Clarkson vs. Penn State

Deciding between Clarkson University and Penn State Main Campus? 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
Penn State Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Clarkson Potsdam, NY
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Clarkson Remote Town
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Clarkson 3,348
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Clarkson Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Clarkson #189
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Clarkson -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • Clarkson Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Clarkson
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Clarkson $59,398
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Clarkson $59,398
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • Clarkson $18,252
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • Clarkson $32,406
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Clarkson $46,528
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Clarkson 100%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Clarkson 6,661
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Clarkson 5,153
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Clarkson 77.4%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Clarkson 9.5%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Clarkson 1300
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Clarkson 28
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Clarkson 3.8
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Clarkson A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Clarkson Very High
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Clarkson
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Clarkson 25/32
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Clarkson 1200/1390
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Clarkson Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Clarkson Jan 15, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Clarkson 13:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Clarkson
    • Engineering (48%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Engineering Technology (9%)
    • Communication (3%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Clarkson 72%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Clarkson $70,800
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Clarkson 86%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Clarkson $27,000
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Clarkson $279
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Clarkson 66%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • Clarkson 34%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Clarkson Very Low
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Clarkson No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • Clarkson 84%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • Clarkson 3%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • Clarkson 2%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Clarkson 4%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • Clarkson 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Clarkson 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Clarkson 2%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • Clarkson 3%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Clarkson 2%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Clarkson 67%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Clarkson 25%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Clarkson University in Potsdam, NY with Penn State Main Campus in University Park, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Main Campus is larger than Clarkson based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 3,348 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Clarkson University is located in Potsdam, NY (Remote Town setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • Clarkson University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Clarkson University 13:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Clarkson vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Clarkson or Penn State? 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 Penn State Main Campus than Clarkson ($27,889 vs. $32,406).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 20.7% lower than at Clarkson University ($14,474 vs. $18,252).
  • Clarkson University is 187.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State (about $38,754 more per year; $59,398.00 vs. $20,644.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 42.1% higher at Clarkson than at Penn State Main Campus (about $17,608 more per year; $59,398.00 vs. $41,790.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Clarkson University than at Penn State Main Campus (100% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Clarkson University students is 310.4% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($46,528 vs. $11,336).

Clarkson vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 30 points higher than at Clarkson (1300).
  • Incoming Penn State students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 28 at Clarkson).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Clarkson University 1200/1390; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Clarkson University 25/32; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Clarkson - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Clarkson Jan 15, 2027.
  • Clarkson has a higher acceptance rate (77.4%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.5% at Clarkson vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Clarkson vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Clarkson and Penn State? 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).

  • Penn State Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Clarkson University's (72%).
  • Graduates from Clarkson University earn a median of about $15,500 more per year than Penn State graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,800 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Main Campus graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Clarkson graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Penn State graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Clarkson graduates ($277 vs. $279).
  • More Clarkson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 69%)

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.