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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 151 | Skidmore College New York | B | $19,500 | $222 | $69,363 | 0.7 yrs |
| 152 | University of California, Merced California | B | $16,144 | $184 | $64,368 | 0.7 yrs |
| 153 | Syracuse University New York | B | $26,000 | $296 | $79,164 | 0.7 yrs |
| 154 | California State University Channel Islands California | B | $15,000 | $171 | $62,152 | 0.7 yrs |
| 155 | California State University, Los Angeles California | B | $13,000 | $148 | $59,211 | 0.7 yrs |
| 156 | Connecticut College Connecticut | B | $23,500 | $267 | $75,001 | 0.7 yrs |
| 157 | James Madison University Virginia | B | $20,093 | $228 | $69,954 | 0.7 yrs |
| 158 | Washington State University Washington | B | $19,500 | $222 | $68,905 | 0.7 yrs |
| 159 | Washington State University at Vancouver Washington | B | $19,500 | $222 | $68,905 | 0.7 yrs |
| 160 | Whitman College Washington | B | $18,437 | $210 | $67,589 | 0.7 yrs |
| 161 | Chapman University California | B | $20,500 | $233 | $70,070 | 0.7 yrs |
| 162 | DigiPen Institute of Technology Washington | B | $27,000 | $307 | $79,878 | 0.7 yrs |
| 163 | Colorado State University - Global Campus Colorado | B | $25,000 | $284 | $76,813 | 0.7 yrs |
| 164 | California State University, Chico California | B | $16,552 | $188 | $64,172 | 0.7 yrs |
| 165 | California State University, Fresno California | B | $14,505 | $165 | $61,244 | 0.7 yrs |
| 166 | Clemson University South Carolina | B | $21,500 | $244 | $71,513 | 0.7 yrs |
| 167 | Irvine Valley College California | B | $6,500 | $74 | $49,156 | 0.7 yrs |
| 168 | Brandeis University Massachusetts | B | $25,648 | $292 | $77,231 | 0.7 yrs |
| 169 | Metropolitan State University Minnesota | B | $17,100 | $194 | $64,705 | 0.7 yrs |
| 170 | University of Utah Utah | B | $19,000 | $216 | $67,170 | 0.7 yrs |
| 171 | The College of New Jersey New Jersey | B | $23,250 | $264 | $73,323 | 0.7 yrs |
| 172 | Butler University Indiana | B | $26,000 | $296 | $77,235 | 0.7 yrs |
| 173 | Oregon Institute of Technology Oregon | B | $22,500 | $256 | $72,273 | 0.7 yrs |
| 174 | University of Denver Colorado | B | $21,844 | $248 | $71,155 | 0.7 yrs |
| 175 | Adelphi University New York | B | $25,000 | $284 | $75,482 | 0.7 yrs |
| 176 | Bryn Mawr College Pennsylvania | B | $25,000 | $284 | $75,217 | 0.7 yrs |
| 177 | Sacred Heart University Connecticut | B | $25,000 | $284 | $75,059 | 0.7 yrs |
| 178 | University of Massachusetts Amherst Massachusetts | B | $22,763 | $259 | $71,631 | 0.7 yrs |
| 179 | Trinity University Texas | B | $22,954 | $261 | $71,668 | 0.7 yrs |
| 180 | California State University, Northridge California | B | $13,872 | $158 | $59,115 | 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.