Aquinas College vs Cleary University: which has better ROI?
Cleary University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $88,572 in 15.2 years versus 54.3 years at Aquinas College, on median earnings of $54,186 vs $49,584 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Aquinas College | Cleary University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,626 | $22,143 |
| Total net cost | $66,504 | $88,572 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $49,584 | $54,186 |
| Median debt | $23,000 | $19,500 |
| Payback | 54.3 yrs | 15.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$42,024 | $27,948 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Aquinas College or Cleary University?
Aquinas College, at $16,626 a year after aid versus $22,143 — a gap of $5,517 a year, or $22,068 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Aquinas College or Cleary University graduates earn more?
Cleary University graduates report a median $54,186 ten years after entry, $4,602 more than the $49,584 at Aquinas College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Aquinas College or Cleary University?
Cleary University: its completers carry a median $19,500 in federal loans versus $23,000 at Aquinas College, a difference of $3,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
65% of students finish at Aquinas College, against 41% at Cleary University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.