BC vs. Clarkson

Deciding between Boston 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.

Boston College
Clarkson University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • BC Chestnut Hill, MA
  • Clarkson Potsdam, NY
  • Setting
  • BC Small City
  • Clarkson Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • BC 15,432
  • Clarkson 3,348
  • Type
  • BC Private 4 Year
  • Clarkson Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BC #34
  • Clarkson #189
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BC Roman Catholic
  • Clarkson -
  • Status
  • BC Non-profit
  • Clarkson Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BC
  • Clarkson

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BC $70,702
  • Clarkson $59,398
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BC $70,702
  • Clarkson $59,398
  • Room & Board
  • BC $18,916
  • Clarkson $18,252
  • Average Net Price
  • BC $32,519
  • Clarkson $32,406
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BC $56,971
  • Clarkson $46,528
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BC 40%
  • Clarkson 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BC 35,037
  • Clarkson 6,661
  • Admitted
  • BC 5,755
  • Clarkson 5,153
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BC 16.4%
  • Clarkson 77.4%
  • Enrolled
  • BC 43.5%
  • Clarkson 9.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BC 1490
  • Clarkson 1300
  • Typical ACT score
  • BC 34
  • Clarkson 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • BC 3.86
  • Clarkson 3.8
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BC A
  • Clarkson A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • BC Elite
  • Clarkson Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • BC Very High
  • Clarkson
  • ACT Range
  • BC 33/35
  • Clarkson 25/32
  • SAT Range
  • BC 1440/1540
  • Clarkson 1200/1390
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BC Test optional
  • Clarkson Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BC Jan 1, 2027
  • Clarkson Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BC 10:1
  • Clarkson 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BC
    • Business (24%)
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
  • Clarkson
    • Engineering (48%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Engineering Technology (9%)
    • Communication (3%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BC 91%
  • Clarkson 72%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BC $90,900
  • Clarkson $70,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BC 90%
  • Clarkson 86%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BC $19,000
  • Clarkson $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BC $196
  • Clarkson $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BC 46%
  • Clarkson 66%
  • % Women
  • BC 54%
  • Clarkson 34%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BC Medium
  • Clarkson Very Low
  • HBCU
  • BC No
  • Clarkson No
  • % White
  • BC 62%
  • Clarkson 84%
  • % Asian
  • BC 10%
  • Clarkson 3%
  • % Black
  • BC 4%
  • Clarkson 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • BC 10%
  • Clarkson 4%
  • % Native American
  • BC 0%
  • Clarkson 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BC 0%
  • Clarkson 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BC 3%
  • Clarkson 2%
  • % International
  • BC 6%
  • Clarkson 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BC 6%
  • Clarkson 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BC 23%
  • Clarkson 67%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BC 69%
  • Clarkson 25%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Boston College in Chestnut Hill, MA with Clarkson University in Potsdam, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Boston College is larger than Clarkson based on total student enrollment (15,432 students vs. 3,348 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Boston College is located in Chestnut Hill, MA (Small City setting); Clarkson University is in Potsdam, NY (Remote Town setting).
  • Boston College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Clarkson University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Boston College 10:1; Clarkson University 13:1.

BC vs. Clarkson Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BC 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 Clarkson University than BC ($32,406 vs. $32,519).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clarkson University are 3.5% lower than at Boston College ($18,252 vs. $18,916).
  • Boston College is 19% more expensive for in-state tuition than Clarkson (about $11,304 more per year; $70,702.00 vs. $59,398.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 19% higher at BC than at Clarkson University (about $11,304 more per year; $70,702.00 vs. $59,398.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Clarkson University than at Boston College (100% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston College students is 22.4% larger than aid received by Clarkson University students ($56,971 vs. $46,528).

BC vs. Clarkson Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BC 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 BC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Boston College (1490) is 190 points higher than at Clarkson (1300).
  • Incoming BC students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 28 at Clarkson).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston College 1440/1540; Clarkson University 1200/1390.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston College 33/35; Clarkson University 25/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BC - Test optional; Clarkson - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BC Jan 1, 2027; Clarkson Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman BC students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Clarkson (3.8).
  • Clarkson has a higher acceptance rate (77.4%) than BC (16.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43.5% at BC vs. 9.5% at Clarkson.

BC vs. Clarkson Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BC 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).

  • Boston College's six-year graduation rate (91%) is higher than Clarkson University's (72%).
  • Graduates from Boston College earn a median of about $20,100 more per year than Clarkson graduates about ten years after starting college ($90,900 vs. $70,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Boston College graduates have a $8,000 lower median loan debt than Clarkson graduates ($19,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, BC graduates have an estimated $83 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Clarkson graduates ($196 vs. $279).
  • More BC 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.