At $20,068/yr net price, Clarke University graduates earn $55,396/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $21,396/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $20,068 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $80,272 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $55,396/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$21,396/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 3.8 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 54.9% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $26,717 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $23,570/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $23,640/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $22,569/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $26,435/yr |
| $110,001+ | $10,870/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Doctoral | $92,277 | $57,264 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions. | Doctoral | $67,101 | $80,066 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | Bachelor | $57,318 | |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor | $57,210 | $26,990 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master | $47,846 | |
| Education, General. | Master | $43,798 | |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Bachelor | $39,009 | $27,000 |
| Education, General. | Bachelor | $35,060 | |
| Psychology, General. | Bachelor | $29,141 | $26,000 |
The Risk Factor
54.9% of students at Clarke University graduate within 6 years. More than half of students finish, but the dropout rate is a real factor in whether this investment pays off.
Analysis
Clarke University gives you a moderate financial return with sharp differences depending on your major. At $55,396 median earnings ten years out against about $27,000 in typical debt, the debt load is manageable if you land in the right program, but the payoff is far from guaranteed given a 54.9% graduation rate and a 67.4% retention rate. One in three students who start here don't return for a second year, and nearly half never finish. If you're the one who doesn't graduate, you carry the price without the earnings.
Your major decides everything here. Computer sciences and nursing both clear $57,000, and nursing has clear regional demand across the Dubuque tri-state hospital market, making it the safest bet on debt of roughly $27,000. Business drops to $39,000 while carrying the same debt, so the math is tighter. Education and psychology are the weak spots: education graduates earn about $35,000 and psychology graduates roughly $29,000, below the debt they take on. A psychology degree here leaves you owing $26,000 against earnings that barely cover living costs.
The net price tiers are unusual. If your family earns over $110,000, you pay $10,870 a year, less than half what lower-income families pay. If your family earns under $75,000, you pay between $22,500 and $23,600, and the $75,000-$110,000 bracket actually pays the most at $26,435. Lower-income families get no price break here, which is the main financial risk to weigh.
Clarke fits you if you're heading into nursing or computer science and can graduate on time, or if your family's income clears $110,000. Look elsewhere if you want education or psychology, or if you're from a lower-income household and need net price to drop with need.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Clarke University worth the cost?
Clarke University's value depends heavily on your major. Nursing graduates earn $92,277 annually, making the $26,717 median debt manageable, but business majors earn just $47,846, creating a tougher financial picture.
What is Clarke University's return on investment for graduates?
Clarke University graduates earn $55,396 after 10 years, which is below the national average for college graduates. The school's 55% graduation rate means nearly half of students don't complete their degrees, making the investment risky.
How much debt do Clarke University students typically graduate with?
Clarke University graduates carry a median debt of $26,717. This debt load is reasonable for nursing majors who earn over $90,000, but creates financial strain for graduates in lower-paying fields like business.
Which Clarke University programs offer the best job prospects?
Nursing and rehabilitation programs at Clarke University provide the strongest career outcomes, with nursing graduates earning up to $92,277 annually. Computer science graduates earn $57,318, while business graduates lag at $47,846.