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Clarkson University

Private Nonprofit Graduate Strong 72/100

Clarkson University

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Potsdam, New York

About Clarkson University

Clarkson University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Potsdam, New York. It enrolls 2,196 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Official website: clarkson.edu

Acceptance: 77.4%
Graduation: 80.6%
Net Price: $30,305
Median Earnings (10yr): $89,696
Enrollment: 2,196
Student : Faculty: 12:1

Accreditor Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Strong

72/100

UCD Score · 4-Year Selective

Outcomes 80

Value 60

Affordability 18

Selectivity 65

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 77.4%, Clarkson University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.

Acceptance Rate

77.4%

Easy

SAT Range (25th–75th)

1200 – 1390

Reading + Math combined

ACT Range (25th–75th)

25 – 32

Cumulative composite

Test Policy Not Considered Standardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Clarkson University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Stable ↑ 2.6 pts since 2019

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Clarkson University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $30,305 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$30,305

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

22%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

62%

Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees: $59,398
Room & Board (on-campus): $18,252
Room & Board (off-campus): $18,252
Books & Supplies: $1,560
Other Expenses (on-campus): $2,496
Other Expenses (off-campus): $2,496
Total Cost of Attendance: $79,022

Application fee: $50 (one-time, due at submission)

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

Under $30,000

$21,335
$30,001 – $48,000

$19,934
$48,001 – $75,000

$23,321
$75,001 – $110,000

$30,990
Over $110,000

$35,757

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$5,500

10% percentile

$13,464

25% percentile

$26,000

Median percentile

$28,500

75% percentile

$35,500

90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median

Pell recipients $22,856 ↓ $3,144

No Pell $21,500 ↓ $4,500

Dependent students $21,500 ↓ $4,500

Independent students $25,000 ↓ $1,000

Female students $21,500 ↓ $4,500

Male students $22,250 ↓ $3,750

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,750, less than completers ($26,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

81% of full-time students who enrolled at Clarkson University graduate within six years, and 85% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

81%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

85%

Returning for their second year

What this means: Strong completion signals. Most students who start, finish.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Clarkson University earn a median of $89,696 ten years after first enrolling. That's well above the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$89,696

Earning > $25K

90%

10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates

$63,500

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$77,100

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)

$72,200

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)

$71,900

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)

$75,800

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $13,600, about 18% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑ 6.4 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Excellent. 96% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Clarkson University is home to 2,196 students, a mid-sized community.

Total Enrolled

2,196

Part-Time

First-Generation

15%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

White 73.9% 1,623

Hispanic 12.9% 284

International 4.4% 97

Other 3.7% 82

Black 2.6% 56

Asian 2.1% 46

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Clarkson University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Town: Remote Potsdam, New York

Housing

Strongly residential 2,417 beds for 2,196 students

Adult Learners

1% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

What You Can Study

Clarkson University offers an extensive catalog of programs: 75 distinct programs across 17 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

21 Programs

Engineering

Mechanical Engineering $92K ($78K–$109K)
Civil Engineering $87K ($74K–$101K)
Chemical Engineering $98K ($80K–$118K)

7 Programs

Business

Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Business $68K ($48K–$95K)

7 Programs

Health

Health Administration $59K ($42K–$80K)
Allied Health Diagnostic $71K ($51K–$96K)
Health Professions Education $87K ($57K–$130K)

2 Programs

Engineering Tech

Environmental Tech $90K ($71K–$110K)
Environmental Tech $90K ($71K–$110K)

4 Programs

Biology

Biology $57K ($39K–$79K)
Biochemistry & Biophysics $65K ($45K–$88K)
Biotechnology $67K ($47K–$89K)

6 Programs

Interdisciplinary Studies

3 Programs

Computer Science

Computer Science $107K ($75K–$152K)
Computer Science $107K ($75K–$152K)
Computer Science $107K ($75K–$152K)

6 Programs

Physical Sciences

Chemistry $65K ($48K–$84K)
Physics $77K ($52K–$103K)
Chemistry $65K ($48K–$84K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Clarkson University is 12:1, close to the national average.

Student : Faculty

12:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Endowment

$352M

Solid financial position

Avg Faculty Salary

$96,936

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

241 instructional faculty across 5 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank	Faculty Count	Share	Avg Salary
Full Professors	67	28%	$123,210
Associate Professors	62	26%	$97,357
Assistant Professors	92	38%	$87,324
Instructors	10	4%	$43,389
No Rank	10	4%	$60,272

Pros & Cons of Clarkson University

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Clarkson University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Strong six-year graduation rate
Above-average post-graduation earnings

CONS

Above-average net price
Very high published cost of attendance (full-pay families pay much more than the net-price average)
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families

Best for: Based on the data, Clarkson University is a fit for students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students prioritizing post-graduation earnings.

Frequently Asked Questions about Clarkson University

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Clarkson University.

Is Clarkson University hard to get into?

Clarkson University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 77.4%.

What is the acceptance rate at Clarkson University?

Clarkson University has an acceptance rate of 77.4%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

What SAT score do you need for Clarkson University?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Clarkson University scored between 1200 and 1390 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

What ACT score do you need for Clarkson University?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Clarkson University scored between 25 and 32 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

How much does Clarkson University cost?

The average net price after aid at Clarkson University is $30,305 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is Clarkson University worth it?

Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $89,696 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $30,305 per year. That's roughly 3.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is Clarkson University known for?

Clarkson University is best known for its programs in Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do Clarkson University graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering Clarkson University are $89,696, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is Clarkson University accredited?

Yes. Clarkson University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

How many students attend Clarkson University?

Clarkson University enrolls 2,196 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at Clarkson University?

Clarkson University graduates 81% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is Clarkson University a public or private college?

Clarkson University is a Private Nonprofit institution.

Where is Clarkson University located?

Clarkson University is located in Potsdam, New York.

What programs does Clarkson University offer?

Clarkson University offers 75 distinct programs. The most popular include Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Business Administration.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Clarkson University?

The student-to-faculty ratio at Clarkson University is 12:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.