# How many years of earnings it takes to pay for a four-year degree, by state

> Four years at a college's average net price, set against what its former students earn ten years after they enrolled. The lower the number, the less the degree costs relative to the pay that follows. U.S. College Scorecard data year 2025.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/data/degree-payback-by-state
- Data (CSV): https://www.collegesref.com/data/degree-payback-by-state.csv
- Source reporting year: 2025
- Snapshot updated: November 15, 2026

## Key findings

1. At the median of 1,355 four-year public and private nonprofit colleges, four years at the average net price cost 1.31 years of former students' median earnings ten years after they enrolled ($19,916 a year against $59,737 in earnings).
2. New Mexico has the fastest payback, 0.61 years at the median of its 7 colleges; Rhode Island has the slowest, 1.97 years across 10 colleges.
3. Public colleges pay back in a median 0.97 years, against 1.55 years at private nonprofit colleges.
4. 359 colleges (26%) cost less over four years than one year of their former students' median earnings; 127 colleges (9%) take more than two years.
5. Among colleges with an average net price of at least $2,000 a year, the fastest payback is at California State University-Los Angeles (CA): 0.15 years, from a $2,385 average net price and $62,555 median earnings.

## State by state

Each figure is the median across a state's colleges; the payback is the median of each college's own payback.

| State | Colleges | Median payback | Median avg. net price | Median earnings |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| New Mexico | 7 | 0.61 years | $6,328 | $44,198 |
| West Virginia | 17 | 0.96 years | $11,350 | $49,503 |
| California | 75 | 1.01 years | $22,597 | $73,299 |
| Utah | 8 | 1.01 years | $15,478 | $60,139 |
| Hawaii | 6 | 1.03 years | $14,365 | $57,213 |
| Idaho | 7 | 1.05 years | $15,321 | $57,623 |
| North Dakota | 8 | 1.05 years | $14,856 | $58,798 |
| Maine | 15 | 1.11 years | $19,835 | $57,989 |
| Maryland | 20 | 1.13 years | $18,276 | $67,501 |
| Louisiana | 19 | 1.13 years | $13,357 | $49,742 |
| Oklahoma | 22 | 1.14 years | $15,405 | $50,230 |
| Texas | 72 | 1.17 years | $16,577 | $57,088 |
| Georgia | 47 | 1.17 years | $16,111 | $51,903 |
| Michigan | 36 | 1.17 years | $17,351 | $59,877 |
| Arizona | 7 | 1.17 years | $17,265 | $67,414 |
| Illinois | 46 | 1.17 years | $17,721 | $61,534 |
| Florida | 56 | 1.20 years | $13,404 | $52,156 |
| New Jersey | 25 | 1.20 years | $18,533 | $64,432 |
| Colorado | 17 | 1.22 years | $18,133 | $58,700 |
| New York | 105 | 1.22 years | $21,959 | $68,324 |
| Kentucky | 20 | 1.23 years | $17,863 | $51,552 |
| Indiana | 40 | 1.27 years | $18,881 | $58,361 |
| Nebraska | 13 | 1.30 years | $17,891 | $57,009 |
| Missouri | 35 | 1.31 years | $19,119 | $52,791 |
| Minnesota | 31 | 1.34 years | $22,280 | $64,996 |
| Oregon | 16 | 1.35 years | $23,715 | $63,482 |
| Arkansas | 17 | 1.37 years | $16,882 | $47,220 |
| Wisconsin | 31 | 1.39 years | $20,293 | $59,707 |
| Tennessee | 35 | 1.39 years | $18,314 | $52,901 |
| Alabama | 23 | 1.42 years | $18,255 | $50,557 |
| Washington | 25 | 1.43 years | $21,037 | $65,578 |
| Mississippi | 13 | 1.44 years | $18,078 | $47,355 |
| Ohio | 60 | 1.45 years | $20,710 | $57,717 |
| Massachusetts | 55 | 1.46 years | $26,309 | $69,936 |
| Virginia | 38 | 1.46 years | $22,930 | $59,023 |
| New Hampshire | 11 | 1.46 years | $26,016 | $64,588 |
| South Carolina | 29 | 1.47 years | $19,826 | $51,191 |
| South Dakota | 10 | 1.48 years | $20,691 | $58,037 |
| Pennsylvania | 83 | 1.49 years | $24,806 | $66,391 |
| Kansas | 20 | 1.50 years | $23,231 | $56,855 |
| Iowa | 24 | 1.52 years | $23,142 | $58,810 |
| District of Columbia | 8 | 1.54 years | $32,773 | $75,495 |
| North Carolina | 46 | 1.54 years | $20,380 | $53,473 |
| Montana | 9 | 1.58 years | $21,302 | $52,907 |
| Vermont | 7 | 1.65 years | $29,915 | $66,136 |
| Connecticut | 19 | 1.66 years | $28,356 | $67,897 |
| Rhode Island | 10 | 1.97 years | $37,087 | $73,388 |
| **All reported colleges** | 1,355 | 1.31 years | $19,916 | $59,737 |

Too few colleges to report (fewer than 5): Alaska (3), Delaware (4), Nevada (4), Wyoming (1).

