Clarkson vs. Hunter

Deciding between Clarkson University and CUNY Hunter College? 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
CUNY Hunter College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Clarkson Potsdam, NY
  • Hunter New York, NY
  • Setting
  • Clarkson Remote Town
  • Hunter Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Clarkson 3,348
  • Hunter 22,538
  • Type
  • Clarkson Private 4 Year
  • Hunter Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Clarkson #189
  • Hunter #297
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Clarkson -
  • Hunter -
  • Status
  • Clarkson Non-profit
  • Hunter Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Clarkson
  • Hunter
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Clarkson $59,398
  • Hunter $7,382
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Clarkson $59,398
  • Hunter $15,332
  • Room & Board
  • Clarkson $18,252
  • Hunter $11,832
  • Average Net Price
  • Clarkson $32,406
  • Hunter $4,431
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Clarkson $46,528
  • Hunter $9,755
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Clarkson 100%
  • Hunter 87%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Clarkson 6,661
  • Hunter 32,271
  • Admitted
  • Clarkson 5,153
  • Hunter 17,362
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Clarkson 77.4%
  • Hunter 53.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Clarkson 9.5%
  • Hunter 16.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Clarkson 1300
  • Hunter 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Clarkson 28
  • Hunter
  • Average High School GPA
  • Clarkson 3.8
  • Hunter 3.7
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Clarkson A-
  • Hunter A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Clarkson Very High
  • Hunter Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Clarkson
  • Hunter Low
  • ACT Range
  • Clarkson 25/32
  • Hunter
  • SAT Range
  • Clarkson 1200/1390
  • Hunter 1100/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Clarkson Test optional
  • Hunter Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Clarkson Jan 15, 2027
  • Hunter
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Clarkson 13:1
  • Hunter 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Clarkson
    • Engineering (48%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Engineering Technology (9%)
    • Communication (3%)
  • Hunter
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Psychology (16%)
    • English and Literature (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Clarkson 72%
  • Hunter 46%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Clarkson $70,800
  • Hunter $48,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Clarkson 86%
  • Hunter 56%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Clarkson $27,000
  • Hunter $11,548
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Clarkson $279
  • Hunter $119
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Clarkson 66%
  • Hunter 33%
  • % Women
  • Clarkson 34%
  • Hunter 67%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Clarkson Very Low
  • Hunter Very High
  • HBCU
  • Clarkson No
  • Hunter No
  • % White
  • Clarkson 84%
  • Hunter 27%
  • % Asian
  • Clarkson 3%
  • Hunter 26%
  • % Black
  • Clarkson 2%
  • Hunter 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • Clarkson 4%
  • Hunter 29%
  • % Native American
  • Clarkson 0%
  • Hunter 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Clarkson 0%
  • Hunter 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Clarkson 2%
  • Hunter 2%
  • % International
  • Clarkson 3%
  • Hunter 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Clarkson 2%
  • Hunter 0%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Clarkson 67%
  • Hunter 82%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Clarkson 25%
  • Hunter 0%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Clarkson University in Potsdam, NY with CUNY Hunter College in New York, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

CUNY Hunter College is larger than Clarkson based on total student enrollment (22,538 students vs. 3,348 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Clarkson University is located in Potsdam, NY (Remote Town setting); CUNY Hunter College is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
  • Clarkson University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. CUNY Hunter College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Clarkson University 13:1; CUNY Hunter College 14:1.

Clarkson vs. Hunter Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Clarkson or Hunter? 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 CUNY Hunter College than Clarkson ($4,431 vs. $32,406).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at CUNY Hunter College are 35.2% lower than at Clarkson University ($11,832 vs. $18,252).
  • Clarkson University is 704.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Hunter (about $52,016 more per year; $59,398.00 vs. $7,382.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 287.4% higher at Clarkson than at CUNY Hunter College (about $44,066 more per year; $59,398.00 vs. $15,332.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Clarkson University than at CUNY Hunter College (100% vs. 87%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Clarkson University students is 377% larger than aid received by CUNY Hunter College students ($46,528 vs. $9,755).

Clarkson vs. Hunter Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Clarkson University (1300) is 40 points higher than at Hunter (1260).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Clarkson University 1200/1390; CUNY Hunter College 1100/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Clarkson University 25/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Clarkson - Test optional; Hunter - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Clarkson Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Clarkson students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at Hunter (3.7).
  • Clarkson has a higher acceptance rate (77.4%) than Hunter (53.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.5% at Clarkson vs. 16.7% at Hunter.

Clarkson vs. Hunter Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Clarkson and Hunter? 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).

  • Clarkson University's six-year graduation rate (72%) is higher than CUNY Hunter College's (46%).
  • Graduates from Clarkson University earn a median of about $22,000 more per year than Hunter graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,800 vs. $48,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY Hunter College graduates have a $15,452 lower median loan debt than Clarkson graduates ($11,548 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Hunter graduates have an estimated $160 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Clarkson graduates ($119 vs. $279).
  • More Clarkson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hunter students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 56%)

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.