Clarkson vs. Brown

Deciding between Clarkson University and Brown 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.

Clarkson University
Brown University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Clarkson Potsdam, NY
  • Brown Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Clarkson Remote Town
  • Brown Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Clarkson 3,348
  • Brown 11,956
  • Type
  • Clarkson Private 4 Year
  • Brown Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Clarkson #189
  • Brown #11
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Clarkson -
  • Brown -
  • Status
  • Clarkson Non-profit
  • Brown Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Clarkson
  • Brown

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Clarkson $59,398
  • Brown $71,412
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Clarkson $59,398
  • Brown $71,412
  • Room & Board
  • Clarkson $18,252
  • Brown $17,444
  • Average Net Price
  • Clarkson $32,406
  • Brown $26,256
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Clarkson $46,528
  • Brown $61,392
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Clarkson 100%
  • Brown 52%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Clarkson 6,661
  • Brown 48,904
  • Admitted
  • Clarkson 5,153
  • Brown 2,638
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Clarkson 77.4%
  • Brown 5.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Clarkson 9.5%
  • Brown 65.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Clarkson 1300
  • Brown 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Clarkson 28
  • Brown 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Clarkson 3.8
  • Brown 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Clarkson A-
  • Brown A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Clarkson Very High
  • Brown Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Clarkson
  • Brown Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Clarkson 25/32
  • Brown 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Clarkson 1200/1390
  • Brown 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Clarkson Test optional
  • Brown Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Clarkson Jan 15, 2027
  • Brown Jan 5, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Clarkson 13:1
  • Brown 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Clarkson
    • Engineering (48%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Engineering Technology (9%)
    • Communication (3%)
  • Brown
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Clarkson 72%
  • Brown 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Clarkson $70,800
  • Brown $87,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Clarkson 86%
  • Brown 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Clarkson $27,000
  • Brown $15,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Clarkson $279
  • Brown $155

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Clarkson 66%
  • Brown 48%
  • % Women
  • Clarkson 34%
  • Brown 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Clarkson Very Low
  • Brown Very High
  • HBCU
  • Clarkson No
  • Brown No
  • % White
  • Clarkson 84%
  • Brown 43%
  • % Asian
  • Clarkson 3%
  • Brown 13%
  • % Black
  • Clarkson 2%
  • Brown 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Clarkson 4%
  • Brown 11%
  • % Native American
  • Clarkson 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Clarkson 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Clarkson 2%
  • Brown 6%
  • % International
  • Clarkson 3%
  • Brown 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Clarkson 2%
  • Brown 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Clarkson 67%
  • Brown 3%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Clarkson 25%
  • Brown 79%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Brown University is larger than Clarkson based on total student enrollment (11,956 students vs. 3,348 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Clarkson University is located in Potsdam, NY (Remote Town setting); Brown University is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Clarkson University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Brown University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Clarkson University 13:1; Brown University 6:1.

Clarkson vs. Brown Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Clarkson or Brown? 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 Brown University than Clarkson ($26,256 vs. $32,406).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Brown University are 4.4% lower than at Clarkson University ($17,444 vs. $18,252).
  • Brown University is 20.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Clarkson (about $12,014 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $59,398.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 20.2% higher at Brown than at Clarkson University (about $12,014 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $59,398.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Clarkson University than at Brown University (100% vs. 52%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Brown University students is 31.9% larger than aid received by Clarkson University students ($61,392 vs. $46,528).

Clarkson vs. Brown Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Clarkson or Brown? 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 Brown and Clarkson.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Brown University (1550) is 250 points higher than at Clarkson (1300).
  • Incoming Brown 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: Clarkson University 1200/1390; Brown University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Clarkson University 25/32; Brown University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Clarkson - Test optional; Brown - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Clarkson Jan 15, 2027; Brown Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Brown students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Clarkson (3.8).
  • Clarkson has a higher acceptance rate (77.4%) than Brown (5.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.5% at Clarkson vs. 65.2% at Brown.

Clarkson vs. Brown Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Clarkson and Brown? 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).

  • Brown University's six-year graduation rate (95%) is higher than Clarkson University's (72%).
  • Graduates from Brown University earn a median of about $16,800 more per year than Clarkson graduates about ten years after starting college ($87,600 vs. $70,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Brown University graduates have a $12,000 lower median loan debt than Clarkson graduates ($15,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Brown graduates have an estimated $124 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Clarkson graduates ($155 vs. $279).
  • More Brown graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Clarkson students, three years after graduation. (89% 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.