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Clarkson University

Clarkson University

Potsdam, NY · Town · 2,196 students
4
Year
Private Non-profit
Town
Small (<3k)
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
Cost
Cost of attendance
$79,022
Avg net price
$30,305
Room & board
$18,252
Tuition
$59,398
Books & supplies
$1,560/yr
Average net price by family income
$0–30k
$21,335
$30–48k
$19,934
$48–75k
$23,321
$75–110k
$30,990
$110k+
$35,757
Admissions
Admit rate
77%
Test policy
Test optional
SAT average
1304
Reading 590690
Math 610700
ACT midpoint
29
Composite 2532
English 2330
Math 2532
SAT range (25th–75th percentile)
40080012001600

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Essay Requirements

Clarkson University accepts the Common Application. All Common App schools require the personal statement essay. Some schools also require supplemental essays — check the school's page on Common App for current prompts and word limits.

See the current Common App essay prompts for the personal statement options.

Outcomes
Graduation rate
74%
4-yr on-time completion
62%
1st-yr retention
85%
Transfer-out rate
19%
8-year outcomes
Graduated
74%
Transferred
20%
Still enrolled
0%
Dropped out / unknown
6%
Median earnings (6yr)
$76,970
Median earnings (10yr)
$89,696
Median debt
$26,000
Monthly loan payment
$276
Debt range (25th–75th)
$13,464$28,500
Debt (90th percentile)
$35,500
Student Body
Men 69%Women 31%
13
:
1
Student : Faculty ratio
Students   Faculty
Pell grant recipients
22%
First-generation
15%
Median family income
$90,321
Independent students
3%
Avg age at entry
19.0
Part-time students
0%
Race & ethnicity
White
74%
Hispanic
13%
Black
3%
Asian
2%
Two or more
4%
Non-resident
4%
Programs & Earnings
Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings
Median earnings for graduates across all programs
6 years after entry
$76,970
10 years after entry
$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
Endowment
$214M
Classification
R2: High Research
Undergraduate profile
Four-year, more selective admissions
Full-time faculty
78%
Avg faculty salary
$11,357/mo
Instructional spend/student
$16,750
Federal loan rate
62%

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