Clark University vs. Penn State

Deciding between Clark University and Penn State Main Campus? 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.

Clark University
Penn State Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Clark University Worcester, MA
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Clark University Midsize City
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Clark University 3,925
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Clark University Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Clark University #148
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Clark University -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • Clark University Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Clark University
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Clark University $58,867
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Clark University $58,867
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • Clark University $12,500
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • Clark University $33,865
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Clark University $34,667
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Clark University 99%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Clark University 11,452
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Clark University 4,528
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Clark University 39.5%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Clark University 10.7%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Clark University 1370
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Clark University 31
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Clark University 3.69
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Clark University A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Clark University Very High
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Clark University Low
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Clark University 30/33
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Clark University 1288/1460
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Clark University Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Clark University Jan 15, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Clark University 8:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Clark University
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Psychology (17%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Clark University 80%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Clark University $50,100
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Clark University 82%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Clark University $27,000
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Clark University $279
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Clark University 48%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • Clark University 52%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Clark University High
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Clark University No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • Clark University 57%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • Clark University 7%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • Clark University 4%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Clark University 7%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • Clark University 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Clark University 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Clark University 2%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • Clark University 15%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Clark University 8%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Clark University 33%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Clark University 59%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Clark University Yes
  • Penn State Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Clark University No
  • Penn State Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • Clark University Yes
  • Penn State Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Clark University No
  • Penn State Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Clark University No
  • Penn State Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Clark University in Worcester, MA with Penn State Main Campus in University Park, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Main Campus is larger than Clark University based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 3,925 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Clark University is located in Worcester, MA (Midsize City setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • Clark University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Clark University 8:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Clark University vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Clark University or Penn State? 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 Penn State Main Campus than Clark University ($27,889 vs. $33,865).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clark University are 13.6% lower than at Penn State Main Campus ($12,500 vs. $14,474).
  • Clark University is 185.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State (about $38,223 more per year; $58,867.00 vs. $20,644.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 40.9% higher at Clark University than at Penn State Main Campus (about $17,077 more per year; $58,867.00 vs. $41,790.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Clark University than at Penn State Main Campus (99% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Clark University students is 205.8% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($34,667 vs. $11,336).

Clark University vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Clark University or Penn State? 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 Penn State and Clark University.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Clark University (1370) is 40 points higher than at Penn State (1330).
  • Incoming Clark University students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 29 at Penn State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Clark University 1288/1460; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Clark University 30/33; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Clark University - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Clark University Jan 15, 2027.
  • Penn State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than Clark University (39.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.7% at Clark University vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Clark University vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Clark University and Penn State? 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).

  • Penn State Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Clark University's (80%).
  • Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn a median of about $5,200 more per year than Clark University graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $50,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Main Campus graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Clark University graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Penn State graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Clark University graduates ($277 vs. $279).
  • More Clark University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 69%)

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.