Clary Sage College vs Southwestern Christian University: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Southwestern Christian University comes closer — median earnings $40,391 against a $80,584 total, vs $28,954 at Clary Sage College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Clary Sage College | Southwestern Christian University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $23,280 | $20,146 |
| Total net cost | $93,120 | $80,584 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $28,954 | $40,391 |
| Median debt | $8,898 | $20,715 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$481,240 | -$239,964 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Clary Sage College or Southwestern Christian University?
Southwestern Christian University, at $20,146 a year after aid versus $23,280 — a gap of $3,134 a year, or $12,536 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Clary Sage College or Southwestern Christian University graduates earn more?
Southwestern Christian University graduates report a median $40,391 ten years after entry, $11,437 more than the $28,954 at Clary Sage 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, Clary Sage College or Southwestern Christian University?
Clary Sage College: its completers carry a median $8,898 in federal loans versus $20,715 at Southwestern Christian University, a difference of $11,817. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
80% of students finish at Clary Sage College, against 16% at Southwestern Christian 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.