Clarkson vs. F&M

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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Clarkson University vs. Franklin and Marshall College comparison
Clarkson University Franklin and Marshall College College 3 College 4
Clarkson University Franklin and Marshall College
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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
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
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (48%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Engineering Technology (9%)
  • Communication (3%)
  • Social Sciences (29%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • General Studies (7%)
  • Psychology (7%)

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

Comparable Facts

  • Clarkson University is larger than than F&M based on total student enrollment (3,603 students vs. 1,911 students)

Clarkson vs. F&M Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Clarkson or F&M?

  • Franklin and Marshall College is 20.4% more expensive to attend than Clarkson for in-state tuition ($68,180.00 vs. $56,642.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 20.4% higher at F&M than Clarkson University ($68,180.00 vs. $56,642.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Clarkson University than F&M ($33,192 vs. $37,475)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Franklin and Marshall College are 9.3% lower than costs at Clarkson University ($15,568 vs. $17,016)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Clarkson University than Franklin and Marshall College (100% vs. 68%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Franklin and Marshall College students is 6.2% larger than aid received Clarkson University ($45,764 vs. $43,097)

Clarkson vs. F&M Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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 .

  • Clarkson has a higher acceptance rate (77.2%) than F&M (31.8%)

Clarkson vs. F&M Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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.

  • The graduation rate at F&M is higher than Clarkson University (85% vs. 72%)
  • Graduates from Clarkson University earn on average $8,900 more per year than F&M graduates after ten years. ($70,800 vs. $61,900)
  • Franklin and Marshall College students graduate with a $5,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Clarkson graduates. ($22,000 vs. $27,000)
  • F&M graduates are paying $52 less per month on federal student loans than Clarkson graduates. ($227 vs. $279)
  • More F&M graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Clarkson students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 86%)

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