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RIT Penn State Erie-Behrend College St Lawrence University RPI Syracuse Penn State Altoona JMU UB Binghamton University Penn State Penn State York Union College| Clarkson University | Penn State Harrisburg | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Clarkson | Penn State Harrisburg | ||
| Location | Potsdam, NY | Middletown, PA | ||
| Setting | Remote Town | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 3,603 | 4,651 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #183 | #595 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | clarkson.edu | psu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Clarkson | Penn State Harrisburg | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $56,642 | $15,388 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $56,642 | $26,112 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,016 | $15,870 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $33,192 | $22,406 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $43,097 | $8,421 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 54% |
Admission |
Clarkson | Penn State Harrisburg | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,347 | 10,296 | ||
| Admitted | 5,669 | 9,924 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 77.2% | 96.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 10.7% | 12.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.8 | 3.48 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 26/31 | 26/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 1198/1390 | 1110/1320 | ||
| 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 |
Academics |
Clarkson | Penn State Harrisburg | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Clarkson | Penn State Harrisburg | ||
| Graduation Rate | 72% | 63% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $70,800 | $55,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 86% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $26,818 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $277 |
Diversity |
Clarkson | Penn State Harrisburg | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 17% | 5% | ||
| % Women | 13% | 6% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 84% | 59% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 11% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 3% | 10% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 2% |
Students |
Clarkson | Penn State Harrisburg | ||
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| % In-State | 65% | 46% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 29% | 27% | ||
Campus |
Clarkson | Penn State Harrisburg | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Penn State Harrisburg is larger than than Clarkson based on total student enrollment (4,651 students vs. 3,603 students)
Clarkson vs. Penn State Harrisburg Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Clarkson or Penn State Harrisburg?
- Clarkson University is 268.1% more expensive to attend than Penn State Harrisburg for in-state tuition ($56,642.00 vs. $15,388.00)
- Out of state tuition is 116.9% higher at Clarkson than Penn State Harrisburg ($56,642.00 vs. $26,112.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Harrisburg than Clarkson ($22,406 vs. $33,192)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Harrisburg are 7.2% lower than costs at Clarkson University ($15,870 vs. $17,016)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Clarkson University than Penn State Harrisburg (100% vs. 54%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Clarkson University students is 411.8% larger than aid received Penn State Harrisburg ($43,097 vs. $8,421)
Clarkson vs. Penn State Harrisburg Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Clarkson or Penn State Harrisburg? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Penn State Harrisburg or Clarkson .
- The average SAT score at Clarkson University (1198) is 155 points higher than at Penn State Harrisburg (1043)
- Incoming Clarkson students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Penn State Harrisburg (23)
- Accepted freshman Clarkson students have a 0.32 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at Penn State Harrisburg (3.48)
- Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (96.4%) than Clarkson (77.2%)
Clarkson vs. Penn State Harrisburg Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Clarkson or Penn State Harrisburg? 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 Penn State Harrisburg and Clarkson.
- The graduation rate at Clarkson is higher than Penn State Harrisburg (72% vs. 63%)
- Graduates from Clarkson University earn on average $15,500 more per year than Penn State Harrisburg graduates after ten years. ($70,800 vs. $55,300)
- Penn State Harrisburg students graduate with a $182 lower median federal student loan debt than Clarkson graduates. ($26,818 vs. $27,000)
- Penn State Harrisburg graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than Clarkson graduates. ($277 vs. $279)
- More Clarkson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Harrisburg 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/