Emerson vs. Clarkson

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

Emerson Clarkson
Location Boston, MA Potsdam, NY
Setting Large City Remote Town
Enrollment 5,891 3,719
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #235 #220
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website emerson.edu clarkson.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Emerson Clarkson
Tuition (In State) $52,288 $54,960
Tuition (Out of State) $52,288 $54,960
Room & Board $19,528 $16,744
Avg Net Price $51,432 $32,450
Avg Grant Aid $24,360 $41,285
% Receiving Grant Aid 78% 100%

Admission

Emerson Clarkson
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 12,109 6,594
Admitted 5,176 5,171
Acceptance Rate 42.7% 78.4%
Enrolled % 19.4% 11.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.73 3.8
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 30/32 25/30
SAT Range 1250/1430 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 Feb 20, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

Emerson Clarkson
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Communication (33%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (29%)
  • English and Literature (19%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Health Professions (2%)
  • Engineering (48%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Engineering Technology (9%)
  • Communication (3%)

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 28% 64%
% Women 72% 36%
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 14% 65%
% Out-of-State 69% 31%

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 (5,891 students vs. 3,719 students)

Emerson vs. Clarkson Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Emerson or Clarkson?

  • Clarkson University is 5.1% more expensive to attend than Emerson for in-state tuition ($54,960.00 vs. $52,288.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 5.1% higher at Clarkson than Emerson College ($54,960.00 vs. $52,288.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Clarkson University than Emerson ($32,450 vs. $51,432)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clarkson University are 16.6% lower than costs at Emerson College ($16,744 vs. $19,528)
  • 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 69.5% larger than aid received Emerson College ($41,285 vs. $24,360)

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 (78.4%) than Emerson (42.7%)

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/