Clarkson vs. Cornell

Deciding between Clarkson University and Cornell 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
Cornell University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Clarkson Potsdam, NY
  • Cornell Ithaca, NY
  • Setting
  • Clarkson Remote Town
  • Cornell Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Clarkson 3,348
  • Cornell 26,793
  • Type
  • Clarkson Private 4 Year
  • Cornell Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Clarkson #189
  • Cornell #19
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Clarkson -
  • Cornell -
  • Status
  • Clarkson Non-profit
  • Cornell Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Clarkson
  • Cornell

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Clarkson $59,398
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Clarkson $59,398
  • Cornell $69,314
  • Room & Board
  • Clarkson $18,252
  • Cornell $19,428
  • Average Net Price
  • Clarkson $32,406
  • Cornell $26,361
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Clarkson $46,528
  • Cornell $61,779
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Clarkson 100%
  • Cornell 48%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Clarkson 6,661
  • Cornell 62,993
  • Admitted
  • Clarkson 5,153
  • Cornell 5,516
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Clarkson 77.4%
  • Cornell 8.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Clarkson 9.5%
  • Cornell 63.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Clarkson 1300
  • Cornell 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • Clarkson 28
  • Cornell 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Clarkson 3.8
  • Cornell 3.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Clarkson A-
  • Cornell A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Clarkson Very High
  • Cornell Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Clarkson
  • Cornell Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Clarkson 25/32
  • Cornell 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • Clarkson 1200/1390
  • Cornell 1500/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Clarkson Test optional
  • Cornell Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Clarkson Jan 15, 2027
  • Cornell Jan 2, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Clarkson 13:1
  • Cornell 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Clarkson
    • Engineering (48%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Engineering Technology (9%)
    • Communication (3%)
  • Cornell
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Clarkson 72%
  • Cornell 93%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Clarkson $70,800
  • Cornell $98,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Clarkson 86%
  • Cornell 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Clarkson $27,000
  • Cornell $12,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Clarkson $279
  • Cornell $124

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Clarkson 66%
  • Cornell 47%
  • % Women
  • Clarkson 34%
  • Cornell 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Clarkson Very Low
  • Cornell Very High
  • HBCU
  • Clarkson No
  • Cornell No
  • % White
  • Clarkson 84%
  • Cornell 41%
  • % Asian
  • Clarkson 3%
  • Cornell 18%
  • % Black
  • Clarkson 2%
  • Cornell 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Clarkson 4%
  • Cornell 12%
  • % Native American
  • Clarkson 0%
  • Cornell 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Clarkson 0%
  • Cornell 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Clarkson 2%
  • Cornell 4%
  • % International
  • Clarkson 3%
  • Cornell 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Clarkson 2%
  • Cornell 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Clarkson 67%
  • Cornell 32%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Clarkson 25%
  • Cornell 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Cornell University is larger than Clarkson based on total student enrollment (26,793 students vs. 3,348 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Clarkson University is located in Potsdam, NY (Remote Town setting); Cornell University is in Ithaca, NY (Small City setting).
  • Clarkson University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Cornell University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Clarkson University 13:1; Cornell University 9:1.

Clarkson vs. Cornell Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Clarkson or Cornell? 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 Cornell University than Clarkson ($26,361 vs. $32,406).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clarkson University are 6.1% lower than at Cornell University ($18,252 vs. $19,428).
  • Cornell University is 16.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Clarkson (about $9,916 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $59,398.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 16.7% higher at Cornell than at Clarkson University (about $9,916 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $59,398.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Clarkson University than at Cornell University (100% vs. 48%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cornell University students is 32.8% larger than aid received by Clarkson University students ($61,779 vs. $46,528).

Clarkson vs. Cornell Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Cornell University (1540) is 240 points higher than at Clarkson (1300).
  • Incoming Cornell 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; Cornell University 1500/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Clarkson University 25/32; Cornell University 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Clarkson - Test optional; Cornell - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Clarkson Jan 15, 2027; Cornell Jan 2, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Cornell students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Clarkson (3.8).
  • Clarkson has a higher acceptance rate (77.4%) than Cornell (8.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.5% at Clarkson vs. 63.9% at Cornell.

Clarkson vs. Cornell Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Clarkson and Cornell? 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).

  • Cornell University's six-year graduation rate (93%) is higher than Clarkson University's (72%).
  • Graduates from Cornell University earn a median of about $27,600 more per year than Clarkson graduates about ten years after starting college ($98,400 vs. $70,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cornell University graduates have a $15,000 lower median loan debt than Clarkson graduates ($12,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Cornell graduates have an estimated $155 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Clarkson graduates ($124 vs. $279).
  • More Cornell graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Clarkson students, three years after graduation. (87% 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.