Head-to-head comparison
Western Michigan University vs Cleary University: which has better ROI?
Option A Kalamazoo, MI
Western Michigan University
- Net price / year
- $15,273
- Earnings, 10 years
- $53,562
- Payback
- 11.7 yrs
Option B Howell, MI
Cleary University
- Net price / year
- $22,143
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,186
- Payback
- 15.2 yrs
Western Michigan University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $61,092 in 11.7 years versus 15.2 years at Cleary University, on median earnings of $53,562 vs $54,186 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Western Michigan University | Cleary University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,273 | $22,143 |
| Total net cost | $61,092 | $88,572 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $53,562 | $54,186 |
| Median debt | $26,188 | $19,500 |
| Payback | 11.7 yrs | 15.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $42,948 | $27,948 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Western Michigan University or Cleary University?
Western Michigan University, at $15,273 a year after aid versus $22,143 — a gap of $6,870 a year, or $27,480 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 Western Michigan University or Cleary University graduates earn more?
Cleary University graduates report a median $54,186 ten years after entry, $624 more than the $53,562 at Western Michigan 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, Western Michigan University or Cleary University?
Cleary University: its completers carry a median $19,500 in federal loans versus $26,188 at Western Michigan University, a difference of $6,688. 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?
58% of students finish at Western Michigan 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.