Clarkson vs. Colgate

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

Clarkson Colgate
Location Potsdam, NY Hamilton, NY
Setting Remote Town Distant Town
Enrollment 3,603 3,146
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #183 #27
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website clarkson.edu colgate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Clarkson Colgate
Tuition (In State) $56,642 $66,622
Tuition (Out of State) $56,642 $66,622
Room & Board $17,016 $16,790
Avg Net Price $33,192 $26,954
Avg Grant Aid $43,097 $56,696
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 43%

Admission

Clarkson Colgate
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,347 21,130
Admitted 5,669 2,526
Acceptance Rate 77.2% 12%
Enrolled % 10.7% 31.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.8 3.77
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Exceptional
Applicant Competition Very High
ACT Range 26/31 33/34
SAT Range 1198/1390 1430/1530
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

Clarkson Colgate
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (48%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Engineering Technology (9%)
  • Communication (3%)
  • Social Sciences (33%)
  • English and Literature (11%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies (7%)

Outcomes

Clarkson Colgate
Graduation Rate 72% 92%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $70,800 $75,300
Making Student Loan Payments 86% 86%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $16,125
Median Loan Payment $279 $166

Diversity

Clarkson Colgate
% Men 17% 0%
% Women 13% 0%
Racial Diversity Very Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 84% 67%
% Black 2% 4%
% Hispanic 4% 9%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 3% 9%
% Unknown Race 2% 4%

Students

Clarkson Colgate
% In-State 65% 22%
% Out-of-State 29% 69%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Clarkson University is larger than than Colgate based on total student enrollment (3,603 students vs. 3,146 students)

Clarkson vs. Colgate Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Clarkson or Colgate?

  • Colgate University is 17.6% more expensive to attend than Clarkson for in-state tuition ($66,622.00 vs. $56,642.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 17.6% higher at Colgate than Clarkson University ($66,622.00 vs. $56,642.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Colgate University than Clarkson ($26,954 vs. $33,192)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colgate University are 1.3% lower than costs at Clarkson University ($16,790 vs. $17,016)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Clarkson University than Colgate University (100% vs. 43%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colgate University students is 31.6% larger than aid received Clarkson University ($56,696 vs. $43,097)

Clarkson vs. Colgate Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Colgate University (1374) is 176 points higher than at Clarkson (1198)
  • Incoming Colgate students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (32) than students at Clarkson (27)
  • Accepted freshman Clarkson students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at Colgate (3.77)
  • Clarkson has a higher acceptance rate (77.2%) than Colgate (12%)

Clarkson vs. Colgate Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Clarkson or Colgate? 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 Colgate and Clarkson.

  • The graduation rate at Colgate is higher than Clarkson University (92% vs. 72%)
  • Graduates from Colgate University earn on average $4,500 more per year than Clarkson graduates after ten years. ($75,300 vs. $70,800)
  • Colgate University students graduate with a $10,875 lower median federal student loan debt than Clarkson graduates. ($16,125 vs. $27,000)
  • Colgate graduates are paying $113 less per month on federal student loans than Clarkson graduates. ($166 vs. $279)
  • More Colgate graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Clarkson students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 86%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/