Clarkson vs. UB

Deciding between Clarkson University and University at Buffalo? 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
University at Buffalo

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Clarkson Potsdam, NY
  • UB Buffalo, NY
  • Setting
  • Clarkson Remote Town
  • UB Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Clarkson 3,348
  • UB 31,903
  • Type
  • Clarkson Private 4 Year
  • UB Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Clarkson #189
  • UB #101
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Clarkson -
  • UB -
  • Status
  • Clarkson Non-profit
  • UB Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Clarkson
  • UB

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Clarkson $59,398
  • UB $10,936
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Clarkson $59,398
  • UB $31,536
  • Room & Board
  • Clarkson $18,252
  • UB $17,426
  • Average Net Price
  • Clarkson $32,406
  • UB $20,529
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Clarkson $46,528
  • UB $10,663
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Clarkson 100%
  • UB 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Clarkson 6,661
  • UB 40,856
  • Admitted
  • Clarkson 5,153
  • UB 30,308
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Clarkson 77.4%
  • UB 74.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Clarkson 9.5%
  • UB 14.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Clarkson 1300
  • UB 1300
  • Typical ACT score
  • Clarkson 28
  • UB 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Clarkson 3.8
  • UB 3.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Clarkson A-
  • UB A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Clarkson Very High
  • UB Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Clarkson
  • UB Low
  • ACT Range
  • Clarkson 25/32
  • UB 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Clarkson 1200/1390
  • UB 1210/1380
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Clarkson Test optional
  • UB Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Clarkson Jan 15, 2027
  • UB

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Clarkson 13:1
  • UB 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Clarkson
    • Engineering (48%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Engineering Technology (9%)
    • Communication (3%)
  • UB
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Communication (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Clarkson 72%
  • UB 71%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Clarkson $70,800
  • UB $58,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Clarkson 86%
  • UB 70%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Clarkson $27,000
  • UB $19,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Clarkson $279
  • UB $201

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Clarkson 66%
  • UB 51%
  • % Women
  • Clarkson 34%
  • UB 49%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Clarkson Very Low
  • UB High
  • HBCU
  • Clarkson No
  • UB No
  • % White
  • Clarkson 84%
  • UB 48%
  • % Asian
  • Clarkson 3%
  • UB 14%
  • % Black
  • Clarkson 2%
  • UB 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Clarkson 4%
  • UB 6%
  • % Native American
  • Clarkson 0%
  • UB 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Clarkson 0%
  • UB 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Clarkson 2%
  • UB 2%
  • % International
  • Clarkson 3%
  • UB 16%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Clarkson 2%
  • UB 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Clarkson 67%
  • UB 88%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Clarkson 25%
  • UB 3%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Clarkson University in Potsdam, NY with University at Buffalo in Buffalo, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University at Buffalo is larger than Clarkson based on total student enrollment (31,903 students vs. 3,348 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Clarkson University is located in Potsdam, NY (Remote Town setting); University at Buffalo is in Buffalo, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • Clarkson University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University at Buffalo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Clarkson University 13:1; University at Buffalo 11:1.

Clarkson vs. UB Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Clarkson or UB? 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 University at Buffalo than Clarkson ($20,529 vs. $32,406).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University at Buffalo are 4.5% lower than at Clarkson University ($17,426 vs. $18,252).
  • Clarkson University is 443.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than UB (about $48,462 more per year; $59,398.00 vs. $10,936.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 88.3% higher at Clarkson than at University at Buffalo (about $27,862 more per year; $59,398.00 vs. $31,536.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Clarkson University than at University at Buffalo (100% vs. 76%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Clarkson University students is 336.3% larger than aid received by University at Buffalo students ($46,528 vs. $10,663).

Clarkson vs. UB Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Clarkson University (1300) is the same as at UB (1300).
  • Incoming UB 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; University at Buffalo 1210/1380.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Clarkson University 25/32; University at Buffalo 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Clarkson - Test optional; UB - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Clarkson Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Clarkson students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at UB (3.75).
  • Clarkson has a higher acceptance rate (77.4%) than UB (74.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.5% at Clarkson vs. 14.1% at UB.

Clarkson vs. UB Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Clarkson and UB? 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 University at Buffalo's (71%).
  • Graduates from Clarkson University earn a median of about $12,400 more per year than UB graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,800 vs. $58,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University at Buffalo graduates have a $7,500 lower median loan debt than Clarkson graduates ($19,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, UB graduates have an estimated $78 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Clarkson graduates ($201 vs. $279).
  • More Clarkson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UB students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 70%)

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.