| 100% | DUD | 3 | Outside university, theologian is a failure |
| 52% | FLOP | 4 | Turn out to be a failure |
| 50% | GINFIZZLED | 10 | Distiller's product was a failure? |
| 46% | PEAT | 4 | Fuel is a favourite outside |
| 44% | EDSEL | 5 | Ford model that was a famous failure |
| 44% | EDSEL | 5 | Ford auto that was a commercial failure |
| 44% | EDSEL | 5 | Ford automobile that was a famous failure |
| 44% | SPARING | 7 | A season outside is frugal |
| 44% | WEVE | 4 | "What ___ got here is a failure to communicate" ("Cool Hand Luke" line) |
| 43% | ELONMUSK | 8 | Business magnate who is a Stanford University dropout |
| 43% | ONEACRE | 7 | It may be a lot outside the city |
| 43% | RICE | 4 | University whose name is also a food |
| 41% | BILLIONAIRE | 11 | Every one is a policy failure, per a progressive political slogan |
| 41% | MERCH | 5 | It might be sold outside a concert |
| 40% | NAILEDIT | 8 | Cry of success that can also be a sarcastic admission of failure |
| 40% | GEORGEMASON | 11 | Virginia politician for whom a university is named |
| 40% | GEORGEMASON | 11 | *Politician for whom a Virginia university is named |
| 40% | STRAYARTSYTRAYS | 15 | What might be found outside a hipster cafeteria? |
| 40% | RITAMAEBROWN | 12 | "Rubyfruit Jungle" author whose last name is a Rhode Island university: 3 wds. |
| 39% | MAT | 3 | Floor covering that may be placed outside a shower |
| 39% | GETINTO | 7 | Enter a car, or be accepted at a university |
| 39% | EMORY | 5 | Bishop John, after whom a Georgia university was named |
| 39% | PATTYDUKE | 9 | "The Miracle Worker" actress whose last name is a North Carolina university: 2 wds. |
| 39% | SUSANRICE | 9 | 2013-2017 National Security Advisor whose last name is a Texas university: 2 wds. |
| 38% | ATMS | 4 | There may be lines for them outside a bank: Abbr. |
| 38% | OWENS | 5 | Athlete for whom a street outside Berlin's Olympiastadion is named |
| 38% | FROSTBITE | 9 | Hazard of being outside in the cold for a long time |
| 37% | OWENS | 5 | Athlete Jesse for whom a street outside Berlin’s Olympiastadion is named |
| 37% | OLEMISS | 7 | Nickname for a Southern university whose teams are the Rebels: 2 wds. |
| 36% | POE | 3 | Writer whose room at the University of Virginia is now a mini-museum |