Barnard vs. Clarkson

Deciding between Barnard College and Clarkson University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Barnard College
Clarkson University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Barnard New York, NY
  • Clarkson Potsdam, NY
  • Setting
  • Barnard Large City
  • Clarkson Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Barnard 3,487
  • Clarkson 3,348
  • Type
  • Barnard Private 4 Year
  • Clarkson Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Barnard #35
  • Clarkson #189
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Barnard -
  • Clarkson -
  • Status
  • Barnard Non-profit
  • Clarkson Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Barnard
  • Clarkson

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Barnard $69,888
  • Clarkson $59,398
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Barnard $69,888
  • Clarkson $59,398
  • Room & Board
  • Barnard $21,714
  • Clarkson $18,252
  • Average Net Price
  • Barnard $26,407
  • Clarkson $32,406
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Barnard $63,131
  • Clarkson $46,528
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Barnard 33%
  • Clarkson 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Barnard 11,836
  • Clarkson 6,661
  • Admitted
  • Barnard 1,046
  • Clarkson 5,153
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Barnard 8.8%
  • Clarkson 77.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Barnard 68.6%
  • Clarkson 9.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Barnard 1520
  • Clarkson 1300
  • Typical ACT score
  • Barnard 33
  • Clarkson 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • Barnard 3.85
  • Clarkson 3.8
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Barnard A
  • Clarkson A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Barnard Elite
  • Clarkson Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Barnard Extreme
  • Clarkson
  • ACT Range
  • Barnard 32/34
  • Clarkson 25/32
  • SAT Range
  • Barnard 1470/1560
  • Clarkson 1200/1390
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Barnard Test optional
  • Clarkson Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Barnard Jan 4, 2027
  • Clarkson Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Barnard 10:1
  • Clarkson 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Barnard
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)
  • Clarkson
    • Engineering (48%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Engineering Technology (9%)
    • Communication (3%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Barnard 92%
  • Clarkson 72%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Barnard $66,900
  • Clarkson $70,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Barnard 89%
  • Clarkson 86%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Barnard $17,847
  • Clarkson $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Barnard $184
  • Clarkson $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Barnard 2%
  • Clarkson 66%
  • % Women
  • Barnard 98%
  • Clarkson 34%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Barnard High
  • Clarkson Very Low
  • HBCU
  • Barnard No
  • Clarkson No
  • % White
  • Barnard 53%
  • Clarkson 84%
  • % Asian
  • Barnard 14%
  • Clarkson 3%
  • % Black
  • Barnard 7%
  • Clarkson 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Barnard 12%
  • Clarkson 4%
  • % Native American
  • Barnard 0%
  • Clarkson 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Barnard 0%
  • Clarkson 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Barnard 6%
  • Clarkson 2%
  • % International
  • Barnard 8%
  • Clarkson 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Barnard 0%
  • Clarkson 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Barnard 20%
  • Clarkson 67%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Barnard 62%
  • Clarkson 25%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Barnard Yes
  • Clarkson Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Barnard No
  • Clarkson No
  • Meal Plan
  • Barnard Yes
  • Clarkson Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Barnard No
  • Clarkson No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Barnard No
  • Clarkson No

Comparable Facts

Compare Barnard College in New York, NY with Clarkson University in Potsdam, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Barnard College is larger than Clarkson based on total student enrollment (3,487 students vs. 3,348 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Barnard College is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); Clarkson University is in Potsdam, NY (Remote Town setting).
  • Barnard College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Clarkson University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Barnard College 10:1; Clarkson University 13:1.

Barnard vs. Clarkson Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Barnard or Clarkson? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Barnard College than Clarkson ($26,407 vs. $32,406).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clarkson University are 15.9% lower than at Barnard College ($18,252 vs. $21,714).
  • Barnard College is 17.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Clarkson (about $10,490 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $59,398.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 17.7% higher at Barnard than at Clarkson University (about $10,490 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $59,398.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Clarkson University than at Barnard College (100% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Barnard College students is 35.7% larger than aid received by Clarkson University students ($63,131 vs. $46,528).

Barnard vs. Clarkson Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Barnard or Clarkson? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Clarkson and Barnard.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Barnard College (1520) is 220 points higher than at Clarkson (1300).
  • Incoming Barnard students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 28 at Clarkson).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Barnard College 1470/1560; Clarkson University 1200/1390.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Barnard College 32/34; Clarkson University 25/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Barnard - Test optional; Clarkson - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Barnard Jan 4, 2027; Clarkson Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Barnard students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.85) than students at Clarkson (3.8).
  • Clarkson has a higher acceptance rate (77.4%) than Barnard (8.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 68.6% at Barnard vs. 9.5% at Clarkson.

Barnard vs. Clarkson Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Barnard and Clarkson? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Barnard College's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than Clarkson University's (72%).
  • Graduates from Clarkson University earn a median of about $3,900 more per year than Barnard graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,800 vs. $66,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Barnard College graduates have a $9,153 lower median loan debt than Clarkson graduates ($17,847 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Barnard graduates have an estimated $95 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Clarkson graduates ($184 vs. $279).
  • More Barnard graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Clarkson students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 86%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.