Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Higher Learning Commission
Howell, Michigan
49.8% Acceptance Rate
Cleary University — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
49.8%Acceptance Rate
3.17Avg GPA
1060Avg SAT
$39,110Annual Cost
$54,186Grad Salary
27.4%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
49.8%
Avg GPA
3.17
Avg SAT
1060
Selectivity
Selective
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
SAT Middle 50%
1020–1090
Need-Based Aid
27.4% receive Pell
Cleary University, established in 1883 in Howell, Michigan, is a private business university offering programs in management, analytics, and healthcare administration. Cleary's Business as a Force for Good' ethos integrates ethics with practical skills. The 30-acre campus features the Cleary Commons and a hybrid learning model for working adults.
Cleary's location near Detroit provides internships in automotive and tech industries. The university's Tuition Guarantee' locks in rates for four years, emphasizing affordability. Cleary also offers NAIA athletics and a 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio.
Cleary University Acceptance Rate
At an acceptance rate of 49.8%, Cleary University rewards applicants who show real academic growth rather than a flawless transcript.
What Cleary College Admissions Looks For
- Test Scores Help: Where submitted, scores near or above the middle 50% strengthen an application.
- Solid, Not Perfect: A GPA trending upward matters more than one that's flat.
Selectivity at a Glance
Selective
Selectivity scale: Selective — 49.8% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Slightly below-average GPA? A strong test score or clear leadership track record can still keep you competitive.
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.17 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
2.97 – 3.16
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 2.72
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Cleary University Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Cleary University follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline.
Key Admission Dates
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
Cleary College reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
💡 The scholarship deadline (Priority scholarship: 2026/03/01) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Cleary College GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Cleary College is 3.17. That makes admissions here competitive, but not extremely selective. Most admitted students carry a mix of A's and B's.
In the 2.87–3.17 range, a high SAT or ACT score still carries real weight.
Most schools report GPA on a weighted or unweighted 4.0 scale differently — for an unweighted profile like this, students with AP/IB coursework typically carry a weighted GPA of 3.37–3.57.Cleary College GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Holistic review is critical for admission.
Recommended Strategy: Requires Contextual Factors (Leadership, hardship, or talent).
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.17 – 4.00
Strategic Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
2.97 – 3.16
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
2.77 – 2.96
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 2.76
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Acceptance rate ~51?68% (sources vary; BigFuture reports ~50%, academic aggregators report ~68%); free rolling application; test-blind; HLC regionally accredited; 2025-26 tuition $26,102 undergraduate / $21,879 graduate.
- Business-only institution - all undergraduate and graduate programs are in business disciplines; "Business Arts?" curriculum developed with industry input; campuses in Howell (main, 50 acres) and Detroit.
- Michigan Early College program: free AAS in Business Management for qualifying HS students, earned simultaneously with diploma, credits transfer to Cleary or elsewhere; Gold Level Veteran Friendly from Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency.
- 41% graduation rate; #3 private college in Michigan for ROI (self-reported); DOE-ranked #3 in Michigan for average starting salary; 13:1 student-faculty ratio.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: A slightly lower GPA (say 3.8) paired with multiple AP or IB courses often outweighs a flat 4.0 from a standard curriculum.
- Trajectory Matters: A lower start in 9th or 10th grade, followed by a clear upward trend senior year, reads as academic resilience rather than a weakness.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at Cleary College
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Cleary University's verified institutional data
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Cleary University (Cleary College) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if Cleary College is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into Cleary College Without SAT or ACT?
Cleary College neither requires nor recommends test scores. Submit yours only if it's above the state or national average — otherwise, leaving it off works in your favor.
Cleary University Average SAT Score: 1060
The average SAT score of admitted students at Cleary University is 1060 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1060 — Accessible
This average is on the lower end nationally, making a strong score here a genuine advantage.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1090 SAT) to stand out. Below average? Cleary University allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 1020, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at Cleary College. Retaking multiple times is completely normal — most competitive applicants sit for it two or three times. There's no official limit on attempts.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | - | - | - |
| SAT Reading | - | - | - |
| SAT Composite | 1060 | 1020 | 1090 |
Below 1020, you're behind most admitted students; at 1090 or above, you're ahead of 75% of them. (25th/75th percentile = the score below which that share of admitted students fall.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1050
Can I get into Cleary University (Cleary College) with a 1100 SAT?
A 1100 SAT puts you ahead of most of Cleary College's admitted class — but admissions still weighs GPA, course rigor, and essays alongside it. A strong score opens the door; the rest of your profile decides what happens next.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Cleary College
Selective Strategy: Competitive Positioning
Cleary College rewards consistency. Being a top-quartile applicant here doesn't just help admission odds — it's usually what unlocks the strongest scholarship offers too.
Understand the Business-Only Scope Before Applying
Cleary is a specialized institution that offers only business and business-adjacent programs - there are no liberal arts majors, sciences, social sciences, or fine arts offered here. Every undergraduate and graduate program (MBA, MS concentrations) sits inside the "Business Arts?" curriculum framework. If your intended major exists in a discipline outside of accounting, management, marketing, HR, finance, entrepreneurship, cybersecurity, or related business fields, Cleary is simply not the school - and no amount of enthusiasm for the small campus will change the program offering. Confirm your intended major is actually offered before investing time in the application.
