Clarke University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Clarke University charges a net price of $24,479/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $97,916. Graduates earn a median $55,396 ten years after entry, $7,036/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 13.9 years — a 20-year net return of $42,804, a slow but positive payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Clarke University's 13.9-year payback ranks #929 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 28% of them, and #14 of 47 in Iowa.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $24,479/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $97,916 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $55,396 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $7,036/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $26,717 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 13.9 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $42,804 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Clarke University's own numbers. Net price $24,479 × 4 years = $97,916 total. Median earnings $55,396 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $7,036 a year of premium. $97,916 ÷ $7,036 = 13.9 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $42,804. 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 Clarke University students graduate with?
A median $26,717 in federal loans among completers, or 48% of the $55,396 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Clarke University students graduate?
56% finish their degree — 44% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $97,916 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $174,850 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Clarke University expensive compared with other Iowa colleges?
Its $24,479 net price runs $5,890 above the $18,589 median across the 47 Iowa colleges we profile, or $23,560 more across the full degree.