Colby College vs. Clarkson

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

Colby College Clarkson
Location Waterville, ME Potsdam, NY
Setting Remote Town Remote Town
Enrollment 2,299 3,719
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #44 #220
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colby.edu clarkson.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Colby College Clarkson
Tuition (In State) $60,840 $54,960
Tuition (Out of State) $60,840 $54,960
Room & Board $16,330 $16,744
Avg Net Price $16,951 $32,450
Avg Grant Aid $61,714 $41,285
% Receiving Grant Aid 41% 100%

Admission

Colby College Clarkson
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 16,890 6,594
Admitted 1,286 5,171
Acceptance Rate 7.6% 78.4%
Enrolled % 52.3% 11.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.86 3.8
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Elite Difficult
Applicant Competition Extreme
ACT Range 32/34 25/30
SAT Range 1430/1540 1190/1370
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 1, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

Colby College Clarkson
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • General Studies (13%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Physical Sciences (7%)
  • Engineering (48%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Engineering Technology (9%)
  • Communication (3%)

Outcomes

Colby College Clarkson
Graduation Rate 91% 72%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $73,400 $70,800
Making Student Loan Payments 88% 86%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,345 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $200 $279

Diversity

Colby College Clarkson
% Men 48% 64%
% Women 52% 36%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 62% 84%
% Black 3% 2%
% Hispanic 6% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 2%
% International 11% 3%
% Unknown Race 7% 2%

Students

Colby College Clarkson
% In-State 7% 65%
% Out-of-State 79% 31%

Campus

Colby College Clarkson
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 Colby College based on total student enrollment (3,719 students vs. 2,299 students)

Colby College vs. Clarkson Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Colby College or Clarkson?

  • Colby College is 10.7% more expensive to attend than Clarkson for in-state tuition ($60,840.00 vs. $54,960.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 10.7% higher at Colby College than Clarkson University ($60,840.00 vs. $54,960.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Colby College than Clarkson ($16,951 vs. $32,450)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colby College are 2.5% lower than costs at Clarkson University ($16,330 vs. $16,744)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Clarkson University than Colby College (100% vs. 41%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colby College students is 49.5% larger than aid received Clarkson University ($61,714 vs. $41,285)

Colby College vs. Clarkson Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Colby College (1363) is 165 points higher than at Clarkson (1198)
  • Incoming Colby College students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (31) than students at Clarkson (27)
  • Accepted freshman Colby College students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at Clarkson (3.8)
  • Clarkson has a higher acceptance rate (78.4%) than Colby College (7.6%)

Colby College vs. Clarkson Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Colby College is higher than Clarkson University (91% vs. 72%)
  • Graduates from Colby College earn on average $2,600 more per year than Clarkson graduates after ten years. ($73,400 vs. $70,800)
  • Colby College students graduate with a $7,655 lower median federal student loan debt than Clarkson graduates. ($19,345 vs. $27,000)
  • Colby College graduates are paying $79 less per month on federal student loans than Clarkson graduates. ($200 vs. $279)
  • More Colby College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Clarkson students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 86%)

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