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Cleary University — ROI, Cost & Payback

Private nonprofit · Howell, MI · 738 students

The verdict

Cleary University charges a net price of $22,143/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $88,572. Graduates earn a median $54,186 ten years after entry, $5,826/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 15.2 years — a 20-year net return of $27,948, a slow but positive payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Cleary University's 15.2-year payback ranks #967 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 25% of them, and #28 of 85 in Michigan.

Better ROI than 25% of US colleges#967 of 1,280
Weakest ROIStrongest ROI
$22,143
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$54,186
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
15.2 yrs
Payback
Our math, 2026
68%
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
Cleary University: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$22,143/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (4 yrs)$88,572our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$54,186Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline$5,826/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$19,500Scorecard, 2026
Payback15.2 yrsour math
20-year net return$27,948our math

College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.

The arithmetic, on Cleary University's own numbers. Net price $22,143 × 4 years = $88,572 total. Median earnings $54,186 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $5,826 a year of premium. $88,572 ÷ $5,826 = 15.2 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $27,948. 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 Cleary University students graduate with?

A median $19,500 in federal loans among completers, or 36% of the $54,186 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.

What share of Cleary University students graduate?

41% finish their degree — 59% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $88,572 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $216,029 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.

Is Cleary University expensive compared with other Michigan colleges?

Its $22,143 net price runs $7,842 above the $14,301 median across the 85 Michigan colleges we profile, or $31,368 more across the full degree.

Cleary University: frequently asked questions

Is Cleary University worth the cost?
On the numbers, yes. Cleary University charges $22,143/yr after aid ($88,572 over 4 years), and graduates earn a median $54,186 ten years out — $5,826/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. That clears the cost in 15.2 years and returns $27,948 net over 20 years, a slow but positive payback.
How long does a Cleary University degree take to pay off?
About 15.2 years. We divide the $88,572 four-year net cost by the $5,826/yr earnings premium over the high-school baseline. It is a floor, not a ceiling — mid-career raises pay it back faster.
How much does Cleary University cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $22,143/yr — about $88,572 over 4 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does Cleary University compare to other Michigan colleges?
It ranks #28 of 85 Michigan colleges we track by payback. Its $54,186 median earnings beat the national median of $43,549, and its $22,143 net price is above the national median of $16,902.