# What low-income students pay against what graduates earn, by state

> Four years at the net price aided students from families earning under $30,000 pay, set against what the college's former students earn ten years after they enrolled. The lower the number, the faster a degree pays off for a low-income student. U.S. College Scorecard data year 2025.

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

## Key findings

1. For students from families earning under $30,000, four years at the median of 1,338 four-year colleges cost 1.01 years of former students' median earnings ($15,411 a year against $59,656), against 1.32 years at the average net price for all aided students.
2. Maryland is the fastest at 0.60 years (median low-income net price $9,448); Rhode Island is the slowest at 1.35 years ($27,300).
3. 174 colleges (13%) cost low-income students less over four years than half a year of their graduates' earnings; 682 colleges (51%) take more than a full year.
4. The fastest is Brown University (RI): a $39 average net price for this income band and $99,974 median earnings.

## State by state

Each figure is the median across a state's colleges.

| State | Colleges | Low-income payback | Net price, $0–30k | Median earnings | All-income payback |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| Maryland | 20 | 0.60 years | $9,448 | $67,501 | 1.13 years |
| New Mexico | 7 | 0.61 years | $6,282 | $44,198 | 0.61 years |
| California | 75 | 0.73 years | $16,090 | $73,299 | 1.01 years |
| North Dakota | 8 | 0.74 years | $11,704 | $58,798 | 1.05 years |
| Colorado | 17 | 0.75 years | $12,291 | $58,700 | 1.22 years |
| Maine | 15 | 0.76 years | $13,222 | $57,989 | 1.11 years |
| New Jersey | 24 | 0.79 years | $13,081 | $64,139 | 1.22 years |
| Michigan | 35 | 0.85 years | $12,444 | $59,874 | 1.20 years |
| New York | 98 | 0.90 years | $15,355 | $68,822 | 1.27 years |
| Minnesota | 31 | 0.90 years | $13,671 | $64,996 | 1.34 years |
| Idaho | 7 | 0.90 years | $13,022 | $57,623 | 1.05 years |
| Wisconsin | 31 | 0.91 years | $14,155 | $59,707 | 1.39 years |
| Illinois | 46 | 0.94 years | $15,363 | $61,534 | 1.17 years |
| Hawaii | 6 | 0.94 years | $12,942 | $57,213 | 1.03 years |
| Kentucky | 20 | 0.95 years | $13,166 | $51,552 | 1.23 years |
| Utah | 8 | 0.95 years | $14,086 | $60,139 | 1.01 years |
| West Virginia | 16 | 0.96 years | $12,058 | $49,588 | 0.96 years |
| Florida | 55 | 0.97 years | $12,635 | $52,207 | 1.23 years |
| Texas | 71 | 0.99 years | $13,431 | $57,299 | 1.17 years |
| Indiana | 40 | 0.99 years | $14,173 | $58,361 | 1.27 years |
| Oregon | 16 | 0.99 years | $16,828 | $63,482 | 1.35 years |
| Louisiana | 19 | 1.00 years | $12,760 | $49,742 | 1.13 years |
| Washington | 25 | 1.01 years | $16,017 | $65,578 | 1.43 years |
| Oklahoma | 22 | 1.01 years | $13,164 | $50,230 | 1.14 years |
| Massachusetts | 53 | 1.04 years | $19,035 | $69,534 | 1.47 years |
| Ohio | 60 | 1.04 years | $15,957 | $57,717 | 1.45 years |
| Nebraska | 13 | 1.05 years | $15,830 | $57,009 | 1.30 years |
| District of Columbia | 8 | 1.07 years | $22,606 | $75,495 | 1.54 years |
| Georgia | 47 | 1.08 years | $13,800 | $51,903 | 1.17 years |
| Pennsylvania | 82 | 1.10 years | $18,443 | $66,213 | 1.50 years |
| New Hampshire | 11 | 1.12 years | $18,960 | $64,588 | 1.46 years |
| Virginia | 38 | 1.17 years | $17,123 | $59,023 | 1.46 years |
| Tennessee | 35 | 1.18 years | $16,616 | $52,901 | 1.39 years |
| Missouri | 35 | 1.19 years | $14,619 | $52,791 | 1.31 years |
| Alabama | 22 | 1.21 years | $17,173 | $50,781 | 1.42 years |
| Connecticut | 19 | 1.21 years | $18,148 | $67,897 | 1.66 years |
| Vermont | 7 | 1.21 years | $19,770 | $66,136 | 1.65 years |
| Arizona | 6 | 1.22 years | $24,342 | $63,656 | 1.42 years |
| Arkansas | 17 | 1.23 years | $15,497 | $47,220 | 1.37 years |
| South Dakota | 10 | 1.24 years | $17,375 | $58,037 | 1.48 years |
| Montana | 9 | 1.24 years | $16,920 | $52,907 | 1.58 years |
| Iowa | 24 | 1.29 years | $19,107 | $58,810 | 1.52 years |
| Kansas | 20 | 1.31 years | $19,879 | $56,855 | 1.50 years |
| Mississippi | 13 | 1.32 years | $14,602 | $47,355 | 1.44 years |
| South Carolina | 29 | 1.35 years | $16,910 | $51,191 | 1.47 years |
| North Carolina | 46 | 1.35 years | $17,462 | $53,473 | 1.54 years |
| Rhode Island | 10 | 1.35 years | $27,300 | $73,388 | 1.97 years |
| **All reported colleges** | 1,338 | 1.01 years | $15,411 | $59,656 | 1.32 years |

