Clarkson vs. Elon

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

Clarkson Elon
Location Potsdam, NY Elon, NC
Setting Remote Town Small Suburban
Enrollment 3,719 7,123
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #220 #116
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website clarkson.edu elon.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Clarkson Elon
Tuition (In State) $54,960 $41,734
Tuition (Out of State) $54,960 $41,734
Room & Board $16,744 $13,886
Avg Net Price $32,450 $41,527
Avg Grant Aid $41,285 $13,880
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 68%

Admission

Clarkson Elon
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,594 17,551
Admitted 5,171 13,069
Acceptance Rate 78.4% 74.5%
Enrolled % 11.5% 12.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.8 3.65
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 25/30 25/30
SAT Range 1190/1370 1170/1360
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, 2025 Jan 10, 2025

Academics

Clarkson Elon
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (48%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Engineering Technology (9%)
  • Communication (3%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Communication (19%)
  • Social Sciences (15%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)

Outcomes

Clarkson Elon
Graduation Rate 72% 82%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $70,800 $56,200
Making Student Loan Payments 86% 86%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $23,250
Median Loan Payment $279 $240

Diversity

Clarkson Elon
% Men 64% 40%
% Women 36% 60%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 84% 82%
% Black 2% 6%
% Hispanic 4% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 3% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

Clarkson Elon
% In-State 65% 18%
% Out-of-State 31% 80%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Elon University is larger than than Clarkson based on total student enrollment (7,123 students vs. 3,719 students)

Clarkson vs. Elon Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Clarkson or Elon?

  • Clarkson University is 31.7% more expensive to attend than Elon for in-state tuition ($54,960.00 vs. $41,734.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 31.7% higher at Clarkson than Elon University ($54,960.00 vs. $41,734.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Clarkson University than Elon ($32,450 vs. $41,527)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Elon University are 20.6% lower than costs at Clarkson University ($13,886 vs. $16,744)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Clarkson University than Elon University (100% vs. 68%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Clarkson University students is 197.4% larger than aid received Elon University ($41,285 vs. $13,880)

Clarkson vs. Elon Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Elon University (1211) is 13 points higher than at Clarkson (1198)
  • Incoming Clarkson students have at the same average ACT score (27) as students at Elon (27)
  • Accepted freshman Clarkson students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at Elon (3.65)
  • Clarkson has a higher acceptance rate (78.4%) than Elon (74.5%)

Clarkson vs. Elon Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Elon is higher than Clarkson University (82% vs. 72%)
  • Graduates from Clarkson University earn on average $14,600 more per year than Elon graduates after ten years. ($70,800 vs. $56,200)
  • Elon University students graduate with a $3,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Clarkson graduates. ($23,250 vs. $27,000)
  • Elon graduates are paying $39 less per month on federal student loans than Clarkson graduates. ($240 vs. $279)
  • More Elon 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/