Clarkson vs. Union College

Should I go to Clarkson University or Union College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Clarkson or Union College 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. Union College comparison
Clarkson University Union College College 3 College 4
Clarkson University Union College
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Overview

Clarkson Union College
Location Potsdam, NY Schenectady, NY
Setting Remote Town Small City
Enrollment 3,603 2,082
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #183 #87
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website clarkson.edu union.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Clarkson Union College
Tuition (In State) $56,642 $66,105
Tuition (Out of State) $56,642 $66,105
Room & Board $17,016 $16,389
Avg Net Price $33,192 $42,884
Avg Grant Aid $43,097 $38,751
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 94%

Admission

Clarkson Union College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,347 9,295
Admitted 5,669 4,070
Acceptance Rate 77.2% 43.8%
Enrolled % 10.7% 13.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.8 3.5
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 26/31 30/33
SAT Range 1198/1390 1310/1480
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 Union College
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (48%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Engineering Technology (9%)
  • Communication (3%)
  • Social Sciences (25%)
  • Biology (14%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Physical Sciences (8%)

Outcomes

Clarkson Union College
Graduation Rate 72% 86%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $70,800 $74,200
Making Student Loan Payments 86% 86%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $279

Diversity

Clarkson Union College
% Men 17% 0%
% Women 13% 1%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 84% 73%
% Black 2% 4%
% Hispanic 4% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 3% 7%
% Unknown Race 2% 0%

Students

Clarkson Union College
% In-State 65% 28%
% Out-of-State 29% 63%

Campus

Clarkson Union College
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 Union College based on total student enrollment (3,603 students vs. 2,082 students)

Clarkson vs. Union College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Clarkson or Union College?

  • Union College is 16.7% more expensive to attend than Clarkson for in-state tuition ($66,105.00 vs. $56,642.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 16.7% higher at Union College than Clarkson University ($66,105.00 vs. $56,642.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Clarkson University than Union College ($33,192 vs. $42,884)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Union College are 3.8% lower than costs at Clarkson University ($16,389 vs. $17,016)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Clarkson University than Union College (100% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Clarkson University students is 11.2% larger than aid received Union College ($43,097 vs. $38,751)

Clarkson vs. Union College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Clarkson or Union College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Union College or Clarkson .

  • Accepted freshman Clarkson students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at Union College (3.5)
  • Clarkson has a higher acceptance rate (77.2%) than Union College (43.8%)

Clarkson vs. Union College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Clarkson or Union College? 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 Union College and Clarkson.

  • The graduation rate at Union College is higher than Clarkson University (86% vs. 72%)
  • Graduates from Union College earn on average $3,400 more per year than Clarkson graduates after ten years. ($74,200 vs. $70,800)
  • Union College and Clarkson graduates both have the same median student loan debt upon graduation ($27,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Union College and Clarkson graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($279 vs. $279)
  • More Union College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Clarkson students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 86%)

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