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Clarkson University

Clarkson University

Potsdam, NY · Town · 2,196 students
WebsiteCommon AppForbes rankingScorecard
Application deadlines: Check the admissions site
$30,305
Average net priceYour net price
2023-24
<30
30–48
48–75
75–110
110+
By household income — tap a bar
74%
Graduation rate
Entered fall 2017 & 2018
70% typical
$89,696
Earnings 10 years on
Measured 2020 & 2021
$63,395 typical
77%
Acceptance rate
Applied for fall 2024
73% typical · not scored
Accredited by Middle States Commission on Higher Education
About

Clarkson University is a private research institution in northern New York best known for its rigorous, career-focused education in engineering, business, computer science, and the health sciences. The university sets itself apart by requiring every undergraduate to complete a real-world professional experience—such as an internship, co-op, or research project—which contributes to its exceptionally high graduate placement and return-on-investment rates. On its scenic Potsdam campus near the Adirondack Mountains, student life is defined by hands-on engineering design teams (SPEED), a tight-knit outdoor-oriented community, and a passionate school tradition centered around Division I ice hockey.

Wikipedia:Clarkson University is a private research university with its main campus in Potsdam, New York. Clarkson has additional graduate programs and research facilities in the New York Capital District. It was established in 1896 and enrolled over 4,000 students in 2024. Students pursue bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in each of its schools and institutes: the David D. Reh School of Business, Wallace H. Coulter School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Earl R. and Barbara D. Lewis School of Health and Life Sciences, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, and Institute for STEM Education. The university is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity".

Location
Potsdam, NY, 13699 · Town campus
✈
Nearest airport from college
BTV · Burlington VT
92 mi away
Open in Google Maps
Cost & aid
Cost of attendance
YoursEveryone
Tuition & fees$59,398
Housing & food (on campus)$18,252
Books & supplies$1,560
Cost of attendance$86,556
Average net price$30,305
Same price for all students
Tuition & fees$59,398
Housing & food (on campus)$18,252
Books & supplies$1,560
Cost of attendance$86,556
Average net price$30,305
Source: U.S. College Scorecard · published total: www.clarkson.edu
How it’s made up · 2026-27
Clarkson University’s own figures for 2026-2027, newer than the 2024-25 federal figures above, so the amounts differ.
Tuition$61,694
Fees$1,370
Housing$10,840
Food$8,528
Books & supplies$1,560
Personal expenses$900
Transportation$1,596
Total published by the school$86,556
Net price by family income · 2023-24
$0–30k
$21,335
$30–48k
$19,934
$48–75k
$23,321
$75–110k
$30,990
$110k+
$35,757
Outcomes
Completion
Within 6 yrs
74%
Entered 2017–18
Within 4 yrs
62%
Back for yr 2
85%
Transferred
19%
8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students
74% graduated · 20% transferred · 6% left or unknown · none still enrolled
Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021
6 yrs after entry$76,970
10 yrs after entry$89,696
Debt
Median at graduation$26,000
Monthly payment$276
Middle 50% owe$13.5k–$28.5k
90th percentile$35,500
Green marks a figure above the typical Doctoral University: 70% graduate within 6 yrs, $63,395 earned 10 yrs after entry.
Admissions
Getting in · applied for fall 2024
Admit rate
77%
Test policy
Test optional
Per College Scorecard
SAT average
1304
R 590–690 · M 610–700
ACT midpoint
29
Comp 25–32 · E 23–30 · M 25–32
SAT middle 50%: 1200–1390
40080012001600

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Essay prompts

If Clarkson University asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the Common App.

The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.

Student Body
Gender
Men 69%Women 31%
Who enrolls
Faculty ratio
13 : 1
Pell grant
22%
First-gen
15%
Family income
$90,321
Independent
3%
Age at entry
19.0
Part-time
0%
Race & ethnicity
White
74%
Hispanic
13%
Black
3%
Asian
2%
Two or more
4%
Non-resident
4%
Varsity sports
NCAA Division III without football · EADA 2024-25
  • Baseball
    Men's
  • Basketball
    Men's · Women's
  • Cross Country
    Men's · Women's
  • Golf
    Men's
  • Ice Hockey
    Men's · Women's
  • Lacrosse
    Men's · Women's
  • Other Sports
    Men's · Women's
  • Skiing
    Men's · Women's
  • Soccer
    Men's · Women's
  • Softball
    Women's
  • Swimming
    Men's · Women's
  • Volleyball
    Women's
Programs & Earnings
Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings
Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021
After 6 yrs
$76,970
After 10 yrs
$89,696
Mechanical Engineering155
Civil Engineering70
Chemical Engineering52
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering48
Engineering-Related Fields44
Biology, General42
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering36
Computer Science30
Business Administration, Management and Operations28
Computer Engineering27
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations24
Psychology, General22
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering21
Accounting and Related Services21
Natural Resources Conservation and Research14
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology13
Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.
Institutional
Resources
Endowment
$214M
Full-time faculty
78%
Faculty salary
$11,357/mo
Teaching spend
$16,750
per student
Federal loans
62%
Classification
Carnegie type
Doctoral University
Research activity
R2 — high research
$26M research spending · 38 research doctorates a year
Undergraduate profile
Four-year, more selective admissions

Wondering if Clarkson University is the right fit for you?

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Financial aid & net cost estimates
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