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

## Fastest for low-income students

| College | State and type | Net price, $0–30k | Median earnings | Payback |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Brown University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/brown-university-314) | Rhode Island · Private nonprofit | $39 | $99,974 | 0.00 years |
| [Washington and Lee University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/washington-and-lee-university-3167) | Virginia · Private nonprofit | $28 | $102,966 | 0.00 years |
| [CUNY York College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cuny-york-college-749) | New York · Public | $364 | $62,351 | 0.02 years |
| [University of Chicago](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-chicago-2895) | Illinois · Private nonprofit | $394 | $103,872 | 0.02 years |
| [Farmingdale State College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/farmingdale-state-college-941) | New York · Public | $649 | $75,278 | 0.03 years |
| [Stanford University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/stanford-university-2589) | California · Private nonprofit | $1,067 | $125,340 | 0.03 years |
| [University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-illinois-at-urbana-champaign-main-campus-2927) | Illinois · Public | $871 | $87,599 | 0.04 years |
| [Yale University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/yale-university-3312) | Connecticut · Private nonprofit | $1,256 | $118,356 | 0.04 years |
| [Dartmouth College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/dartmouth-college-769) | New Hampshire · Private nonprofit | $1,399 | $111,162 | 0.05 years |
| [Northwestern University-Illinois](https://www.collegesref.com/college/northwestern-university-illinois-1966) | Illinois · Private nonprofit | $1,427 | $104,255 | 0.05 years |
| [United States Merchant Marine Academy](https://www.collegesref.com/college/united-states-merchant-marine-academy-2848) | New York · Public | $1,410 | $103,283 | 0.05 years |
| [University of Maryland-College Park Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-maryland-college-park-main-campus-2949) | Maryland · Public | $1,141 | $89,228 | 0.05 years |
| [Chipola College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/chipola-college-530) | Florida · Public | $599 | $42,998 | 0.06 years |
| [Johns Hopkins University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/johns-hopkins-university-1344) | Maryland · Private nonprofit | $1,772 | $104,590 | 0.07 years |
| [Bates College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/bates-college-188) | Maine · Private nonprofit | $1,899 | $98,373 | 0.08 years |
| [Columbia University in the City of New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york-656) | New York · Private nonprofit | $2,275 | $109,430 | 0.08 years |
| [Harvard University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/harvard-university-1157) | Massachusetts · Private nonprofit | $2,542 | $121,957 | 0.08 years |
| [California State University-Los Angeles](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-university-los-angeles-372) | California · Public | $1,364 | $62,555 | 0.09 years |
| [University of Minnesota-Morris](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-minnesota-morris-2961) | Minnesota · Public | $1,259 | $55,010 | 0.09 years |
| [Amherst College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/amherst-college-72) | Massachusetts · Private nonprofit | $2,424 | $95,161 | 0.10 years |

