Head-to-head comparison
University of Houston-Clear Lake vs Midwestern State University: which has better ROI?
Option A Houston, TX
University of Houston-Clear Lake
- Net price / year
- $15,563
- Earnings, 10 years
- $59,004
- Payback
- 5.8 yrs
Option B Wichita Falls, TX
Midwestern State University
- Net price / year
- $11,656
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,747
- Payback
- 6.3 yrs
University of Houston-Clear Lake has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $62,252 in 5.8 years versus 6.3 years at Midwestern State University, on median earnings of $59,004 vs $55,747 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Houston-Clear Lake | Midwestern State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,563 | $11,656 |
| Total net cost | $62,252 | $46,624 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $59,004 | $55,747 |
| Median debt | $17,831 | $21,030 |
| Payback | 5.8 yrs | 6.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $150,628 | $101,116 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Houston-Clear Lake or Midwestern State University?
Midwestern State University, at $11,656 a year after aid versus $15,563 — a gap of $3,907 a year, or $15,628 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 University of Houston-Clear Lake or Midwestern State University graduates earn more?
University of Houston-Clear Lake graduates report a median $59,004 ten years after entry, $3,257 more than the $55,747 at Midwestern 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, University of Houston-Clear Lake or Midwestern State University?
University of Houston-Clear Lake: its completers carry a median $17,831 in federal loans versus $21,030 at Midwestern State University, a difference of $3,199. 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?
52% of students finish at University of Houston-Clear Lake, against 43% at Midwestern 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.