BU vs. Clarkson

Should I go to Boston University or Clarkson University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if BU 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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Boston University vs. Clarkson University comparison
Boston University Clarkson University College 3 College 4
Boston University Clarkson University
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Overview

BU Clarkson
Location Boston, MA Potsdam, NY
Setting Large City Remote Town
Enrollment 36,714 3,719
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #79 #220
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bu.edu clarkson.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

BU Clarkson
Tuition (In State) $61,050 $54,960
Tuition (Out of State) $61,050 $54,960
Room & Board $17,400 $16,744
Avg Net Price $27,829 $32,450
Avg Grant Aid $51,565 $41,285
% Receiving Grant Aid 48% 100%

Admission

BU Clarkson
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 80,796 6,594
Admitted 11,607 5,171
Acceptance Rate 14.4% 78.4%
Enrolled % 31.3% 11.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.79 3.8
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Difficult
Applicant Competition Very High
ACT Range 31/34 25/30
SAT Range 1350/1500 1190/1370
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 4, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

BU Clarkson
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (21%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Communication (15%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Engineering (48%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Engineering Technology (9%)
  • Communication (3%)

Outcomes

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

Diversity

BU Clarkson
% Men 43% 64%
% Women 57% 36%
Racial Diversity Very High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 43% 84%
% Black 4% 2%
% Hispanic 11% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 2%
% International 20% 3%
% Unknown Race 5% 2%

Students

BU Clarkson
% In-State 14% 65%
% Out-of-State 61% 31%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Boston University is larger than than Clarkson based on total student enrollment (36,714 students vs. 3,719 students)

BU vs. Clarkson Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BU or Clarkson?

  • Boston University is 11.1% more expensive to attend than Clarkson for in-state tuition ($61,050.00 vs. $54,960.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 11.1% higher at BU than Clarkson University ($61,050.00 vs. $54,960.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Boston University than Clarkson ($27,829 vs. $32,450)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clarkson University are 3.9% lower than costs at Boston University ($16,744 vs. $17,400)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Clarkson University than Boston University (100% vs. 48%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston University students is 24.9% larger than aid received Clarkson University ($51,565 vs. $41,285)

BU vs. Clarkson Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Boston University (1303) is 105 points higher than at Clarkson (1198)
  • Incoming BU students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Clarkson (27)
  • 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 (78.4%) than BU (14.4%)

BU vs. Clarkson Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, BU 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 BU.

  • The graduation rate at BU is higher than Clarkson University (85% vs. 72%)
  • Graduates from Boston University earn on average $1,200 more per year than Clarkson graduates after ten years. ($72,000 vs. $70,800)
  • Clarkson University and BU graduates both have the same median student loan debt upon graduation ($27,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Clarkson University and BU graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($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/