Apply Through the Michigan Early College Program If You're Still in High School
Cleary partners with Michigan's Early College program to let high school students earn both a diploma and a free Associate Degree in Business Management simultaneously - students begin in 10th, 11th, or 12th grade, take coursework at the Howell campus or online, and graduate with 60 college credits already banked. Those 60 credits transfer to Cleary or to other institutions. For Michigan families looking to cut four-year cost dramatically, this is one of the most concrete early-college pathways in the state, and it's positioned as a feeder to Cleary's bachelor's programs. Students who know business is their direction in 10th grade can realistically complete a bachelor's in two years after high school, not four.
Leverage the Detroit Campus If the Metro Market Is Your Target
Cleary operates a second campus at 2470 Collingwood Street in Detroit alongside its Howell main campus. For students whose career targets are in Detroit's automotive, finance, healthcare, or nonprofit sectors, the Detroit campus offers the same Business Arts curriculum with direct proximity to internship and employer networks in a different economic ecosystem than suburban Livingston County. Programs are available on both campuses, and the admissions process is identical - but identifying which campus environment fits your networking goals is a choice worth making deliberately rather than defaulting to Howell out of familiarity.
Check Employer Partnerships Before You Finalize Your Aid Decision
Cleary has structured corporate partnerships - including a formal arrangement with Kelly (staffing) that subsidizes tuition for Kelly employees - and maintains advisory and employment connections to regional Michigan businesses. The school's tuition at $26,102 for 2025-26 is among the lowest for private colleges in Michigan, and the Department of Education ranked it #3 in Michigan for average starting salary among graduates. Before accepting or declining, run the net price calculator and ask admissions specifically about available employer-sponsored tuition pipelines relevant to your career sector, as these reduce net cost beyond FAFSA-based aid.
Expert Insight:
Cleary's 41% graduation rate is the single biggest risk factor a counselor needs to surface. Students who enroll without fully committing to a business-focused degree path often find the curriculum too narrow to sustain engagement over four years, and the small campus size means there's limited social infrastructure to compensate. The school's rolling admissions and accessible acceptance rate can give the impression that fit criteria are low; in practice, students who don't have genuine vocational alignment with business disciplines have a significantly higher dropout risk here than they would at a more comprehensive institution.
Cleary College Profile
Full Name
Cleary University (Cleary College)
City
Howell
State
Michigan
ZIP Code
48843
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
Is a Cleary College Degree Worth It?
Cleary College offers a rigorous academic environment, but 'worth it' is a personal calculation of cost, program fit, and outcomes — the figures below are a starting point.
The average household income among admitted students is $81,200, with a graduate unemployment rate of 2.75%.
How much does a degree from Cleary College Cost?
The sticker price is $39,110/year, but the average net price students actually pay — after Pell and federal grants — is typically much lower.
27.4% of students receive a Pell Grant and 43.6% take federal loans at Cleary College — file your FAFSA early and list Cleary College as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a Cleary College Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $54,186 — about 33% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Cleary University. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faulkner University | Montgomery, AL | 1016 | 20 |
| University of West Alabama | Livingston, AL | 1015 | 20 |
| Marion Military Institute | Marion, AL | 1043 | 20 |
| University of Arkansas at Little Rock | Little Rock, AR | 1049 | 21 |
| Arkansas Tech University | Russellville, AR | 1050 | 21 |
| Central Baptist College | Conway, AR | 1022 | 20 |
| University of Arkansas Community College-Morrilton | Morrilton, AR | 1020 | 20 |
| Williams Baptist University | Walnut Ridge, AR | 1018 | 19 |
| Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | Magnolia, AR | 1050 | 20 |
| University of Arkansas-Fort Smith | Fort Smith, AR | 1050 | 21 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Cleary University. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville State University | Jacksonville, AL | 1055 | 21 |
| Arkansas Tech University | Russellville, AR | 1050 | 21 |
| Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | Magnolia, AR | 1050 | 20 |
| University of Arkansas-Fort Smith | Fort Smith, AR | 1050 | 21 |
| Colorado Mesa University | Grand Junction, CO | 1070 | 23 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Cleary University. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn University at Montgomery | Montgomery, AL | 1090 | 21 |
| University of South Alabama | Mobile, AL | 1119 | 23 |
| Spring Hill College | Mobile, AL | 1090 | 22 |
| Tuskegee University | Tuskegee, AL | 1121 | 22 |
| Grand Canyon University | Phoenix, AZ | 1095 | 22 |
Degree Programs at Cleary College
Bachelor Degree Programs
Masters Degree Programs
Associate Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Cleary College Admissions
Median graduate earnings at Cleary University run about $54,186 a year.
Cleary University costs roughly $39,110 a year — most students combine this with scholarships or aid.
About 27.4% receive a Pell Grant at Cleary University — moderate odds, largely income-dependent, but an early FAFSA filing still helps.
At 49.8%, Cleary University's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at Cleary University average a 3.17 GPA.
Cleary University doesn't publish a hard GPA floor — but landing at or above 2.87 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 2.77, Cleary University becomes a harder reach — though a strong test score, meaningful activities, and AP/IB coursework can still make a real case.
A strong SAT score matters at Cleary University — aim above 1060, ideally within the 1020–1090 range admitted students typically fall in.
Cleary University follows Rolling Admissions — applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is Priority scholarship: 2026/03/01. Submit FAFSA before then for maximum consideration.
Yes — transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most — along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.
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