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Seattle U RIT St Lawrence University UW-Seattle RPI Syracuse PLU UB Binghamton University George Fox University Union College UVM| Clarkson University | Seattle Pacific University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Clarkson | SPU | ||
| Location | Potsdam, NY | Seattle, WA | ||
| Setting | Remote Town | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 3,719 | 3,118 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #220 | #270 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Free Methodist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | clarkson.edu | spu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Clarkson | SPU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $54,960 | $36,504 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $54,960 | $36,504 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,744 | $14,409 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $32,450 | $26,549 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $41,285 | $25,359 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 99% |
Admission |
Clarkson | SPU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,594 | 3,895 | ||
| Admitted | 5,171 | 3,533 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 78.4% | 90.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 11.5% | 15.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.8 | 3.53 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 25/30 | 20/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 1190/1370 | 1080/1350 | ||
| 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, 2025 | Jul 11, 2025 |
Academics |
Clarkson | SPU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 14:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Clarkson | SPU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 72% | 74% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $70,800 | $50,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 86% | 82% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $25,603 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $264 |
Diversity |
Clarkson | SPU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 64% | 31% | ||
| % Women | 36% | 69% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 84% | 61% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 10% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 8% | ||
| % International | 3% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 1% |
Students |
Clarkson | SPU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 65% | 71% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 31% | 26% | ||
Campus |
Clarkson | SPU | ||
| 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 SPU based on total student enrollment (3,719 students vs. 3,118 students)
Clarkson vs. SPU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Clarkson or SPU?
- Clarkson University is 50.6% more expensive to attend than SPU for in-state tuition ($54,960.00 vs. $36,504.00)
- Out of state tuition is 50.6% higher at Clarkson than Seattle Pacific University ($54,960.00 vs. $36,504.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Seattle Pacific University than Clarkson ($26,549 vs. $32,450)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Seattle Pacific University are 16.2% lower than costs at Clarkson University ($14,409 vs. $16,744)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Clarkson University than Seattle Pacific University (100% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Clarkson University students is 62.8% larger than aid received Seattle Pacific University ($41,285 vs. $25,359)
Clarkson vs. SPU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Clarkson or SPU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SPU or Clarkson .
- The average SAT score at Clarkson University (1198) is 53 points higher than at SPU (1145)
- Incoming Clarkson students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at SPU (26)
- Accepted freshman Clarkson students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at SPU (3.53)
- SPU has a higher acceptance rate (90.7%) than Clarkson (78.4%)
Clarkson vs. SPU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Clarkson or SPU? 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 SPU and Clarkson.
- The graduation rate at SPU is higher than Clarkson University (74% vs. 72%)
- Graduates from Clarkson University earn on average $20,400 more per year than SPU graduates after ten years. ($70,800 vs. $50,400)
- Seattle Pacific University students graduate with a $1,397 lower median federal student loan debt than Clarkson graduates. ($25,603 vs. $27,000)
- SPU graduates are paying $15 less per month on federal student loans than Clarkson graduates. ($264 vs. $279)
- More Clarkson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SPU students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 82%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/