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George Washington RIT Georgetown St Lawrence University Fordham Syracuse RPI Mason Lafayette College UB DU Drexel| American University | Clarkson University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
AU | Clarkson | ||
| Location | Washington, DC | Potsdam, NY | ||
| Setting | Large City | Remote Town | ||
| Enrollment | 13,019 | 3,603 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #84 | #183 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | United Methodist | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | american.edu | clarkson.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
AU | Clarkson | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $55,724 | $56,642 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $55,724 | $56,642 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,012 | $17,016 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $40,189 | $33,192 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $31,402 | $43,097 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 62% | 100% |
Admission |
AU | Clarkson | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 17,786 | 7,347 | ||
| Admitted | 8,427 | 5,669 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 47.4% | 77.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22% | 10.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.7 | 3.8 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 29/33 | 26/31 | ||
| SAT Range | 1300/1450 | 1198/1390 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 15, 2026 | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
AU | Clarkson | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 10:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
AU | Clarkson | ||
| Graduation Rate | 77% | 72% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $64,800 | $70,800 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 80% | 86% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,250 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $250 | $279 |
Diversity |
AU | Clarkson | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 15% | 17% | ||
| % Women | 25% | 13% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 58% | 84% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 12% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 2% | ||
| % International | 7% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 2% |
Students |
AU | Clarkson | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 2% | 65% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 94% | 29% | ||
Campus |
AU | Clarkson | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- American University is larger than than Clarkson based on total student enrollment (13,019 students vs. 3,603 students)
AU vs. Clarkson Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, AU or Clarkson?
- Clarkson University is 1.6% more expensive to attend than AU for in-state tuition ($56,642.00 vs. $55,724.00)
- Out of state tuition is 1.6% higher at Clarkson than American University ($56,642.00 vs. $55,724.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Clarkson University than AU ($33,192 vs. $40,189)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American University are 0% lower than costs at Clarkson University ($17,012 vs. $17,016)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Clarkson University than American University (100% vs. 62%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Clarkson University students is 37.2% larger than aid received American University ($43,097 vs. $31,402)
AU vs. Clarkson Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, AU or Clarkson? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Clarkson or AU .
- The average SAT score at American University (1252) is 54 points higher than at Clarkson (1198)
- Incoming AU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at Clarkson (27)
- Accepted freshman Clarkson students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at AU (3.7)
- Clarkson has a higher acceptance rate (77.2%) than AU (47.4%)
AU vs. Clarkson Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, AU or Clarkson? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Clarkson and AU.
- The graduation rate at AU is higher than Clarkson University (77% vs. 72%)
- Graduates from Clarkson University earn on average $6,000 more per year than AU graduates after ten years. ($70,800 vs. $64,800)
- American University students graduate with a $2,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Clarkson graduates. ($24,250 vs. $27,000)
- AU graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans than Clarkson graduates. ($250 vs. $279)
- More Clarkson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AU students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 80%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/