10-YEAR PAYOFF CURVECumulative economic payoff after graduation
−$98,042at year 10Net gainInvestment not yet recovered
NET GAIN$0UNRECOVERED
Public · COLLEGE PAYOFF
University of Houston-Clear Lake
Houston, TX · 41 field-and-degree records
Earnings reported for 40 · Federal debt reported for 24
Based onObserved earnings + college priceEstimate10-year payoff
Estimated 10-year payoff
Negative payoff
−$98,042 over 10 years
Modeled from observed year-5 institution earnings and the institution-wide average net price over four years.
16.8 yrsTime to earn back the modeled cost
−40%Estimated return after 10 years
$59,421Observed earnings · year 5
Not reachedHighest annual price before payoff reaches $0
Start with your question
What do you want to understand?
ECONOMIC INVESTMENT → PAYBACK
Estimated payoff over ten years.
The scenario counts direct price and earnings forgone upfront, then applies the reported annual earnings premium.
FEDERAL COST DATA
Four ways to read college price.
Annual college-wide figures from the current College Scorecard release. Average net price covers full-time, first-time undergraduates receiving federal aid; public-college figures use in-state students. Program tuition and individual aid offers may differ.
PUBLISHED STUDENT BUDGET · 2024–25
What makes up the annual price?
Sticker-price components reported to IPEDS. Grants and scholarships are not subtracted here.
Living off campus: $14,538 housing and food allowance plus $4,454 in other expenses.
Do not confuse this with net price. Net price subtracts average grants and scholarships. DegreeVerdict continues to use the separately labeled average net price in its standard college ROI scenario.
PRICE SENSITIVITY
The price can change the verdict.
Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.
← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →
$0Annual price−$35,790
$8,000Annual price−$67,790
$16,000Current college-wide context−$99,790
$24,000Annual price−$131,790
$32,000Annual price−$163,790
$40,000Annual price−$195,790
HOW STUDENTS ATTEND · 2023-24
Online study is a meaningful part of the student experience.
IPEDS enrollment counts show course delivery across the whole institution. They do not indicate whether a specific degree can be completed online.
Institution-level attendance context from IPEDS. Program delivery is reported separately on degree pages and in the program directory. These figures do not enter ROI.
College identity and local contextAccreditation, institution type, dual enrollment and state prices
COLLEGE AT A GLANCE
Institution details
Current federal characteristics describing the college, not the outcomes of a specific program.
- Accreditor
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- Main award level
- Bachelor’s degrees
- Campus setting
- City
- Admissions
- Selective admission
- Delivery
- Campus or mixed delivery
- Federal designation
- No special designation reported
STATE PRICE CONTEXT · 2024
Prices in Texas run 3% below the U.S. level.
BEA Regional Price Parities compare price levels across states. A value of 100 equals the national average.
What it costs and what graduates earn
$15,563Average net price / year
$24,622Cost of attendance
$17,831Median federal student debt · completer borrowers
$189/moPublished 10-year payment estimate
$59,421Median earnings · year 5 after completion
51.6%Completion rate
90.5%Admission rate
1,060Average SAT score
20ACT midpoint
6,078Student size
Debt covers federal student-loan borrowers who completed. It does not include Parent PLUS or private loans. We show admissions scores only when a valid federal value is available.
What the numbers say about University of Houston-Clear Lake
What does University of Houston-Clear Lake cost?
University of Houston-Clear Lake reports an average annual net price of $15,563 after grants and scholarships. This is an institution-wide average, not an individual aid offer.
What do University of Houston-Clear Lake graduates earn?
The observed median earnings figure is $59,421 5 years after completion. It describes a federal cohort, not a guaranteed starting salary.
How much federal debt do University of Houston-Clear Lake graduates have?
Completer borrowers report median cumulative federal student debt of $17,831. Parent PLUS and private loans are not included.
Is every degree at University of Houston-Clear Lake worth the same?
No. The current release contains 41 field-and-degree records for University of Houston-Clear Lake; 40 report year-4 earnings and 24 report federal debt. Outcomes can differ substantially by field and degree level.
DEBT AFTER COLLEGE
Are borrowers making progress?
Repayment progress, default and debt at exit describe different federal borrower cohorts. They are shown separately and do not change the ROI estimate.
Source: College Scorecard. Repayment progress is the share of borrowers who reduced principal by at least $1 at the stated measurement point. Debt covers federal student loans; Parent PLUS and private loans are excluded. Cohorts and reporting periods differ across measures.
