Harvard vs. Clarkson

Deciding between Harvard University and Clarkson University? 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.

Harvard University
Clarkson University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Clarkson Potsdam, NY
  • Setting
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Clarkson Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Clarkson 3,348
  • Type
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • Clarkson Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Harvard #4
  • Clarkson #189
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Harvard -
  • Clarkson -
  • Status
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • Clarkson Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Harvard
  • Clarkson

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Clarkson $59,398
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Clarkson $59,398
  • Room & Board
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Clarkson $18,252
  • Average Net Price
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Clarkson $32,406
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Harvard $68,015
  • Clarkson $46,528
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Harvard 56%
  • Clarkson 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Clarkson 6,661
  • Admitted
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Clarkson 5,153
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Clarkson 77.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Clarkson 9.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Harvard 1550
  • Clarkson 1300
  • Typical ACT score
  • Harvard 35
  • Clarkson 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Clarkson 3.8
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Clarkson A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Harvard Elite
  • Clarkson Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Harvard Extreme
  • Clarkson
  • ACT Range
  • Harvard 34/36
  • Clarkson 25/32
  • SAT Range
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • Clarkson 1200/1390
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Harvard Required
  • Clarkson Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • Clarkson Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Clarkson 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • Clarkson
    • Engineering (48%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Engineering Technology (9%)
    • Communication (3%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Harvard 97%
  • Clarkson 72%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Clarkson $70,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Harvard 70%
  • Clarkson 86%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Clarkson $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Harvard $67
  • Clarkson $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Harvard 46%
  • Clarkson 66%
  • % Women
  • Harvard 54%
  • Clarkson 34%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Harvard Very High
  • Clarkson Very Low
  • HBCU
  • Harvard No
  • Clarkson No
  • % White
  • Harvard 44%
  • Clarkson 84%
  • % Asian
  • Harvard 19%
  • Clarkson 3%
  • % Black
  • Harvard 6%
  • Clarkson 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Harvard 10%
  • Clarkson 4%
  • % Native American
  • Harvard 0%
  • Clarkson 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Harvard 0%
  • Clarkson 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Harvard 6%
  • Clarkson 2%
  • % International
  • Harvard 11%
  • Clarkson 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Harvard 3%
  • Clarkson 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Harvard 14%
  • Clarkson 67%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Harvard 68%
  • Clarkson 25%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Harvard University is larger than Clarkson based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 3,348 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Harvard University is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); Clarkson University is in Potsdam, NY (Remote Town setting).
  • Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Clarkson University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Harvard University 7:1; Clarkson University 13:1.

Harvard vs. Clarkson Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard or Clarkson? 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 Harvard University than Clarkson ($17,525 vs. $32,406).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clarkson University are 13.9% lower than at Harvard University ($18,252 vs. $21,190).
  • Harvard University is 3.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Clarkson (about $2,278 more per year; $61,676.00 vs. $59,398.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.8% higher at Harvard than at Clarkson University (about $2,278 more per year; $61,676.00 vs. $59,398.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Clarkson University than at Harvard University (100% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 46.2% larger than aid received by Clarkson University students ($68,015 vs. $46,528).

Harvard vs. Clarkson Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 250 points higher than at Clarkson (1300).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 28 at Clarkson).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 1510/1580; Clarkson University 1200/1390.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 34/36; Clarkson University 25/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Harvard - Required; Clarkson - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027; Clarkson Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Clarkson (3.8).
  • Clarkson has a higher acceptance rate (77.4%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 83.6% at Harvard vs. 9.5% at Clarkson.

Harvard vs. Clarkson Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harvard and Clarkson? 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).

  • Harvard University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than Clarkson University's (72%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $65,900 more per year than Clarkson graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $70,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $20,500 lower median loan debt than Clarkson graduates ($6,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $212 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Clarkson graduates ($67 vs. $279).
  • More Clarkson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard 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.