Clarke University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Clarke University charges a net price of $24,479/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $97,916. Graduates earn a median $55,396 ten years after entry, $7,036/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 13.9 years — a 20-year net return of $42,804, a slow but positive payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Clarke University's 13.9-year payback ranks #932 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 27% of them, and #14 of 47 in Iowa.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $24,479/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $97,916 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $55,396 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $7,036/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $26,717 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 13.9 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $42,804 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
How we compute this. Payback = total net cost ÷ annual earnings premium, where the premium is median earnings 10 years after entry minus the $48,360 baseline (BLS 2024 median for a high-school-diploma worker 25+). Total net cost = net price × 4 years. We do not discount future dollars. The institution-wide earnings figure blends every major — a specific program's payback can be far better or worse. Full method on the methodology page.