Fairfield University vs. Clarkson

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

Fairfield University Clarkson
Location Fairfield, CT Potsdam, NY
Setting Large Suburban Remote Town
Enrollment 6,019 3,719
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #138 #220
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website fairfield.edu clarkson.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Fairfield University Clarkson
Tuition (In State) $53,630 $54,960
Tuition (Out of State) $53,630 $54,960
Room & Board $16,750 $16,744
Avg Net Price $46,065 $32,450
Avg Grant Aid $25,279 $41,285
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 100%

Admission

Fairfield University Clarkson
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 13,359 6,594
Admitted 6,971 5,171
Acceptance Rate 52.2% 78.4%
Enrolled % 19.1% 11.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.67 3.8
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Very High Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 28/31 25/30
SAT Range 1240/1370 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 15, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

Fairfield University Clarkson
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (34%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • Engineering (48%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Engineering Technology (9%)
  • Communication (3%)

Outcomes

Fairfield University Clarkson
Graduation Rate 82% 72%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $77,100 $70,800
Making Student Loan Payments 82% 86%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $279

Diversity

Fairfield University Clarkson
% Men 41% 64%
% Women 59% 36%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 76% 84%
% Black 2% 2%
% Hispanic 7% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 2%
% International 2% 3%
% Unknown Race 8% 2%

Students

Fairfield University Clarkson
% In-State 15% 65%
% Out-of-State 84% 31%

Campus

Fairfield University Clarkson
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Fairfield University is larger than than Clarkson based on total student enrollment (6,019 students vs. 3,719 students)

Fairfield University vs. Clarkson Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fairfield University or Clarkson?

  • Clarkson University is 2.5% more expensive to attend than Fairfield University for in-state tuition ($54,960.00 vs. $53,630.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 2.5% higher at Clarkson than Fairfield University ($54,960.00 vs. $53,630.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Clarkson University than Fairfield University ($32,450 vs. $46,065)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clarkson University are 0% lower than costs at Fairfield University ($16,744 vs. $16,750)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Clarkson University than Fairfield University (100% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Clarkson University students is 63.3% larger than aid received Fairfield University ($41,285 vs. $25,279)

Fairfield University vs. Clarkson Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Clarkson students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at Fairfield University (3.67)
  • Clarkson has a higher acceptance rate (78.4%) than Fairfield University (52.2%)

Fairfield University vs. Clarkson Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Fairfield University 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 Fairfield University.

  • The graduation rate at Fairfield University is higher than Clarkson University (82% vs. 72%)
  • Graduates from Fairfield University earn on average $6,300 more per year than Clarkson graduates after ten years. ($77,100 vs. $70,800)
  • Clarkson University and Fairfield University graduates both have the same median student loan debt upon graduation ($27,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Clarkson University and Fairfield University graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($279 vs. $279)
  • More Clarkson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fairfield University students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 82%)

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