Loyola vs. Clarkson

Deciding between Loyola University Chicago 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.

Loyola University Chicago
Clarkson University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Loyola Chicago, IL
  • Clarkson Potsdam, NY
  • Setting
  • Loyola Large City
  • Clarkson Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Loyola 17,384
  • Clarkson 3,348
  • Type
  • Loyola Private 4 Year
  • Clarkson Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Loyola #210
  • Clarkson #189
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Loyola Roman Catholic
  • Clarkson -
  • Status
  • Loyola Non-profit
  • Clarkson Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Loyola
  • Clarkson
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Loyola $53,710
  • Clarkson $59,398
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Loyola $53,710
  • Clarkson $59,398
  • Room & Board
  • Loyola $17,010
  • Clarkson $18,252
  • Average Net Price
  • Loyola $39,147
  • Clarkson $32,406
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Loyola $28,816
  • Clarkson $46,528
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Loyola 98%
  • Clarkson 100%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Loyola 39,315
  • Clarkson 6,661
  • Admitted
  • Loyola 32,081
  • Clarkson 5,153
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Loyola 81.6%
  • Clarkson 77.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Loyola 8.6%
  • Clarkson 9.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Loyola 1270
  • Clarkson 1300
  • Typical ACT score
  • Loyola 29
  • Clarkson 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • Loyola 3.71
  • Clarkson 3.8
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Loyola A-
  • Clarkson A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Loyola Very High
  • Clarkson Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Loyola
  • Clarkson
  • ACT Range
  • Loyola 27/32
  • Clarkson 25/32
  • SAT Range
  • Loyola 1170/1360
  • Clarkson 1200/1390
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Loyola Test optional
  • Clarkson Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Loyola
  • Clarkson Jan 15, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Loyola 13:1
  • Clarkson 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Loyola
    • Business (24%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
  • Clarkson
    • Engineering (48%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Engineering Technology (9%)
    • Communication (3%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Loyola 70%
  • Clarkson 72%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Loyola $59,800
  • Clarkson $70,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Loyola 76%
  • Clarkson 86%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Loyola $25,000
  • Clarkson $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Loyola $258
  • Clarkson $279
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Loyola 31%
  • Clarkson 66%
  • % Women
  • Loyola 69%
  • Clarkson 34%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Loyola High
  • Clarkson Very Low
  • HBCU
  • Loyola No
  • Clarkson No
  • % White
  • Loyola 58%
  • Clarkson 84%
  • % Asian
  • Loyola 12%
  • Clarkson 3%
  • % Black
  • Loyola 4%
  • Clarkson 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Loyola 14%
  • Clarkson 4%
  • % Native American
  • Loyola 0%
  • Clarkson 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Loyola 0%
  • Clarkson 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Loyola 5%
  • Clarkson 2%
  • % International
  • Loyola 5%
  • Clarkson 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Loyola 1%
  • Clarkson 2%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Loyola 56%
  • Clarkson 67%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Loyola 42%
  • Clarkson 25%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Loyola University Chicago in Chicago, IL with Clarkson University in Potsdam, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Loyola University Chicago is larger than Clarkson based on total student enrollment (17,384 students vs. 3,348 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Loyola University Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Clarkson University is in Potsdam, NY (Remote Town setting).
  • Loyola University Chicago is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Clarkson University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Loyola University Chicago 13:1; Clarkson University 13:1.

Loyola vs. Clarkson Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Loyola 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 Clarkson University than Loyola ($32,406 vs. $39,147).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Loyola University Chicago are 6.8% lower than at Clarkson University ($17,010 vs. $18,252).
  • Clarkson University is 10.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Loyola (about $5,688 more per year; $59,398.00 vs. $53,710.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 10.6% higher at Clarkson than at Loyola University Chicago (about $5,688 more per year; $59,398.00 vs. $53,710.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Clarkson University than at Loyola University Chicago (100% vs. 98%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Clarkson University students is 61.5% larger than aid received by Loyola University Chicago students ($46,528 vs. $28,816).

Loyola vs. Clarkson Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Loyola 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 Loyola.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Clarkson University (1300) is 30 points higher than at Loyola (1270).
  • Incoming Loyola students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 28 at Clarkson).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Loyola University Chicago 1170/1360; Clarkson University 1200/1390.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Loyola University Chicago 27/32; Clarkson University 25/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Loyola - Test optional; Clarkson - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Clarkson Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Clarkson students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at Loyola (3.71).
  • Loyola has a higher acceptance rate (81.6%) than Clarkson (77.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8.6% at Loyola vs. 9.5% at Clarkson.

Loyola vs. Clarkson Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Loyola 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).

  • Clarkson University's six-year graduation rate (72%) is higher than Loyola University Chicago's (70%).
  • Graduates from Clarkson University earn a median of about $11,000 more per year than Loyola graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,800 vs. $59,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Loyola University Chicago graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Clarkson graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Loyola graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Clarkson graduates ($258 vs. $279).
  • More Clarkson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Loyola students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 76%)

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.