University of Houston-Clear Lake — ROI, Cost & Payback
University of Houston-Clear Lake charges a net price of $15,563/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $62,252. Graduates earn a median $59,004 ten years after entry, $10,644/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 5.8 years — a 20-year net return of $150,628, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
University of Houston-Clear Lake's 5.8-year payback ranks #515 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 60% of them, and #19 of 213 in Texas.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $15,563/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $62,252 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $59,004 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $10,644/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $17,831 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 5.8 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $150,628 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on University of Houston-Clear Lake's own numbers. Net price $15,563 × 4 years = $62,252 total. Median earnings $59,004 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $10,644 a year of premium. $62,252 ÷ $10,644 = 5.8 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $150,628. 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 University of Houston-Clear Lake students graduate with?
A median $17,831 in federal loans among completers, or 30% of the $59,004 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of University of Houston-Clear Lake students graduate?
52% finish their degree — 48% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $62,252 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $119,715 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is University of Houston-Clear Lake expensive compared with other Texas colleges?
Its $15,563 net price runs $3,796 below the $19,359 median across the 213 Texas colleges we profile, and $15,184 less across the full degree.