Cleveland University-Kansas City
Overland Park, Kansas · Private Nonprofit · 69.2% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 50/100 · Below Average Value
Cleveland University-Kansas City presents a deeply unusual data profile. ROI score is 50 (Below Average Value), with components pulling in opposite directions: a perfect 100% completion rate (subscore 99), an excellent 0.3 debt-to-earnings ratio (subscore 94), and very low $12,500 median debt sit alongside a 52.4% repayment rate (subscore 10) and a 16.4-year payback period (subscore 34). Tuition is just $14,400 but the average net price is reported at $35,764, far higher than tuition, meaning fees, supplies, and living costs at this primarily chiropractic-focused institution drive the all-in cost up sharply. Total four-year cost works out to $143,056, the highest in this batch, against just $52,304 in median 10-year earnings. The 95-student enrollment makes most metrics small-sample noisy. The school's very low debt and 100% completion are real signals, but the weak earnings and repayment rate raise questions about how typical these outcomes are.
The data raises concerns about Cleveland University-Kansas City
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- Payback period16.4 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
Cleveland University-Kansas City
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $14,400/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $14,400/yr |
| Average net price | $35,764/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $143,056 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $52,304 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $41,700 |
| Median debt at graduation | $12,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $133 |
| Estimated payback period | 16.4 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 100.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 95 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Cleveland University-Kansas City is $14,400/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $35,764/year, or roughly $143,056 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of N/A/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay N/A/year.
The median graduate leaves with $12,500 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $133 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $52,304 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.30 - well within manageable territory.
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 | N/A |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | N/A |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | N/A |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $35,764 |
| $110,001+ | N/A |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Net price by income data is sparse here, only the $75,001-$110,000 bracket reports a value ($35,764). The other brackets, including low-income, show null. This is a data limitation, not a price floor, but it makes income-tier analysis impossible from the public Scorecard data. Prospective low-income students should use the school's net price calculator directly to get a personal estimate.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Only the $75,001-$110,000 bracket reports a net price ($35,764, identical to the institution average), suggesting either small sample reporting or that this bracket is the dominant family-income profile on campus. Other middle-income brackets do not report values. Four-year cost at the reported figure is $143,056.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The $110,001-plus bracket reports null in current data. Without a published high-income net price, prospective applicants in this tier should run the school's calculator. Given that tuition is only $14,400, the high net price reflects significant fees and indirect costs that may be partially recoverable for residential students.
Earnings by Major
Top 1 most popular majors at Cleveland University-Kansas City with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | $54,153 | 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.
Biology
Biology is the only undergraduate program with reported data and earns a B ROI grade with 39 graduates, the dominant cohort on the small campus. First-year earnings of $39,724 grow to $54,153 by year four, modest but reasonable. The standout figure is just $16,625 in median debt and a 0.419 debt-to-earnings ratio, much lower than typical private-college biology programs. This program likely serves as a pre-chiropractic feeder into the school's doctoral program, with biology majors taking on relatively little undergraduate debt before the much larger professional-school investment.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 50.0% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 52.4% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 57.1% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 50.9% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 69.2% |
| Enrollment | 95 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 53.5% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $5,918 |
Cleveland University-KC admits 69.2% of applicants. SAT and ACT mid-50% bands are not reported in current Scorecard data, which is consistent with a graduate-and-professional-skewed institution where standardized test scores are less central to admissions. The school's chiropractic program orientation typically draws students who already hold a bachelor's degree, so undergraduate selectivity metrics are less applicable than at conventional four-year colleges.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
The peer set assembled by the algorithm is mostly small Christian and Catholic privates: Baker University, Benedictine College, Thomas More College of Liberal Arts, Baptist University of the Americas, and Hobe Sound Bible College. Cleveland's profile differs sharply from these conventional liberal-arts peers, its $52,304 median earnings, perfect completion rate, and unusually high net price reflect a specialty health-sciences institution rather than a residential undergrad college. Direct ROI comparisons are not particularly meaningful given the structural differences.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland University-Kansas City (this school) | 50 | $35,764 | $52,304 |
| Baptist Health Sciences University | 69 | $11,212 | $72,529 |
| Galen College of Nursing-Louisville | 64 | $18,540 | $61,480 |
| AdventHealth University | 63 | $30,135 | $72,282 |
| Arizona College of Nursing-Tempe | 36 | $31,681 | $34,657 |
| Arizona College of Nursing-Las Vegas | 35 | $30,921 | $34,657 |
Who Thrives Here
With just 95 students enrolled and a 53.5% Pell rate, Cleveland University-Kansas City is a tiny specialty institution. It primarily serves prospective and current chiropractic students, with its modest undergraduate biology pipeline feeding into the doctor-of-chiropractic program. The school fits a narrow population: students committed to chiropractic or health-sciences careers in the Kansas City area willing to absorb high all-in costs in exchange for direct pathway to professional credentialing. General-purpose undergrads should look elsewhere given the $143,056 four-year total cost.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The financial case for Cleveland University-Kansas City is mixed. At $35,764 per year net cost, graduates earn a median of $52,304 ten years after entry - a payback period of 16.4 years. That's below the average return for four-year institutions, and prospective students should carefully consider whether the investment aligns with their financial goals.
Key strengths include a 100.0% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings. However, the data also shows weak earnings relative to cost and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $12,500 is very manageable against $52,304 in annual earnings - well within the financial advisor rule of thumb that total debt should not exceed first-year salary.
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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.