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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 121 | Illinois Institute of Technology Illinois | A | $25,000 | $284 | $82,592 | 0.6 yrs |
| 122 | University of California, Santa Cruz California | A | $16,666 | $189 | $68,396 | 0.6 yrs |
| 123 | Vassar College New York | A | $18,625 | $212 | $71,366 | 0.6 yrs |
| 124 | Wentworth Institute of Technology Massachusetts | A | $25,028 | $285 | $82,721 | 0.6 yrs |
| 125 | Purdue University Indiana | B | $19,500 | $222 | $72,424 | 0.6 yrs |
| 126 | California State University, Fullerton California | B | $13,750 | $156 | $62,951 | 0.6 yrs |
| 127 | California State University, Sacramento California | B | $15,000 | $171 | $64,876 | 0.6 yrs |
| 128 | Allen College Iowa | B | $18,750 | $213 | $71,261 | 0.6 yrs |
| 129 | San Diego State University California | B | $15,000 | $171 | $64,909 | 0.6 yrs |
| 130 | American University District of Columbia | B | $22,750 | $259 | $77,370 | 0.6 yrs |
| 131 | Dominican University of California California | B | $27,000 | $307 | $84,713 | 0.6 yrs |
| 132 | University of Wisconsin–Madison Wisconsin | B | $20,484 | $233 | $73,792 | 0.6 yrs |
| 133 | Saint Mary's College of California California | B | $23,691 | $269 | $78,812 | 0.6 yrs |
| 134 | University at Buffalo New York | B | $19,000 | $216 | $70,814 | 0.6 yrs |
| 135 | Virginia Military Institute Virginia | B | $22,996 | $261 | $77,369 | 0.6 yrs |
| 136 | Golden Gate University California | B | $29,875 | $340 | $87,434 | 0.6 yrs |
| 137 | Dickinson College Pennsylvania | B | $19,000 | $216 | $70,204 | 0.6 yrs |
| 138 | Gonzaga University Washington | B | $24,454 | $278 | $78,892 | 0.6 yrs |
| 139 | Marquette University Wisconsin | B | $23,940 | $272 | $78,257 | 0.6 yrs |
| 140 | University of California, Riverside California | B | $17,500 | $199 | $67,699 | 0.6 yrs |
| 141 | University of Texas at Dallas Texas | B | $18,000 | $205 | $68,227 | 0.6 yrs |
| 142 | Denver College of Nursing Colorado | B | $26,500 | $301 | $81,809 | 0.6 yrs |
| 143 | Occidental College California | B | $23,000 | $262 | $75,951 | 0.6 yrs |
| 144 | Sonoma State University California | B | $16,705 | $190 | $65,986 | 0.6 yrs |
| 145 | University of Maryland, Baltimore County Maryland | B | $19,500 | $222 | $69,960 | 0.6 yrs |
| 146 | University of Colorado Boulder Colorado | B | $19,500 | $222 | $69,738 | 0.7 yrs |
| 147 | University of Dayton Ohio | B | $23,250 | $264 | $75,537 | 0.7 yrs |
| 148 | Michigan Technological University Michigan | B | $24,990 | $284 | $78,198 | 0.7 yrs |
| 149 | California State University, Monterey Bay California | B | $12,750 | $145 | $59,247 | 0.7 yrs |
| 150 | Ohio Northern University Ohio | B | $27,000 | $307 | $80,928 | 0.7 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.