Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Cleary University #789 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, placing Cleary University in the 54.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Cleary University #325 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — the institution's strongest pillar.
Azimuth ranks Cleary University #789 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private baccalaureate college in Howell, Michigan, Cleary University enrolls roughly 738 undergraduates. The institution maintains a 65.8% freshman retention rate and a 41.5% six-year graduation rate. Cleary University is built around business education. The dominant program family is Business, which shapes both the student experience and graduate outcomes. Where the institution performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Cleary University #325 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, placing Cleary University in the 54.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Access, mobility, and affordability sit lower in the composite. Cleary University sits in the 24.5 percentile for access, the 5.9 percentile for mobility, and the 61.0 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. For students committed to business-focused study and willing to invest in tuition, Cleary University delivers measurable long-term financial returns relative to the no-degree baseline and comparable private institutions.
Cleary University's published cost of attendance is $39,718. Financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $18,046, middle-income families pay around $15,328, and higher-income families pay approximately $27,372. Azimuth ranks Cleary University #556 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Cleary University participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside institutional aid. The institution's aid structure combines need-based and merit components to help bridge the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. Families apply using the FAFSA and, where required, the CSS Profile to determine eligibility for need-based aid packages. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $19,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $13,687; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $67,914, median federal debt of $19,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $220 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Cleary University is a strong fit for students interested in Business and related fields who want a private nonprofit college experience in MI, Midwest. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $67,914, placing Cleary University in the 71.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 54.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a significant share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 29.9% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 42.3% are first-generation. Published cost of attendance is $27,372, and the institution commits to meeting demonstrated financial need in full under current financial aid policies. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 67.5% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors Business over other fields. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find meaningful returns relative to MI's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $30,928.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Cleary University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Business Administration, Management and Operations
74 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
8 graduates
Cleary University's program portfolio is anchored in business and professional fields, reflecting the institution's focus on applied, career-oriented education. Business Administration is the largest program with 74 graduates, followed by Accounting with 8 graduates.
Across 0 ranked programs, several deliver strong four-year earnings outcomes aligned with regional labor-market demand. The earnings leaders reflect Cleary University's business-centered identity.
Business Administration graduates earn median earnings of $81,341 four years after enrollment, with 74 graduates in the program. Accounting follows with median earnings of $63,508 four years after enrollment and 8 graduates.
These outcomes position Cleary University as a practical choice for students seeking direct pathways into professional roles with stable early-career compensation. The institution's program concentration in Business aligns with labor-market demand in the Midwest and beyond.
Graduates from Cleary University's applied-business and professional programs enter the workforce directly, with four-year earnings reflecting real market outcomes rather than graduate-school-dependent trajectories. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these fields align with regional and national wage trends.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Cleary University's published cost of attendance is $39,718. Financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $18,046, middle-income families pay around $15,328, and higher-income families pay approximately $27,372.
Azimuth ranks Cleary University #556 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Cleary University participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside institutional aid. The institution's aid structure combines need-based and merit components to help bridge the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay.
Families apply using the FAFSA and, where required, the CSS Profile to determine eligibility for need-based aid packages. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $19,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $13,687; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $67,914, median federal debt of $19,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $220 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Cleary University earn median 4-year earnings of $67,914, placing Cleary University in the 71.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, placing Cleary University in the 54.2 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Cleary University #325 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Cleary University's concentration in business and professional fields.
Business Administration is the largest program with 74 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $81,341, representing 1.2x the national benchmark for the field. Accounting follows with 8 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $63,508, at 0.8x the benchmark.
These outcomes align with Cleary University's dominant focus on Business, which shapes both the institution's graduate profile and its long-term earnings trajectory.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Western Michigan University Higher acceptance rate (34.9 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 91 miles away; similar graduate earnings | MI | 85% | $53,562 | Compare |
Wayne State University Higher acceptance rate (32.3 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 44 miles away; similar graduate earnings | MI | 82% | $53,493 | Compare |
Central Michigan University Higher acceptance rate (41.3 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 83 miles away; similar graduate earnings | MI | 91% | $55,874 | Compare |
Hiram College Higher acceptance rate (43.6 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | OH | 93% | $54,311 | Compare |
Concordia University-Chicago Higher acceptance rate (43.6 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | IL | 93% | $54,089 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hampden-Sydney College Similar quality tier (#22565 ranked) | VA | 41% | $67,640 | #22565 | Compare |
Cedar Crest College Similar quality tier (#22555 ranked) | PA | 84% | $59,460 | #22555 | Compare |
Herzing University-Brookfield Similar quality tier in Midwest (#22577 ranked) | WI | 93% | $36,909 | #22577 | Compare |
Trocaire College Similar quality tier (#22522 ranked) | NY | 97% | $55,318 | #22522 | Compare |
Bellarmine University Similar quality tier (#22519 ranked) | KY | 86% | $62,069 | #22519 | Compare |
