Head-to-head comparison
Spring Arbor University vs Cleary University: which has better ROI?
Option A Spring Arbor, MI
Spring Arbor University
- Net price / year
- $19,353
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,732
- Payback
- 23 yrs
Option B Howell, MI
Cleary University
- Net price / year
- $22,143
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,186
- Payback
- 15.2 yrs
Cleary University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $88,572 in 15.2 years versus 23 years at Spring Arbor University, on median earnings of $54,186 vs $51,732 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Spring Arbor University | Cleary University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $19,353 | $22,143 |
| Total net cost | $77,412 | $88,572 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $51,732 | $54,186 |
| Median debt | $26,375 | $19,500 |
| Payback | 23 yrs | 15.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$9,972 | $27,948 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Spring Arbor University or Cleary University?
Spring Arbor University, at $19,353 a year after aid versus $22,143 — a gap of $2,790 a year, or $11,160 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 Spring Arbor University or Cleary University graduates earn more?
Cleary University graduates report a median $54,186 ten years after entry, $2,454 more than the $51,732 at Spring Arbor 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, Spring Arbor University or Cleary University?
Cleary University: its completers carry a median $19,500 in federal loans versus $26,375 at Spring Arbor University, a difference of $6,875. 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?
64% of students finish at Spring Arbor University, against 41% at Cleary 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.