Bates vs. Clarkson

Should I go to Bates College or Clarkson University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Bates or Clarkson is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Bates College vs. Clarkson University comparison
Bates College Clarkson University College 3 College 4
Bates College Clarkson University
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Overview

Bates Clarkson
Location Lewiston, ME Potsdam, NY
Setting Small City Remote Town
Enrollment 1,753 3,603
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #45 #183
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bates.edu clarkson.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bates Clarkson
Tuition (In State) $63,478 $56,642
Tuition (Out of State) $63,478 $56,642
Room & Board $17,904 $17,016
Avg Net Price $26,658 $33,192
Avg Grant Aid $53,782 $43,097
% Receiving Grant Aid 44% 100%

Admission

Bates Clarkson
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,937 7,347
Admitted 1,164 5,669
Acceptance Rate 13% 77.2%
Enrolled % 43.4% 10.7%
Avg High School GPA - 3.8
Typical High School Grades - A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Very High
Applicant Competition Very High
ACT Range 31/33 26/31
SAT Range 1400/1510 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 1, 2026 Jan 15, 2026

Academics

Bates Clarkson
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (26%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Engineering (48%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Engineering Technology (9%)
  • Communication (3%)

Outcomes

Bates Clarkson
Graduation Rate 92% 72%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $75,700 $70,800
Making Student Loan Payments 90% 86%
Median Student Loan Debt $14,450 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $149 $279

Diversity

Bates Clarkson
% Men 35% 17%
% Women 36% 13%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 71% 84%
% Black 5% 2%
% Hispanic 8% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 2%
% International 7% 3%
% Unknown Race 0% 2%

Students

Bates Clarkson
% In-State 8% 65%
% Out-of-State 80% 29%

Campus

Bates Clarkson
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Clarkson University is larger than than Bates based on total student enrollment (3,603 students vs. 1,753 students)

Bates vs. Clarkson Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bates or Clarkson?

  • Bates College is 12.1% more expensive to attend than Clarkson for in-state tuition ($63,478.00 vs. $56,642.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 12.1% higher at Bates than Clarkson University ($63,478.00 vs. $56,642.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bates College than Clarkson ($26,658 vs. $33,192)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clarkson University are 5.2% lower than costs at Bates College ($17,016 vs. $17,904)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Clarkson University than Bates College (100% vs. 44%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bates College students is 24.8% larger than aid received Clarkson University ($53,782 vs. $43,097)

Bates vs. Clarkson Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bates or Clarkson? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Clarkson or Bates .

  • Clarkson has a higher acceptance rate (77.2%) than Bates (13%)

Bates vs. Clarkson Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Bates 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 Bates.

  • The graduation rate at Bates is higher than Clarkson University (92% vs. 72%)
  • Graduates from Bates College earn on average $4,900 more per year than Clarkson graduates after ten years. ($75,700 vs. $70,800)
  • Bates College students graduate with a $12,550 lower median federal student loan debt than Clarkson graduates. ($14,450 vs. $27,000)
  • Bates graduates are paying $130 less per month on federal student loans than Clarkson graduates. ($149 vs. $279)
  • More Bates graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Clarkson students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 86%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/