BU vs. Clarkson

Deciding between Boston University 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 University
Clarkson University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • BU Boston, MA
  • Clarkson Potsdam, NY
  • Setting
  • BU Large City
  • Clarkson Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • BU 37,737
  • Clarkson 3,348
  • Type
  • BU Private 4 Year
  • Clarkson Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • BU #73
  • Clarkson #189
  • Religious Affiliation
  • BU -
  • Clarkson -
  • Status
  • BU Non-profit
  • Clarkson Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • BU
  • Clarkson

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Clarkson $59,398
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • BU $68,102
  • Clarkson $59,398
  • Room & Board
  • BU $19,020
  • Clarkson $18,252
  • Average Net Price
  • BU $24,420
  • Clarkson $32,406
  • Average Grant Aid
  • BU $61,848
  • Clarkson $46,528
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • BU 49%
  • Clarkson 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • BU 78,769
  • Clarkson 6,661
  • Admitted
  • BU 8,749
  • Clarkson 5,153
  • Acceptance Rate
  • BU 11.1%
  • Clarkson 77.4%
  • Enrolled
  • BU 37.4%
  • Clarkson 9.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BU 1480
  • Clarkson 1300
  • Typical ACT score
  • BU 33
  • Clarkson 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • BU 3.79
  • Clarkson 3.8
  • Typical High School Grades
  • BU A-
  • Clarkson A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • BU Exceptional
  • Clarkson Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • BU Very High
  • Clarkson
  • ACT Range
  • BU 32/34
  • Clarkson 25/32
  • SAT Range
  • BU 1420/1530
  • Clarkson 1200/1390
  • Submit Test Scores
  • BU Test optional
  • Clarkson Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • BU Jan 4, 2027
  • Clarkson Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • BU 10:1
  • Clarkson 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • BU
    • Business (21%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (15%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
  • Clarkson
    • Engineering (48%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Engineering Technology (9%)
    • Communication (3%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • BU 85%
  • Clarkson 72%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • BU $72,000
  • Clarkson $70,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • BU 82%
  • Clarkson 86%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • BU $27,000
  • Clarkson $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • BU $279
  • Clarkson $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • BU 42%
  • Clarkson 66%
  • % Women
  • BU 58%
  • Clarkson 34%
  • Racial Diversity
  • BU Very High
  • Clarkson Very Low
  • HBCU
  • BU No
  • Clarkson No
  • % White
  • BU 43%
  • Clarkson 84%
  • % Asian
  • BU 14%
  • Clarkson 3%
  • % Black
  • BU 4%
  • Clarkson 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • BU 11%
  • Clarkson 4%
  • % Native American
  • BU 0%
  • Clarkson 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • BU 0%
  • Clarkson 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • BU 4%
  • Clarkson 2%
  • % International
  • BU 20%
  • Clarkson 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • BU 5%
  • Clarkson 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • BU 15%
  • Clarkson 67%
  • % Out-of-State
  • BU 62%
  • Clarkson 25%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Boston University is larger than Clarkson based on total student enrollment (37,737 students vs. 3,348 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

BU vs. Clarkson Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BU 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 Boston University than Clarkson ($24,420 vs. $32,406).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clarkson University are 4% lower than at Boston University ($18,252 vs. $19,020).
  • Boston University is 14.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Clarkson (about $8,704 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $59,398.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 14.7% higher at BU than at Clarkson University (about $8,704 more per year; $68,102.00 vs. $59,398.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Clarkson University than at Boston University (100% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 32.9% larger than aid received by Clarkson University students ($61,848 vs. $46,528).

BU vs. Clarkson Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BU 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 BU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Boston University (1480) is 180 points higher than at Clarkson (1300).
  • Incoming BU 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: Boston University 1420/1530; Clarkson University 1200/1390.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Boston University 32/34; Clarkson University 25/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BU - Test optional; Clarkson - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BU Jan 4, 2027; Clarkson Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Clarkson students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at BU (3.79).
  • Clarkson has a higher acceptance rate (77.4%) than BU (11.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 37.4% at BU vs. 9.5% at Clarkson.

BU vs. Clarkson Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BU 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 University's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than Clarkson University's (72%).
  • Graduates from Boston University earn a median of about $1,200 more per year than Clarkson graduates about ten years after starting college ($72,000 vs. $70,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Clarkson University and BU graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Clarkson University and BU graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
  • More Clarkson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BU students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 82%)

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.