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Potsdam , NY
Clarkson University is a private research university located in Potsdam, New York. Established in 1896, it has a strong focus on science, technology, engineering, and business. With a student population of around 4,300, Clarkson offers undergraduate and graduate programs through its four schools: Engineering, Business, Arts & Sciences, and Health Sciences.
One of the prominent features of Clarkson University is its commitment to experiential learning. The university offers various hands-on learning opportunities, including research projects, internships, and co-ops, enabling students to gain practical experience in their field of study. Clarkson also has a strong emphasis on entrepreneurship and innovation, encouraging students to develop their own business ideas and providing resources such as the Shipley Center for Innovation to support their entrepreneurial endeavors.
Additionally, Clarkson University has a well-regarded reputation in research and academia. The university conducts cutting-edge research in several areas, including sustainable energy systems, advanced materials, healthcare technology, and environmental science. Students and faculty at Clarkson have access to state-of-the-art facilities and laboratories to support their research activities. Furthermore, the university has collaborations with industries and government organizations, allowing students to engage in real-world problem-solving and fostering connections for future career opportunities.
Located in Potsdam, NY, Clarkson University is a private university. This institution follows a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 77%. The freshman retention rate at Clarkson University is 85.4% and the six-year graduation rate is 78%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is January 15. Read more about what Clarkson University has to offer based on the most recent data this institution has reported.
Quick Facts
2,296
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$59,800
Tuition
13:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
78%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
Discovering as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission improves your chances of getting admitted. Discover some vital information about admission policy and requirements at Clarkson University.
According to the most recent data, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 5,153 in 2025. Clarkson University has an official test-optional admission policy but takes into consideration standardized test scores in cases when they are submitted by the candidate. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
Out of the number of applicants who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 48.5% and ACT scores 8.06%. 20.34% of the freshmen submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 57.29% between 1,200 and 1,399, 19.32% between 1,000 and 1,199, 1.69% between 800 and 999, and 1.36% between 600 and 799. The percent of new students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 38.78, 44.9 between 24-29, 14.29 in the range between 18-23, and 2.04 between 12-17.
The average ACT score for all the enrolled students in 2025 was 30 while the average GPA was 3.7. Accordingly, you'll probably need an above-average GPA in order to be granted acceptance, as well as an above-average ACT score.
The new students had an average SAT Critical Reading score of 630 and an average SAT Math score of 650.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by January 15.
Retention Rate
The student retention rate is the percentage of students who re-enroll from one year to the next. When you create your list of possible schools to attend, you should consider the freshman retention rate, among other things.
The freshman retention rate for Clarkson University was 85.4% in 2025, a clear indication of the excellence and value of the educational experience at this school.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. The six-year graduation rate at this school is 78%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Picking a school that is the right fit for you is not a simple task. Gaining a better insight into a school's student body helps you learn more about its culture and life.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the institution enrolled 3,348 students.
That year, the school had an out-of-state student body percentage of 31. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the institution was 2,296, 97 of which were foreign students. 58 students were admitted as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 1,998 male and 1,022 female full-time students in 2025. There were 308 full-time graduate male and 295 full-time graduate female students at this school.
Student Population Diversity
Higer Education is committed to focusing on the diversity of its student population and improving students' sense of inclusion and belonging. Diversity promotes critical thinking, challenges preconceived notions, and encourages intellectual growth, so it helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
This school had 46 Asian students and 56 Afro-American students in 2025. 284 undergrads at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 77 identified with more than one race. There were also 8 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
The financial aspect is one of the most important things to consider before applying to any college or university. The most recent data reported regarding the expenses for attending this school are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
Wondering about tuition at Clarkson University? Here is what you need to know.
Tuition in 2025 was $59,800 for full-time domestic students. As Clarkson University is a private institution, there is no difference in tuition for out-of-state or international students. Full-time students in 2025 were required to pay additional fees in the amount of $1,348.
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to think about the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. The estimated expense of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is $1,560.
Boarding
The cost of dorm rooms and meals in the school's cafeteria is for sure something to take into consideration. What do schools typically charge for room and board?
In 2025, room and board cost at Clarkson University amounted to $18,762 a year. If you only wanted a dorm room, you had to pay $10,523 for the 2025 academic year. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was also $10,523.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 59,800 |
| Room and Board | $ 18,762 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,560 |
| Total Expense | $ 80,122 |
Financial Aid
Obtaining some financial support in forms of grants, loans, scholarships or work-study programs can be very important for completing your studies. Check out some recent data to get the info about need-based and non-need-based aid you might get at Clarkson University.
According to the most recent data, 424 freshmen were awarded financial aid. The average financial aid package awarded to students amounted to $51,549.
Need-based
Need-based aid is financial aid that a student can receive if they are determened to have financial need and meet other eligibility criteria.
1,797 students obtained some form of need-based financial aid. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was estimated to be 1,815. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution added up to $4,262,481, and state $1,648,971. The students of Clarkson University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $65,561,202, and external in the amount of $1,106,310.
$33,837
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
434 students, including freshmen, got institutional non-need-based financial aid at this institution in 2025. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 109 full-time freshman. Federal non-need-based scholarships and grants totaled $4,262,481 for students at this institution, while state aid came to $1,356,921. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $26,216,747. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $747,217 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Open Applications
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Majors
Faculty
13:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Knowing more about a school's faculty can help you gauge the caliber of the education it can provide to you.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Clarkson University was 13:1: that means 13 students per one teacher, which is considered a good ratio. According to the most recent information, there are 331 faculty members at this school. This number included 204 male and 127 female faculty members.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Check out some details about campus life at Clarkson University.
Its campus spans 640 acres.
Student Organizations
Student organizations are run by students of an institution, and its membership usually consists only of current students and/or alumni.
This school has 206 open-membership student organizations you can participate in. This number includes sororities and fraternities. 14 percent of male and 9 of female students take part in in different organizations at Clarkson University. The student organization that gathers the largest number of students is Rod and Gun Club, followed by Society of Women Engineers and Spikeball Club. Other popular student organizations at this school are Ski & Snowboard Club and Outing Club.
For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. You have a talent for media and communication? Clarkson University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At Clarkson University, there are many amenities that make life on campus comfortable and safe.
There are emergency phone and alarm devices available around the clock. There are electronically operated dormitory entrances. There is a security patrol available 24/7. There is a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Legal Services and Veteran's Affairs are available to the students of Clarkson University.
All in all, campus life at Clarkson University is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Clarkson University.
Career Counselling
At Clarkson University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be excellent for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
Job Placement
Knowing what salary you can expect once you have completed your studies can help you decide if a certain school matches your career goals.
Students who find employment within six months of graduating can expect an average base annual starting salary of 64,980 USD.
$64,980
Average Starting Salary After 6 Months of Graduation
FAQ
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Clarkson University is located in Potsdam, NY.
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According to the latest information, you would need to pay about 59,800 USD per academic year for Clarkson University.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for Clarkson University is 77%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Clarkson University is 85.4%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
