1883
Patrick Roger Cleary founds The Cleary School of Penmanship—a vital business skill in the late 19th century commercial workplace. Cleary is Washtenaw County's first independent college.
1885
Cleary becomes Michigan's first college to train and place a graduate as a teacher of commercial subjects in the public school system.
1886
Cleary holds Michigan's first summer school session for teachers of commercial subjects.
1891
Cleary Business College is incorporated under state law.
1913
Cleary and Michigan State Normal College launch first joint college program approved by the state board of education. Public school business teachers study education at the Normal College and business subjects at Cleary.
1922
Patrick Roger Cleary receives honorary Master of Education degree from Michigan State Normal College (Eastern Michigan University).
1933
Cleary family turns over all physical assets of the institution to new Board of Trustees.
1968
The Association of Independent Colleges accredits Cleary as a junior college of business.
1970
The Association of Independent Colleges and Schools accredits Cleary as a senior college of business.
1979
Cleary offers first classes in Livingston County at Brighton High School.
1983
Cleary celebrates centennial and breaks ground for its Livingston Campus.
1988
Cleary is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
1989
Cleary launches intensive and continuing focus on quality management.
1990
A new accelerated, 13-month Direct Degree program is launched for mid-career adults.
1994
For the first time, Cleary is ranked by U.S. News and World Report as among the top 20 specialty colleges in the nation.
1994
Cleary begins offering online courses.
1997
Corporate partnership and employee training opportunities are expanded as well as extension sites and programs.
1999
BusinessTrack, an innovative three-year BBA degree program for first-time college students is introduced.
2000
Cleary announces its Executive MBA. The NCA grants accreditation for Cleary's MBA program.
2002
Cleary's change to university status is approved by the Michigan State Department of Education and the North Central Association.
2006
On May 18, Cleary officials break ground on the Lloyd and Mabel Johnson Center for Business and Community Excellence in Howell.
2007
The Lloyd and Mabel Johnson Center for Business and Community Excellence was officially opened on the Livingston Campus with such features as low-volume, high-pressure toilets that use very little water; waterless urinals which, on average, save 40,000 gallons of water a year each; motion-sensitive lighting systems in addition to T5 and T8 indirect lights in the classrooms; and an individually-zoned and computer-programmed HVAC system—making it one of the most energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly campus buildings in southeastern Michigan.
2009
President Tom Sullivan celebrates his 20th anniversary as head of the university.
2010
The Cleary University Micro-Business Incubator (CUMBI) opens, housed in the new Livingston Campus Welcome Center. Providing business support and guidance for start-ups, the CUMBI is the first of its kind in Livingston County.
2012
Cleary reintroduces its collegiate athletic program with men's and women's cross country and golf teams.