Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations at Cleary University

A $25,000 debt load for a bachelor's degree that leads to first-year earnings around $45,000 creates a manageable starting point—the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.56 sits comfortably below the concerning 1.0 threshold. Since Cleary's actual outcomes aren't publicly available due to small graduate cohorts, these figures reflect what similar entrepreneurship programs nationally produce. The estimated earnings align almost exactly with the national median for this major, suggesting typical performance rather than standout results.

Michigan's entrepreneurship landscape offers some context here. Programs at Grand Valley State and Central Michigan—both larger public universities with reported data—show first-year earnings in the $42,000-$43,000 range, slightly below the national benchmark but fairly close to what Cleary's graduates likely experience. The estimated debt at Cleary runs about $1,000 below Michigan's median for this field, which matters when you're starting a business or working in small companies where early salaries may be constrained.

The practical reality: entrepreneurship degrees often appeal to students planning to launch their own ventures, where traditional earnings metrics don't capture the full picture. If your child intends to work for established companies initially, peer programs suggest they'll earn enough to manage this debt level within standard repayment terms. The uncertainty around Cleary's specific outcomes means you're betting on the strength of their curriculum and network rather than proven graduate results—a reasonable gamble if the school's small size and business focus align with your child's learning style.