## Slowest for low-income students

| College | State and type | Net price, $0–30k | Median earnings | Payback |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Beacon College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/beacon-college-196) | Florida · Private nonprofit | $51,336 | $28,501 | 7.20 years |
| [University of Dallas](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-dallas-2903) | Texas · Private nonprofit | $67,916 | $64,930 | 4.18 years |
| [Berklee College of Music](https://www.collegesref.com/college/berklee-college-of-music-227) | Massachusetts · Private nonprofit | $42,991 | $43,451 | 3.96 years |
| [California Institute of the Arts](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-institute-of-the-arts-357) | California · Private nonprofit | $42,456 | $45,380 | 3.74 years |
| [Savannah College of Art and Design](https://www.collegesref.com/college/savannah-college-of-art-and-design-2379) | Georgia · Private nonprofit | $46,639 | $51,635 | 3.61 years |
| [Clark Atlanta University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/clark-atlanta-university-560) | Georgia · Private nonprofit | $38,601 | $46,867 | 3.29 years |
| [Jackson State University-Mississippi](https://www.collegesref.com/college/jackson-state-university-mississippi-1319) | Mississippi · Public | $34,073 | $42,075 | 3.24 years |
| [Fisk University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/fisk-university-958) | Tennessee · Private nonprofit | $36,962 | $45,614 | 3.24 years |
| [Emerson College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/emerson-college-911) | Massachusetts · Private nonprofit | $49,140 | $67,317 | 2.92 years |
| [Trevecca Nazarene University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/trevecca-nazarene-university-2801) | Tennessee · Private nonprofit | $39,828 | $56,862 | 2.80 years |
| [Tuskegee University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/tuskegee-university-2832) | Alabama · Private nonprofit | $40,091 | $57,833 | 2.77 years |
| [Lynn University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/lynn-university-1561) | Florida · Private nonprofit | $40,275 | $58,891 | 2.74 years |
| [Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale](https://www.collegesref.com/college/keiser-university-ft-lauderdale-1373) | Florida · Private nonprofit | $31,719 | $46,472 | 2.73 years |
| [Florida Institute of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/florida-institute-of-technology-977) | Florida · Private nonprofit | $33,642 | $50,557 | 2.66 years |
| [Columbia College Chicago](https://www.collegesref.com/college/columbia-college-chicago-651) | Illinois · Private nonprofit | $32,185 | $48,427 | 2.66 years |
| [Huston-Tillotson University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/huston-tillotson-university-1256) | Texas · Private nonprofit | $30,876 | $46,645 | 2.65 years |
| [Life University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/life-university-1483) | Georgia · Private nonprofit | $31,443 | $48,303 | 2.60 years |
| [Webber International University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/webber-international-university-3185) | Florida · Private nonprofit | $33,445 | $51,590 | 2.59 years |
| [Virginia Union University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/virginia-union-university-3136) | Virginia · Private nonprofit | $28,736 | $44,816 | 2.56 years |
| [Southern New Hampshire University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/southern-new-hampshire-university-2500) | New Hampshire · Private nonprofit | $36,355 | $56,870 | 2.56 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 average net price for aided first-time, full-time students from families earning $0–$30,000 (College Scorecard NPT41) divided by former students' median earnings ten years after entry (MD_EARN_WNE_P10). The all-income payback uses the overall average net price (NPT4) for comparison.
- **What it leaves out.** Earnings cover all federally aided former students, not only low-income ones, and are before tax. Students who need more than four years, or whose aid changes after the first year, will see a different payback.
- **Medians.** Each state figure is the median across its colleges, not weighted by enrollment.

## Frequently asked questions

### How is the low-income payback calculated?

For each college, four years at the net price for families earning under $30,000 are divided by its former students' median earnings ten years after they enrolled. At the median of 1,338 colleges the result is 1.01 years.

### Why is it lower than the all-income payback?

Federal Pell Grants, state grants and college aid cut the price most for the lowest-income families, so their net price is usually below the average for all aided students while the earnings figure is the same.

### Will a low-income student pay this price?

It is an average for aided students in that income band. Your price depends on your family's finances and the college's aid rules; check each college's net price calculator.

## 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, "What low-income students pay against what graduates earn, by state," analysis of U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard data (data year 2025), updated November 15, 2026. https://www.collegesref.com/data/low-income-payback-by-state

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