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RIT St Lawrence University BU NYU RPI Syracuse Fordham UB Binghamton University Northeastern Emmanuel College Bentley| Emerson College | Clarkson University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Emerson | Clarkson | ||
| Location | Boston, MA | Potsdam, NY | ||
| Setting | Large City | Remote Town | ||
| Enrollment | 5,670 | 3,603 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #215 | #183 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | emerson.edu | clarkson.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Emerson | Clarkson | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $54,400 | $56,642 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $54,400 | $56,642 | ||
| Room & Board | $20,310 | $17,016 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $50,703 | $33,192 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $26,447 | $43,097 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 78% | 100% |
Admission |
Emerson | Clarkson | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 11,092 | 7,347 | ||
| Admitted | 5,267 | 5,669 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 47.5% | 77.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 18.9% | 10.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.73 | 3.8 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 30/33 | 26/31 | ||
| SAT Range | 1250/1410 | 1198/1390 | ||
| 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 | Feb 20, 2026 | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
Emerson | Clarkson | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 14:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Emerson | Clarkson | ||
| Graduation Rate | 81% | 72% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $49,200 | $70,800 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 80% | 86% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,500 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $242 | $279 |
Diversity |
Emerson | Clarkson | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 4% | 17% | ||
| % Women | 23% | 13% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 67% | 84% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 11% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 2% | ||
| % International | 7% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 2% |
Students |
Emerson | Clarkson | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 15% | 65% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 68% | 29% | ||
Campus |
Emerson | 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
- Emerson College is larger than than Clarkson based on total student enrollment (5,670 students vs. 3,603 students)
Emerson vs. Clarkson Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Emerson or Clarkson?
- Clarkson University is 4.1% more expensive to attend than Emerson for in-state tuition ($56,642.00 vs. $54,400.00)
- Out of state tuition is 4.1% higher at Clarkson than Emerson College ($56,642.00 vs. $54,400.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Clarkson University than Emerson ($33,192 vs. $50,703)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clarkson University are 19.4% lower than costs at Emerson College ($17,016 vs. $20,310)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Clarkson University than Emerson College (100% vs. 78%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Clarkson University students is 63% larger than aid received Emerson College ($43,097 vs. $26,447)
Emerson vs. Clarkson Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Emerson or Clarkson? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Clarkson or Emerson .
- The average SAT score at Emerson College (1211) is 13 points higher than at Clarkson (1198)
- Incoming Emerson students have at the same average ACT score (27) as students at Clarkson (27)
- Accepted freshman Clarkson students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at Emerson (3.73)
- Clarkson has a higher acceptance rate (77.2%) than Emerson (47.5%)
Emerson vs. Clarkson Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Emerson 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 Emerson.
- The graduation rate at Emerson is higher than Clarkson University (81% vs. 72%)
- Graduates from Clarkson University earn on average $21,600 more per year than Emerson graduates after ten years. ($70,800 vs. $49,200)
- Emerson College students graduate with a $3,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Clarkson graduates. ($23,500 vs. $27,000)
- Emerson graduates are paying $37 less per month on federal student loans than Clarkson graduates. ($242 vs. $279)
- More Clarkson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Emerson students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 80%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/