Head-to-head comparison
Fitchburg State University vs Clark University: which has better ROI?
Option A Fitchburg, MA
Fitchburg State University
- Net price / year
- $14,262
- Earnings, 10 years
- $53,874
- Payback
- 10.3 yrs
Option B Worcester, MA
Clark University
- Net price / year
- $28,714
- Earnings, 10 years
- $62,381
- Payback
- 8.2 yrs
Clark University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $114,856 in 8.2 years versus 10.3 years at Fitchburg State University, on median earnings of $62,381 vs $53,874 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Fitchburg State University | Clark University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,262 | $28,714 |
| Total net cost | $57,048 | $114,856 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $53,874 | $62,381 |
| Median debt | $24,239 | $26,759 |
| Payback | 10.3 yrs | 8.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $53,232 | $165,564 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Fitchburg State University or Clark University?
Fitchburg State University, at $14,262 a year after aid versus $28,714 — a gap of $14,452 a year, or $57,808 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 Fitchburg State University or Clark University graduates earn more?
Clark University graduates report a median $62,381 ten years after entry, $8,507 more than the $53,874 at Fitchburg State 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Fitchburg State University or Clark University?
Fitchburg State University: its completers carry a median $24,239 in federal loans versus $26,759 at Clark University, a difference of $2,520. 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?
77% of students finish at Clark University, against 55% at Fitchburg State 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.