Who studied here during the year
9,706Students enrolled at any point
7,287Undergraduate students
2,419Graduate students
Unduplicated students enrolled at any point from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025. This full-year measure is different from a fall headcount and does not enter ROI.
More student and earnings detailPrice by family income, retention, equity and common industries
WHO PAYS, WHO FINISHES, WHO EARNS
Outcomes are not the same for every family.
These federal cohorts add context that a single college average can hide. Missing figures remain unreported rather than estimated.
Complete within 150% of the expected time
64% received a Pell Grant within eight yearsMedian Parent PLUS debt
45 parent borrowers in the reported cohortMedian federal student debt
56% making progress in repayment after three yearsStudent family incomeMedian earnings after 10 yearsObserved federal cohorts
Lower income$57,784Earnings are not a guarantee
Middle income$59,643Earnings are not a guarantee
Higher income$61,285Earnings are not a guarantee
Three-year repayment progress
Lower income49%
Middle income58%
Higher income69%
Undergraduate student composition
White29%
Black7%
Hispanic51%
Asian8%
Source: College Scorecard, June 2026 release. Parent PLUS debt belongs to parents; student-debt measures exclude Parent PLUS and private loans. Cohort definitions differ by measure.
INDEPENDENT CENSUS EARNINGS VIEW
How earnings develop by field
Privacy-protected Census employment records follow graduate cohorts one, five and ten years after completion. This source is kept separate from College Scorecard because its population and methodology differ.
Field and credentialYear 1Year 5Year 10
Astronomy and Astrophysics.Master’s degree · Broad federal field 40
$60,837Year 1
$109,303Year 5
$144,563Year 10
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering.Master’s degree · Broad federal field 14
$73,365Year 1
$112,745Year 5
$144,040Year 10
Computer Programming.Bachelor’s degree · Broad federal field 11
$58,753Year 1
$85,062Year 5
$142,023Year 10
Computer Programming.Master’s degree · Broad federal field 11
$76,770Year 1
$113,207Year 5
$139,470Year 10
Accounting and Related Services.Master’s degree · Broad federal field 52
$78,162Year 1
$101,802Year 5
$133,637Year 10
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy.Master’s degree · Broad federal field 03
$70,527Year 1
$88,474Year 5
$133,072Year 10
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering.Bachelor’s degree · Broad federal field 14
$70,779Year 1
$87,772Year 5
$127,993Year 10
Applied Mathematics.Master’s degree · Broad federal field 27
$62,075Year 1
$87,772Year 5
$125,175Year 10
Median annual earnings in 2023 dollars. Each time point may use a different pooled graduation cohort. Coverage is limited to institutions participating in the Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes program.
NATIONAL CONTEXT
How this college compares
Percentiles compare this institution with currently operating colleges that report the same federal measure.
WHAT STANDS OUT
A faster read on this college
These summaries use every reportable field-and-credential record at this institution. They do not fill privacy-suppressed outcomes.
EARNINGS OVER TIME
What graduates earned in later years
$50,121Year 1
$59,865Year 4
$59,421Year 5
Each year can represent a different federal cohort, so the points do not track the same people over time.
Your choice of degree can change the payoff.
Graduate earnings differ by field and credential, even within the same college.
1Finance and Financial Management Services · Master's Degree$107,7922Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · Bachelor's Degree$103,9913Educational Administration and Supervision · Doctoral Degree$101,7234Business Administration, Management and Operations · Master's Degree$100,2815Natural Resources Conservation and Research · Master's Degree$94,0926Accounting and Related Services · Master's Degree$89,9537Health and Medical Administrative Services · Master's Degree$80,7948Human Resources Management and Services · Master's Degree$80,692Observed year-4 earnings · compare the same field and credential across colleges
Programs that stand out against the same-degree benchmark
This view rewards performance relative to the same field and credential, not simply majors that pay more everywhere.
1Natural Resources Conservation and ResearchBachelor's Degree · $75,258 reported+37%vs same-degree national medianNot availablefederal debt2Natural Resources Conservation and ResearchMaster's Degree · $94,092 reported+26%vs same-degree national medianNot availablefederal debt3Student Counseling and Personnel ServicesMaster's Degree · $72,849 reported+21%vs same-degree national medianNot availablefederal debt4English Language and Literature, GeneralBachelor's Degree · $57,052 reported+17%vs same-degree national median$15,875federal debt5Library Science and AdministrationMaster's Degree · $65,861 reported+17%vs same-degree national medianNot availablefederal debt6Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingBachelor's Degree · $103,991 reported+17%vs same-degree national medianNot availablefederal debt
Comparable colleges in TX
Currently operating public institutions with the closest combination of annual net price and observed year-5 earnings. Similarity is descriptive, not a quality ranking.
