Clark University vs. Clarkson

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

Clark University Clarkson
Location Worcester, MA Potsdam, NY
Setting Midsize City Remote Town
Enrollment 4,124 3,603
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #153 #183
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website clarku.edu clarkson.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Clark University Clarkson
Tuition (In State) $54,760 $56,642
Tuition (Out of State) $54,760 $56,642
Room & Board $11,690 $17,016
Avg Net Price $32,767 $33,192
Avg Grant Aid $31,916 $43,097
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 100%

Admission

Clark University Clarkson
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 10,730 7,347
Admitted 4,471 5,669
Acceptance Rate 41.7% 77.2%
Enrolled % 14.1% 10.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.69 3.8
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Very High Very High
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 30/33 26/31
SAT Range 1240/1400 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 15, 2026 Jan 15, 2026

Academics

Clark University Clarkson
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (27%)
  • Psychology (17%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Engineering (48%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Engineering Technology (9%)
  • Communication (3%)

Outcomes

Clark University Clarkson
Graduation Rate 80% 72%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $50,100 $70,800
Making Student Loan Payments 82% 86%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $279

Diversity

Clark University Clarkson
% Men 23% 17%
% Women 20% 13%
Racial Diversity High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 57% 84%
% Black 4% 2%
% Hispanic 7% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 15% 3%
% Unknown Race 8% 2%

Students

Clark University Clarkson
% In-State 36% 65%
% Out-of-State 60% 29%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Clark University is larger than than Clarkson based on total student enrollment (4,124 students vs. 3,603 students)

Clark University vs. Clarkson Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Clark University or Clarkson?

  • Clarkson University is 3.4% more expensive to attend than Clark University for in-state tuition ($56,642.00 vs. $54,760.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 3.4% higher at Clarkson than Clark University ($56,642.00 vs. $54,760.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Clark University than Clarkson ($32,767 vs. $33,192)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clark University are 45.6% lower than costs at Clarkson University ($11,690 vs. $17,016)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Clarkson University than Clark University (100% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Clarkson University students is 35% larger than aid received Clark University ($43,097 vs. $31,916)

Clark University vs. Clarkson Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Clarkson students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at Clark University (3.69)
  • Clarkson has a higher acceptance rate (77.2%) than Clark University (41.7%)

Clark University vs. Clarkson Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Clark University 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 Clark University.

  • The graduation rate at Clark University is higher than Clarkson University (80% vs. 72%)
  • Graduates from Clarkson University earn on average $20,700 more per year than Clark University graduates after ten years. ($70,800 vs. $50,100)
  • Clarkson University and Clark University graduates both have the same median student loan debt upon graduation ($27,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Clarkson University and Clark University 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 Clark University 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/