## Fastest paybacks

| College | State and type | Avg. net price | Median earnings | Payback |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [California State University-Los Angeles](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-university-los-angeles-372) | California · Public | $2,385 | $62,555 | 0.15 years |
| [CUNY New York City College of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cuny-new-york-city-college-of-technology-745) | New York · Public | $2,818 | $57,019 | 0.20 years |
| [California Institute of Technology CalTech](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-institute-of-technology-caltech-356) | California · Private nonprofit | $8,509 | $166,642 | 0.20 years |
| [Dalton State College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/dalton-state-college-766) | Georgia · Public | $2,353 | $46,083 | 0.20 years |
| [College of Staten Island CUNY](https://www.collegesref.com/college/college-of-staten-island-cuny-621) | New York · Public | $3,153 | $59,992 | 0.21 years |
| [California State University-Stanislaus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-university-stanislaus-378) | California · Public | $3,565 | $65,560 | 0.22 years |
| [Princeton University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/princeton-university-2154) | New Jersey · Private nonprofit | $7,815 | $133,523 | 0.23 years |
| [Indian River State College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/indian-river-state-college-1272) | Florida · Public | $2,617 | $43,542 | 0.24 years |
| [California State University-San Bernardino](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-university-san-bernardino-376) | California · Public | $3,946 | $61,951 | 0.25 years |
| [CUNY Medgar Evers College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cuny-medgar-evers-college-744) | New York · Public | $3,245 | $49,242 | 0.26 years |
| [California State University-Bakersfield](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-university-bakersfield-364) | California · Public | $4,001 | $62,381 | 0.26 years |
| [CUNY Graduate School and University Center](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cuny-graduate-school-and-university-center-737) | New York · Public | $4,766 | $69,504 | 0.27 years |
| [Atlanta Metropolitan State College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/atlanta-metropolitan-state-college-136) | Georgia · Public | $2,757 | $37,585 | 0.29 years |
| [California State University-Fullerton](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-university-fullerton-370) | California · Public | $5,115 | $69,015 | 0.30 years |
| [Texas A&M University-Central Texas](https://www.collegesref.com/college/texas-a-m-university-central-texas-2698) | Texas · Public | $4,107 | $55,645 | 0.30 years |
| [University of Florida](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-florida-2910) | Florida · Public | $5,969 | $78,456 | 0.30 years |
| [Farmingdale State College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/farmingdale-state-college-941) | New York · Public | $6,146 | $75,278 | 0.33 years |
| [Seminole State College of Florida](https://www.collegesref.com/college/seminole-state-college-of-florida-2397) | Florida · Public | $3,904 | $47,074 | 0.33 years |
| [The University of Texas of the Permian Basin](https://www.collegesref.com/college/the-university-of-texas-of-the-permian-basin-2773) | Texas · Public | $5,070 | $61,557 | 0.33 years |
| [Northwest Florida State College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/northwest-florida-state-college-1946) | Florida · Public | $3,738 | $43,741 | 0.34 years |

Colleges with an average net price under $2,000 a year are left out of this ranking because tiny costs make payback figures misleading; they still count in every state and national figure on this page and in the CSV.

