Colleges that pay for themselves fastest

Colleges ranked by how many years of extra earnings, above a high school graduate’s, cover four years of net price.

Colleges that pay for themselves fastest598 schools

598 schools qualify, ranked by payback years. The top 25 are shown.

How this list is made

Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
Academic Excellence grade B+ or better (the top 35% of rated colleges).
Has median earnings ten years after enrolling and a net price from federal data (College Scorecard), and those earnings are above a high school graduate’s ($48,360 a year: median weekly earnings of $930 for full-time workers with a high school diploma, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024).
Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
Payback years = four years of net price ÷ (earnings − a high school graduate’s earnings). Ordered by payback years, fewest first. A simple estimate: it leaves out interest, taxes and earnings growth.

Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.

1
Princeton University
Princeton, NJ · Private nonprofitIvy LeagueHonor Roll
#1 in New Jersey
- Pays back in about 0.4 years
- Earnings $110,066 ten years out
1
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
New York, NY · PublicHonor Roll
Top 2% for low net price
- Pays back in about 0.4 years
- Earnings $75,971 ten years out
3
United States Merchant Marine Academy
Kings Point, NY · PublicHonor Roll
Top 4% for earnings
- Pays back in about 0.6 years
- Earnings $90,610 ten years out
4
Stanford University
Stanford, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A+
- Pays back in about 0.7 years
- Earnings $124,080 ten years out
5
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
#1 in California
- Pays back in about 0.8 years
- Earnings $128,566 ten years out
5
CUNY Hunter College
New York, NY · Public
Top 2% for low net price
- Pays back in about 0.8 years
- Earnings $63,163 ten years out
5
University of Florida-Online
Gainesville, FL · PublicHonor Roll
Top 4% for low net price
- Pays back in about 0.8 years
- Earnings $71,588 ten years out
5
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
#1 in Massachusetts
- Pays back in about 0.8 years
- Earnings $143,372 ten years out
9
CUNY City College
New York, NY · Public
Top 2% for low net price
- Pays back in about 0.9 years
- Earnings $66,039 ten years out
9
Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GA · PublicHonor Roll
Top 2% for earnings
- Pays back in about 0.9 years
- Earnings $102,772 ten years out
11
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL · PublicHonor Roll
#1 in Florida
- Pays back in about 1.1 years
- Earnings $71,588 ten years out
12
University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley, CA · PublicHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A+
- Pays back in about 1.2 years
- Earnings $92,446 ten years out
12
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering
Needham, MA · Private nonprofit
Top 1% for earnings
- Pays back in about 1.2 years
- Earnings $129,455 ten years out
14
Rice University
Houston, TX · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
#1 in Texas
- Pays back in about 1.3 years
- Earnings $89,718 ten years out
15
University of California-San Diego
La Jolla, CA · PublicHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A
- Pays back in about 1.4 years
- Earnings $84,943 ten years out
15
University of Chicago
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
#1 in Illinois
- Pays back in about 1.4 years
- Earnings $91,885 ten years out
15
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Socorro, NM · Public
#2 in New Mexico
- Pays back in about 1.4 years
- Earnings $76,489 ten years out
15
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA · Private nonprofitIvy LeagueHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A+
- Pays back in about 1.4 years
- Earnings $101,817 ten years out
15
University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis
Saint Louis, MO · Private nonprofit
Top 1% for earnings
- Pays back in about 1.4 years
- Earnings $137,047 ten years out
15
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Albany, NY · Private nonprofit
Top 1% for earnings
- Pays back in about 1.4 years
- Earnings $131,426 ten years out
21
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
#1 in Tennessee
- Pays back in about 1.5 years
- Earnings $91,565 ten years out
21
University of California-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA · PublicHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A
- Pays back in about 1.5 years
- Earnings $82,511 ten years out
21
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI · PublicHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A+
- Pays back in about 1.5 years
- Earnings $83,648 ten years out
21
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
New York, NY · Private nonprofitHonor Roll
Exceptional: Compass grade A
- Pays back in about 1.5 years
- Earnings $83,847 ten years out
25
Mount Carmel College of Nursing
Columbus, OH · Private nonprofit
Top 11% for earnings
- Pays back in about 1.6 years
- Earnings $75,103 ten years out

Compare cost and outcomes

School	Net price a year	Median debt	Earnings 10 years out	Graduation rate
Princeton University	$6,128	$10,320	$110,066	98%
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College	$3,033	$11,512	$75,971	72%
United States Merchant Marine Academy	$6,174	$8,833	$90,610	82%
Stanford University	$13,807	$12,000	$124,080	92%
California Institute of Technology	$16,075	—	$128,566	94%
CUNY Hunter College	$2,984	$11,000	$63,163	57%
University of Florida-Online	$4,815	$15,000	$71,588	85%
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	$20,111	$14,768	$143,372	96%
CUNY City College	$3,776	$11,990	$66,039	57%
Georgia Institute of Technology	$12,116	$21,672	$102,772	94%
University of Florida	$6,541	$15,000	$71,588	91%
University of California-Berkeley	$13,481	$13,000	$92,446	93%
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering	$25,171	$19,500	$129,455	96%
Rice University	$13,370	$11,000	$89,718	95%
University of California-San Diego	$12,470	$15,500	$84,943	86%
University of Chicago	$14,860	$15,000	$91,885	96%
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology	$9,873	$19,085	$76,489	57%
Harvard University	$19,066	$14,000	$101,817	98%
University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis	$31,817	$17,755	$137,047	62%
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences	$29,882	$25,500	$131,426	68%
Vanderbilt University	$15,846	$14,000	$91,565	94%
University of California-Los Angeles	$12,548	$14,000	$82,511	93%
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor	$13,138	$19,500	$83,648	93%
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art	$13,269	$15,000	$83,847	81%
Mount Carmel College of Nursing	$10,420	$22,082	$75,103	54%

Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.

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Colleges that pay for themselves fastest

How this list is made

Princeton University

CUNY Bernard M Baruch College

United States Merchant Marine Academy

Stanford University

California Institute of Technology

CUNY Hunter College

University of Florida-Online

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

CUNY City College

Georgia Institute of Technology

University of Florida

University of California-Berkeley

Franklin W Olin College of Engineering

Rice University

University of California-San Diego

University of Chicago

New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

Harvard University

University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis

Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Vanderbilt University

University of California-Los Angeles

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art

Mount Carmel College of Nursing

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