Should I go to Clarkson University or Franklin and Marshall College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Clarkson or F&M 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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Dickinson College RIT Gettysburg College St Lawrence University RPI Syracuse Lafayette College UB Binghamton University Union College Bucknell UVM| Clarkson University | Franklin and Marshall College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Clarkson | F&M | ||
| Location | Potsdam, NY | Lancaster, PA | ||
| Setting | Remote Town | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 3,603 | 1,911 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #183 | #61 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | clarkson.edu | fandm.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Clarkson | F&M | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $56,642 | $68,180 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $56,642 | $68,180 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,016 | $15,568 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $33,192 | $37,475 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $43,097 | $45,764 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 68% |
Admission |
Clarkson | F&M | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,347 | 9,231 | ||
| Admitted | 5,669 | 2,938 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 77.2% | 31.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 10.7% | 18.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.8 | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | |||
| ACT Range | 26/31 | 29/32 | ||
| SAT Range | 1198/1390 | 1298/1460 | ||
| 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 | F&M | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 9:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Clarkson | F&M | ||
| Graduation Rate | 72% | 85% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $70,800 | $61,900 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 86% | 88% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $22,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $227 |
Diversity |
Clarkson | F&M | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 17% | 0% | ||
| % Women | 13% | 0% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 84% | 59% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 6% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 2% | ||
| % International | 3% | 14% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 6% |
Students |
Clarkson | F&M | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 65% | 25% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 29% | 59% | ||
Campus |
Clarkson | F&M | ||
| 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 |
Which college is more expensive, Clarkson or F&M?
Which college is harder to get into, Clarkson or F&M? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between F&M or Clarkson .
Which is better, Clarkson or F&M? 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 F&M and Clarkson.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/