Clarkson College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Clarkson College charges a net price of $19,241/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $76,964. Graduates earn a median $64,876 ten years after entry, $16,516/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 4.7 years — a 20-year net return of $253,356, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Clarkson College's 4.7-year payback ranks #382 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 70% of them, and #1 of 27 in Nebraska.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $19,241/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $76,964 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $64,876 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $16,516/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $23,716 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 4.7 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $253,356 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Clarkson College's own numbers. Net price $19,241 × 4 years = $76,964 total. Median earnings $64,876 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $16,516 a year of premium. $76,964 ÷ $16,516 = 4.7 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $253,356. 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 Clarkson College students graduate with?
A median $23,716 in federal loans among completers, or 37% of the $64,876 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Clarkson College students graduate?
47% finish their degree — 53% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $76,964 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $163,753 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Clarkson College expensive compared with other Nebraska colleges?
Its $19,241 net price runs $1,691 above the $17,550 median across the 27 Nebraska colleges we profile, or $6,764 more across the full degree.