Clarkson vs. MSOE

Deciding between Clarkson University and Milwaukee School of Engineering? 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
Milwaukee School of Engineering

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Clarkson Potsdam, NY
  • MSOE Milwaukee, WI
  • Setting
  • Clarkson Remote Town
  • MSOE Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Clarkson 3,348
  • MSOE 2,953
  • Type
  • Clarkson Private 4 Year
  • MSOE Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Clarkson #189
  • MSOE #230
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Clarkson -
  • MSOE -
  • Status
  • Clarkson Non-profit
  • MSOE Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Clarkson
  • MSOE

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Clarkson $59,398
  • MSOE $50,480
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Clarkson $59,398
  • MSOE $50,480
  • Room & Board
  • Clarkson $18,252
  • MSOE $13,984
  • Average Net Price
  • Clarkson $32,406
  • MSOE $25,669
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Clarkson $46,528
  • MSOE $36,997
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Clarkson 100%
  • MSOE 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Clarkson 6,661
  • MSOE 6,287
  • Admitted
  • Clarkson 5,153
  • MSOE 3,705
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Clarkson 77.4%
  • MSOE 58.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Clarkson 9.5%
  • MSOE 17.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Clarkson 1300
  • MSOE 1280
  • Typical ACT score
  • Clarkson 28
  • MSOE 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Clarkson 3.8
  • MSOE 3.65
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Clarkson A-
  • MSOE A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Clarkson Very High
  • MSOE Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Clarkson
  • MSOE Low
  • ACT Range
  • Clarkson 25/32
  • MSOE 24/30
  • SAT Range
  • Clarkson 1200/1390
  • MSOE 1160/1405
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Clarkson Test optional
  • MSOE Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Clarkson Jan 15, 2027
  • MSOE Sep 1, 2026

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Clarkson 13:1
  • MSOE 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Clarkson
    • Engineering (48%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Engineering Technology (9%)
    • Communication (3%)
  • MSOE
    • Engineering (66%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Engineering Technology (7%)
    • Communication (1%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Clarkson 72%
  • MSOE 57%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Clarkson $70,800
  • MSOE $68,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Clarkson 86%
  • MSOE 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Clarkson $27,000
  • MSOE $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Clarkson $279
  • MSOE $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Clarkson 66%
  • MSOE 70%
  • % Women
  • Clarkson 34%
  • MSOE 30%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Clarkson Very Low
  • MSOE Medium
  • HBCU
  • Clarkson No
  • MSOE No
  • % White
  • Clarkson 84%
  • MSOE 66%
  • % Asian
  • Clarkson 3%
  • MSOE 3%
  • % Black
  • Clarkson 2%
  • MSOE 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Clarkson 4%
  • MSOE 5%
  • % Native American
  • Clarkson 0%
  • MSOE 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Clarkson 0%
  • MSOE 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Clarkson 2%
  • MSOE 2%
  • % International
  • Clarkson 3%
  • MSOE 13%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Clarkson 2%
  • MSOE 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Clarkson 67%
  • MSOE 51%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Clarkson 25%
  • MSOE 44%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Clarkson University in Potsdam, NY with Milwaukee School of Engineering in Milwaukee, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Clarkson University is larger than MSOE based on total student enrollment (3,348 students vs. 2,953 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Clarkson University is located in Potsdam, NY (Remote Town setting); Milwaukee School of Engineering is in Milwaukee, WI (Large City setting).
  • Clarkson University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Milwaukee School of Engineering is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Clarkson University 13:1; Milwaukee School of Engineering 12:1.

Clarkson vs. MSOE Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Clarkson or MSOE? 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 Milwaukee School of Engineering than Clarkson ($25,669 vs. $32,406).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Milwaukee School of Engineering are 23.4% lower than at Clarkson University ($13,984 vs. $18,252).
  • Clarkson University is 17.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than MSOE (about $8,918 more per year; $59,398.00 vs. $50,480.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 17.7% higher at Clarkson than at Milwaukee School of Engineering (about $8,918 more per year; $59,398.00 vs. $50,480.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Clarkson University as at Milwaukee School of Engineering (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Clarkson University students is 25.8% larger than aid received by Milwaukee School of Engineering students ($46,528 vs. $36,997).

Clarkson vs. MSOE Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Clarkson University (1300) is 20 points higher than at MSOE (1280).
  • Incoming Clarkson students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 27 at MSOE).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Clarkson University 1200/1390; Milwaukee School of Engineering 1160/1405.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Clarkson University 25/32; Milwaukee School of Engineering 24/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Clarkson - Test optional; MSOE - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Clarkson Jan 15, 2027; MSOE Sep 1, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman Clarkson students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at MSOE (3.65).
  • Clarkson has a higher acceptance rate (77.4%) than MSOE (58.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.5% at Clarkson vs. 17.2% at MSOE.

Clarkson vs. MSOE Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Clarkson and MSOE? 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 Milwaukee School of Engineering's (57%).
  • Graduates from Clarkson University earn a median of about $1,900 more per year than MSOE graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,800 vs. $68,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Milwaukee School of Engineering and Clarkson graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Milwaukee School of Engineering and Clarkson graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
  • More Clarkson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MSOE students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 83%)

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.