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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 211 | DePaul University Illinois | B | $23,168 | $263 | $68,751 | 0.8 yrs |
| 212 | University of Houston Texas | B | $18,194 | $207 | $62,377 | 0.8 yrs |
| 213 | Florida International University Florida | B | $16,500 | $188 | $60,249 | 0.8 yrs |
| 214 | Saint Louis University Missouri | B | $25,000 | $284 | $70,783 | 0.8 yrs |
| 215 | Furman University South Carolina | B | $23,250 | $264 | $68,635 | 0.8 yrs |
| 216 | Hofstra University New York | B | $23,621 | $269 | $69,039 | 0.8 yrs |
| 217 | Rhodes College Tennessee | B | $21,761 | $247 | $66,651 | 0.8 yrs |
| 218 | Saint Anselm College New Hampshire | B | $27,000 | $307 | $73,371 | 0.8 yrs |
| 219 | Western Washington University Washington | B | $18,500 | $210 | $62,569 | 0.8 yrs |
| 220 | Auburn University Alabama | B | $21,000 | $239 | $65,337 | 0.8 yrs |
| 221 | Indiana University Bloomington Indiana | B | $19,509 | $222 | $63,742 | 0.8 yrs |
| 222 | Lewis University Illinois | B | $21,500 | $244 | $66,099 | 0.8 yrs |
| 223 | Florida State University Florida | B | $18,000 | $205 | $61,675 | 0.8 yrs |
| 224 | Pacific Lutheran University Washington | B | $22,578 | $257 | $66,990 | 0.8 yrs |
| 225 | South Dakota School of Mines and Technology South Dakota | B | $27,000 | $307 | $72,257 | 0.8 yrs |
| 226 | University of Massachusetts Boston Massachusetts | B | $21,974 | $250 | $65,865 | 0.8 yrs |
| 227 | University of Puget Sound Washington | B | $25,000 | $284 | $69,594 | 0.8 yrs |
| 228 | Michigan State University Michigan | B | $23,250 | $264 | $67,253 | 0.8 yrs |
| 229 | City University of Seattle Washington | B | $25,000 | $284 | $69,460 | 0.8 yrs |
| 230 | Gettysburg College Pennsylvania | B | $26,999 | $307 | $71,517 | 0.8 yrs |
| 231 | Azusa Pacific University California | B | $23,219 | $264 | $66,677 | 0.9 yrs |
| 232 | California State University, Bakersfield California | B | $16,600 | $189 | $59,009 | 0.9 yrs |
| 233 | University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth Massachusetts | B | $25,000 | $284 | $68,804 | 0.9 yrs |
| 234 | Widener University Pennsylvania | B | $27,000 | $307 | $70,920 | 0.9 yrs |
| 235 | Illinois Wesleyan University Illinois | B | $27,000 | $307 | $70,871 | 0.9 yrs |
| 236 | Lewis & Clark College Oregon | B | $19,500 | $222 | $62,205 | 0.9 yrs |
| 237 | Oregon State University Oregon | B | $21,221 | $241 | $64,010 | 0.9 yrs |
| 238 | DePauw University Indiana | B | $27,000 | $307 | $70,527 | 0.9 yrs |
| 239 | Wofford College South Carolina | B | $25,732 | $293 | $68,964 | 0.9 yrs |
| 240 | Roger Williams University Rhode Island | B | $26,940 | $306 | $70,266 | 0.9 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.