## Slowest paybacks

| College | State and type | Avg. net price | Median earnings | Payback |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Beacon College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/beacon-college-196) | Florida · Private nonprofit | $55,698 | $28,501 | 7.82 years |
| [California Institute of the Arts](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-institute-of-the-arts-357) | California · Private nonprofit | $49,996 | $45,380 | 4.41 years |
| [Berklee College of Music](https://www.collegesref.com/college/berklee-college-of-music-227) | Massachusetts · Private nonprofit | $47,587 | $43,451 | 4.38 years |
| [University of Dallas](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-dallas-2903) | Texas · Private nonprofit | $68,064 | $64,930 | 4.19 years |
| [Savannah College of Art and Design](https://www.collegesref.com/college/savannah-college-of-art-and-design-2379) | Georgia · Private nonprofit | $50,165 | $51,635 | 3.89 years |
| [Clark Atlanta University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/clark-atlanta-university-560) | Georgia · Private nonprofit | $38,626 | $46,867 | 3.30 years |
| [Fisk University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/fisk-university-958) | Tennessee · Private nonprofit | $37,143 | $45,614 | 3.26 years |
| [Jackson State University-Mississippi](https://www.collegesref.com/college/jackson-state-university-mississippi-1319) | Mississippi · Public | $34,119 | $42,075 | 3.24 years |
| [Columbia College Chicago](https://www.collegesref.com/college/columbia-college-chicago-651) | Illinois · Private nonprofit | $36,529 | $48,427 | 3.02 years |
| [The New School](https://www.collegesref.com/college/the-new-school-2749) | New York · Private nonprofit | $48,163 | $64,471 | 2.99 years |
| [Lynn University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/lynn-university-1561) | Florida · Private nonprofit | $43,806 | $58,891 | 2.98 years |
| [Emerson College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/emerson-college-911) | Massachusetts · Private nonprofit | $49,215 | $67,317 | 2.92 years |
| [Rhode Island School of Design RISD](https://www.collegesref.com/college/rhode-island-school-of-design-risd-2225) | Rhode Island · Private nonprofit | $50,513 | $69,341 | 2.91 years |
| [Eckerd College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/eckerd-college-887) | Florida · Private nonprofit | $42,037 | $57,875 | 2.91 years |
| [Florida Institute of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/florida-institute-of-technology-977) | Florida · Private nonprofit | $36,511 | $50,557 | 2.89 years |
| [Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale](https://www.collegesref.com/college/keiser-university-ft-lauderdale-1373) | Florida · Private nonprofit | $32,640 | $46,472 | 2.81 years |
| [Spelman College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/spelman-college-2549) | Georgia · Private nonprofit | $46,089 | $65,773 | 2.80 years |
| [Tuskegee University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/tuskegee-university-2832) | Alabama · Private nonprofit | $40,141 | $57,833 | 2.78 years |
| [Tiffin University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/tiffin-university-2788) | Ohio · Private nonprofit | $26,131 | $37,551 | 2.78 years |
| [Southeastern University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/southeastern-university-2485) | Florida · Private nonprofit | $34,297 | $49,323 | 2.78 years |

## Methodology

- **Colleges counted.** Every college published on CollegesRef that is public or private nonprofit, in a four-year Carnegie class (doctoral, master's or baccalaureate), in the 50 states or D.C., with at least 500 undergraduates and both figures reported in the College Scorecard.
- **Exclusions.** For-profit colleges, two-year colleges, special-focus institutions, colleges with fewer undergraduates than the minimum, U.S. territories and colleges missing either figure are left out. Earnings figures without a federal reporting year are excluded.
- **Reporting threshold.** A state is reported only when at least 5 colleges qualify; states below it are listed under the table and still count in the national figures.
- **Payback.** Four times the college's average net price (College Scorecard NPT4: cost of attendance minus average grants for aided first-time, full-time students) divided by its former students' median earnings ten years after entry (MD_EARN_WNE_P10).
- **What it leaves out.** Earnings are before tax and living costs, are for students who received federal aid, and are not specific to a major. Students who take longer than four years, borrow, or pay a different net price will see a different payback.
- **Medians.** Each state figure is the median across its colleges, not weighted by enrollment. The median payback is the median of each college's own ratio.

## Frequently asked questions

### How is the payback time calculated?

For each college, four years at the average net price are divided by the median earnings of its former students ten years after they enrolled. At the median of 1,355 colleges the result is 1.31 years.

### Does a shorter payback mean a better college?

Not on its own. It compares price with typical earnings, which depend heavily on the majors a college offers and where its graduates live. Use it with graduation rates and the earnings for the major you plan to study.

### Why is my state missing from the map?

A state needs at least 5 qualifying colleges to be reported. Alaska, Delaware, Nevada, Wyoming fell below that line; their colleges still count in the national figures.

## Sources

- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/
- IPEDS (National Center for Education Statistics): https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/
- The federal source data is a U.S. government work in the public domain (https://www.usa.gov/government-copyright).
- CollegesRef methodology: https://www.collegesref.com/methodology

## How to cite

CollegesRef, "How many years of earnings it takes to pay for a four-year degree, by state," analysis of U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard data (data year 2025), updated November 15, 2026. https://www.collegesref.com/data/degree-payback-by-state

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Source: CollegesRef, https://www.collegesref.com/data/degree-payback-by-state.