Beaumont, TX
Lamar Institute of Technology
- Annual net price
- $13,866
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $59,404
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -39%
University of North Texas
- Annual net price
- $15,649
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $57,374
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -49%
Texas State University
- Annual net price
- $16,805
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $57,874
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -48%
Prairie View A&M University
- Annual net price
- $13,570
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $57,526
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -47%
Compare fields and degree levels
Showing the 40 highest-earning records from 41 field-and-degree records. Use the program directory to search the complete set.
| Major or field | Degree level | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 2024–25 graduates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finance and Financial Management Services | Master's Degree | $107,792 | Not available | Not reported |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Bachelor's Degree | $103,991 | Not available | Not reported |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | Doctoral Degree | $101,723 | Not available | 21 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Master's Degree | $100,281 | Not available | Not reported |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | Master's Degree | $94,092 | Not available | Not reported |
| Accounting and Related Services | Master's Degree | $89,953 | Not available | Not reported |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Master's Degree | $80,794 | Not available | Not reported |
| Human Resources Management and Services | Master's Degree | $80,692 | Not available | Not reported |
| Computer Engineering | Bachelor's Degree | $79,710 | $22,238 | Not reported |
| Computer Science | Bachelor's Degree | $77,073 | $22,288 | Not reported |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | Bachelor's Degree | $75,617 | $28,143 | Not reported |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | Bachelor's Degree | $75,258 | Not available | Not reported |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | Bachelor's Degree | $74,949 | $23,125 | Not reported |
| Management Information Systems and Services | Bachelor's Degree | $73,352 | $15,530 | Not reported |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | Master's Degree | $72,849 | Not available | Not reported |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | Master's Degree | $72,708 | Not available | Not reported |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | Master's Degree | $72,586 | Not available | Not reported |
| Business/Commerce, General | Bachelor's Degree | $71,973 | $23,766 | Not reported |
| Psychology, General | Master's Degree | $70,718 | Not available | Not reported |
| Accounting and Related Services | Bachelor's Degree | $70,134 | $19,375 | Not reported |
| Library Science and Administration | Master's Degree | $65,861 | Not available | Not reported |
| Curriculum and Instruction | Master's Degree | $65,747 | Not available | Not reported |
| Biology, General | Bachelor's Degree | $64,555 | $19,953 | Not reported |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Bachelor's Degree | $62,046 | $18,750 | Not reported |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Bachelor's Degree | $60,419 | $18,025 | Not reported |
| Mathematics | Bachelor's Degree | $60,050 | $16,392 | Not reported |
| History | Bachelor's Degree | $57,675 | $22,625 | Not reported |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | Master's Degree | $57,552 | Not available | Not reported |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | Bachelor's Degree | $57,065 | $20,904 | Not reported |
| English Language and Literature, General | Bachelor's Degree | $57,052 | $15,875 | Not reported |
| Marketing | Bachelor's Degree | $55,280 | $12,500 | Not reported |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | Bachelor's Degree | $55,083 | $18,750 | Not reported |
| Legal Support Services | Bachelor's Degree | $52,230 | $20,625 | Not reported |
| Criminology | Bachelor's Degree | $52,087 | $16,149 | Not reported |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | Master's Degree | $51,591 | Not available | Not reported |
| Behavioral Sciences | Bachelor's Degree | $51,151 | $27,224 | Not reported |
| Communication and Media Studies | Bachelor's Degree | $49,841 | $19,829 | Not reported |
| Social Work | Bachelor's Degree | $49,513 | $31,578 | Not reported |
| Psychology, General | Bachelor's Degree | $48,885 | $21,952 | Not reported |
| Fine and Studio Arts | Bachelor's Degree | $38,330 | $21,369 | Not reported |
Graduate counts come from IPEDS and group related majors into the same federal field. Missing earnings or debt values remain labeled as unavailable.
Search every University of Houston-Clear Lake program record →Earnings, price, completion and enrollment are observed federal measures. ROI, payoff and break-even are modeled scenarios built from those measures and fixed assumptions. College payoff is not the payoff of every degree at this school; use the program table for a more precise comparison.