Head-to-head comparison
Central College vs Clarke University: which has better ROI?
Option A Pella, IA
Central College
- Net price / year
- $23,377
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,317
- Payback
- 15.7 yrs
Option B Dubuque, IA
Clarke University
- Net price / year
- $24,479
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,396
- Payback
- 13.9 yrs
Clarke University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $97,916 in 13.9 years versus 15.7 years at Central College, on median earnings of $55,396 vs $54,317 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Central College | Clarke University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $23,377 | $24,479 |
| Total net cost | $93,508 | $97,916 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $54,317 | $55,396 |
| Median debt | $26,984 | $26,717 |
| Payback | 15.7 yrs | 13.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $25,632 | $42,804 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Central College or Clarke University?
Central College, at $23,377 a year after aid versus $24,479 — a gap of $1,102 a year, or $4,408 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Central College or Clarke University graduates earn more?
Clarke University graduates report a median $55,396 ten years after entry, $1,079 more than the $54,317 at Central 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Central College or Clarke University?
Clarke University: its completers carry a median $26,717 in federal loans versus $26,984 at Central College, a difference of $267. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
66% of students finish at Central 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.