6 yrs |
| 782 | Norfolk State University Virginia | F | $29,000 | $330 | $44,666 | 5.6 yrs |
| 783 | Prescott College Arizona | F | $16,300 | $185 | $42,359 | 5.7 yrs |
| 784 | Southwest Baptist University Missouri | F | $20,957 | $238 | $43,112 | 5.8 yrs |
| 785 | ECPI University Virginia | F | $20,000 | $227 | $42,837 | 6 yrs |
| 786 | Morehead State University Kentucky | F | $22,250 | $253 | $43,197 | 6.1 yrs |
| 787 | Walden University Minnesota | F | $20,834 | $237 | $42,810 | 6.3 yrs |
| 788 | The University of North Carolina at Pembroke North Carolina | F | $25,000 | $284 | $43,407 | 6.4 yrs |
| 789 | Southern Arkansas University Arkansas | F | $18,750 | $213 | $42,386 | 6.5 yrs |
| 790 | Arkansas State University Arkansas | F | $20,500 | $233 | $42,617 | 6.6 yrs |
| 791 | Sul Ross State University Texas | F | $15,900 | $181 | $41,871 | 6.8 yrs |
| 792 | Davis & Elkins College West Virginia | F | $27,000 | $307 | $43,411 | 6.9 yrs |
| 793 | Louisiana State University at Alexandria Louisiana | F | $19,000 | $216 | $42,205 | 7.1 yrs |
| 794 | Florida Institute of Technology Florida | F | $27,000 | $307 | $43,137 | 7.5 yrs |
| 795 | Stephens College Missouri | F | $27,000 | $307 | $43,071 | 7.6 yrs |
| 796 | William Woods University Missouri | F | $21,983 | $250 | $42,401 | 7.6 yrs |
| 797 | Lincoln University Pennsylvania | F | $28,250 | $321 | $43,167 | 7.8 yrs |
| 798 | North Carolina Central University North Carolina | F | $28,250 | $321 | $42,968 | 8.2 yrs |
| 799 | Delta State University Mississippi | F | $20,390 | $232 | $41,991 | 8.3 yrs |
| 800 | Grand Canyon University Arizona | F | $22,114 | $251 | $42,186 | 8.3 yrs |
| 801 | Tennessee State University Tennessee | F | $27,000 | $307 | $42,730 | 8.4 yrs |
| 802 | Lander University South Carolina | F | $25,000 | $284 | $42,396 | 8.7 yrs |
| 803 | University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma Oklahoma | F | $21,750 | $247 | $41,913 | 9.1 yrs |
| 804 | Oakwood University Alabama | F | $27,000 | $307 | $42,488 | 9.1 yrs |
| 805 | Arkansas Tech University Arkansas | F | $21,000 | $239 | $41,766 | 9.4 yrs |
| 806 | Columbia College Chicago Illinois | F | $25,000 | $284 | $42,195 | 9.4 yrs |
| 807 | Johnson C. Smith University North Carolina | F | $30,000 | $341 | $42,680 | 9.5 yrs |
| 808 | Troy University Alabama | F | $25,000 | $284 | $42,062 | 9.8 yrs |
| 809 | Anderson University South Carolina | F | $26,700 | $304 | $42,101 | 10.3 yrs |
| 810 | Youngstown State University Ohio | F | $24,000 | $273 | $41,544 | 11.9 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.