Clark University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Clark University charges a net price of $28,714/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $114,856. Graduates earn a median $62,381 ten years after entry, $14,021/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 8.2 years — a 20-year net return of $165,564, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Clark University's 8.2-year payback ranks #702 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 45% of them, and #42 of 85 in Massachusetts.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $28,714/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $114,856 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $62,381 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $14,021/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $26,759 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 8.2 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $165,564 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Clark University's own numbers. Net price $28,714 × 4 years = $114,856 total. Median earnings $62,381 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $14,021 a year of premium. $114,856 ÷ $14,021 = 8.2 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $165,564. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Clark University students graduate with?
A median $26,759 in federal loans among completers, or 43% of the $62,381 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Clark University students graduate?
77% finish their degree. Spread the $114,856 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $149,164 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Clark University expensive compared with other Massachusetts colleges?
Its $28,714 net price runs $3,831 above the $24,883 median across the 85 Massachusetts colleges we profile, or $15,324 more across the full degree.