Wartburg College vs Clarke University: which has better ROI?
Clarke University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $97,916 in 13.9 years versus 16.8 years at Wartburg College, on median earnings of $55,396 vs $56,201 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Wartburg College | Clarke University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $32,908 | $24,479 |
| Total net cost | $131,632 | $97,916 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $56,201 | $55,396 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $26,717 |
| Payback | 16.8 yrs | 13.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $25,188 | $42,804 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Wartburg College or Clarke University?
Clarke University, at $24,479 a year after aid versus $32,908 — a gap of $8,429 a year, or $33,716 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Wartburg College or Clarke University graduates earn more?
Wartburg College graduates report a median $56,201 ten years after entry, $805 more than the $55,396 at Clarke University. 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, Wartburg College or Clarke University?
Clarke University: its completers carry a median $26,717 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Wartburg College, a difference of $283. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
64% of students finish at Wartburg College, against 56% at Clarke 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.