Clark University
Worcester, Massachusetts · Private Nonprofit · 39.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 59/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Clark University scores 59 (Below Average Value). The central problem is a mismatch between sticker price and outcomes: Clark's net price of $28,714 is substantial, and median debt of $26,759 with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.699 means graduates owe nearly three-quarters of a year's median salary. Clark's completion rate of 76.9% and repayment rate of 84.1% are among its better metrics, indicating most students finish and most can manage their debt - but the earnings simply do not justify the cost for the majority of programs on offer here.
Clark University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $58,867/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $58,867/yr |
| Average net price | $28,714/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $114,856 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $62,381 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $38,300 |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,759 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $284 |
| Estimated payback period | 9.3 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 76.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,214 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $58,867/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $28,714/year, or roughly $114,856 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $18,188/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $39,035/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $26,759, which works out to about $284 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($38,300) and comes to 0.70, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $18,188 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $13,313 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $21,971 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $25,062 |
| $110,001+ | $39,035 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $18,188 net per year - about $72,750 over four years. The repayment rate data is healthy (84.1% after three years), which offers some reassurance.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays $13,313 net - unusually lower than the lowest bracket, suggesting a step in the aid formula. The $48,001-$75,000 bracket rises to $21,971. For families in the $30,000-$48,000 range who can negotiate this rate, Clark's net cost becomes more defensible, particularly for students targeting the free fifth-year master's program.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $39,035 net per year - about $156,000 over four years. At $38,300 average earnings, the full-pay case at Clark is financially strained. High-income families who can afford to pay for Clark's environment without relying on outcomes to service debt face a different calculus, but from a pure ROI perspective the numbers are poor.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Clark University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | $61,203 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $84,234 | C |
| Biology | $58,429 | C |
| Economics | $91,094 | D |
| International Relations | $68,174 | D |
| Computer Science | $115,804 | - |
| History | $53,926 | C+ |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $38,844 | C |
| Natural Resources Conservation | $52,075 | D |
| Sociology | $64,988 | B |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Computer Science
Computer Science (23 graduates) has the strongest earnings trajectory at Clark with $115,804 at year four - though no year-one data is available, limiting confidence in the figure. This is Clark's clearest ROI program for students who can get into and through it. The small cohort limits networking but the Boston tech market is accessible from Worcester.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration (50 graduates) earns $43,449 at year one and $84,234 at year four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.598 (ROI grade C) and $26,000 median debt. The four-year jump to $84k is notable and suggests meaningful career progression. This is one of Clark's better-performing programs in ROI terms. The Clark accelerated bachelor's/master's option in management adds value for students who use it.
Economics
Debt-to-earnings of 0.794 (ROI grade D) at year one is concerning, though the four-year trajectory is strong. The near-term earnings signal risk for students who stop at the bachelor's level.
Psychology
Psychology (112 graduates) is Clark's highest-volume program and a poor ROI: $33,264 year-one earnings, $61,203 at year four, debt-to-earnings 0.782 (ROI grade D), and $26,000 median debt. Clark has a legitimate academic psychology reputation - the school is historically associated with G. Stanley Hall - but the Scorecard data reflects the occupational reality that bachelor's-level psychology graduates earn modest wages. Graduate school is necessary for meaningful career advancement, which extends the payback period significantly.
English Language and Literature
English Language and Literature (19 graduates) earns $22,670 at year one, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.174 (ROI grade F) and $26,619 median debt. English graduates at Clark's price point are taking on debt that will exceed annual earnings for years. This is the weakest financial outcome in Clark's data.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 83.6% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 84.1% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 85.3% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 90.0% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Clark University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 39.5% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 630-720 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 658-740 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 30-33 |
| Enrollment | 2,214 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 23.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $12,471 |
A 39.5% acceptance rate with ACT 30-33 makes Clark genuinely selective. The academic profile includes SAT 630-720 Math.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clark University (this school) | 59 | $28,714 | $62,381 |
| Amherst College | 90 | $23,367 | $77,644 |
| AdventHealth University | 63 | $30,135 | $72,282 |
| St. Francis College | 57 | $18,129 | $58,099 |
| Southern Nazarene University | 55 | $22,084 | $54,951 |
| American International College | 38 | $23,274 | $53,124 |
Who Thrives Here
Clark admits 39.5% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 630-720 Math and 658-740 Reading, and ACT 30-33. The 2,214-student enrollment creates a tightly-knit campus but limits program variety. Clark has a genuine research culture and a fifth-year free master's degree program that adds real value for some students. Pell rate of 23.1% suggests a moderately diverse economic profile. Clark fits students who are academically strong, interested in social sciences, geography, or international development, and can secure enough merit aid to bring net price under $20,000. Students who cannot negotiate aid below $25,000 net should model the payback carefully against their intended field.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Clark University is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $28,714 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $62,381 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 9.3 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What it has going for it: its 76.9% graduation rate, high loan repayment success. What to keep an eye on: a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70 (median across the schools we score: 0.61).
Median debt of $26,759 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $38,300 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Clark University: Common Questions
Is Clark University worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Clark University scores 59/100 on our ROI scale. At $28,714 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $62,381 ten years after entry, so it takes about 9.3 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Clark University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $28,714 a year, or roughly $114,856 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Clark University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $62,381 ten years after enrolling, roughly $20,581 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Clark University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 9.3 years for Clark University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Clark University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $26,759, against average earnings of $38,300 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Clark University?
The six-year graduation rate is 76.9%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.