C+
Above Average
Score: 57/100
Overall (traditional)
A
Outcome Rating
88/100 · earnings-weighted

Clarkson University

4-Year Private Non-Profit
📍 Potsdam, New York 13699
Clarkson University campus, Potsdam, NY
Clarkson University campus, Potsdam, NY. Photo: Ross P. Robinson, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.
Outcomes
A
83/100
Affordability
F
13/100
Resources
C+
60/100
Experience
A
87/100
Prestige
C
42/100

Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology

Quick Stats

3,603
Total Enrollment
74%
Graduation Rate
85%
Retention Rate
12.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
77%
Acceptance Rate
N/A
Avg Net Price

Earnings, Debt & Completion

What happens to students who enroll at Clarkson University, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

$89,696
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$76,970
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$26,000
Median debt at graduation
74.9%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
1,304
Average SAT
29
Median ACT
21.6%
Students receiving Pell grants

Typical debt at graduation equals about 29% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.

Earnings rank: 95th percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (NY wage index 1.10). This drives the Outcome Rating.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.

Earnings by Major at Clarkson University

Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.

Major1 yr after4 yrs aftervs. nationalRank (pay)Rank (wage-adj.)Median debt
Computer Engineering$80,942$107,790-1%#85 of 189#124$27,000
Computer Science$79,744$103,132-4%#148 of 349#191$25,615
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering$77,940$97,750-3%#145 of 258#212$26,094
Chemical Engineering$75,887$93,614-5%#104 of 158#122$27,000
Business Administration, Management and Operations$65,887$93,152+36%#42 of 1176#57$24,250
Accounting and Related Services$60,594$93,132+22%#91 of 796#150$25,000
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering$71,783$91,066-7%#49 of 59#53$27,000
Mechanical Engineering$73,168$90,286-2%#179 of 318#255$26,750
Engineering-Related Fields$74,407$88,793-1%#19 of 33#24$27,000
Civil Engineering$70,136$82,387-5%#156 of 233#207$27,000
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering$67,308$77,891-4%#35 of 46#39$27,000
Biology$39,807$77,791+36%#34 of 841#45$26,240
Psychology—$73,359+45%#16 of 1027#19$25,813
Communication and Media Studies$41,745—————
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations$37,753————$27,000

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.

For parents & investors

The Clarkson University Town Property Report

  • Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 13697 (7.4% cap, Winthrop)

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Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $56,642 $56,642
Room $9,250
Board $7,766
Total Cost (On-Campus) $79,022 $79,022

Financial Aid

100%
Receive Any Aid
20%
Receive Pell Grants
70%
Take Out Loans
N/A
Avg Net Price

Student Demographics

3,603
Total Students
36%
Women
95%
Traditional Age (18-24)

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 67%
Hispanic 6%
Black 3%
Asian 4%
Two or More 3%
Non-Resident 14%

🏠 Living Arrangements

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 79%
Hybrid (Some Online) 13%
Fully Online 8%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 95%
25-64 (Adult) 1%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at Clarkson University?
Clarkson University has an acceptance rate of 77%. This indicates a less selective admissions process with good chances for qualified applicants.
How much does it cost to attend Clarkson University?
Tuition at Clarkson University is $56,642 for in-state students and $56,642 for out-of-state students .
What is the graduation rate at Clarkson University?
The graduation rate at Clarkson University is 74%. This is a solid graduation rate, showing that most students who enroll successfully complete their degrees.
Is Clarkson University a good school?
Clarkson University has a Repit College Score of 57/100 (Grade: C+). Our rating evaluates five key factors:
  • Outcomes (A): Graduation and retention rates
  • Affordability (F): Net cost and financial aid access
  • Resources (C+): Class sizes and selectivity
  • Experience (A): Campus life and learning format
  • Prestige (C): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend Clarkson University?
Clarkson University has a total enrollment of 3,603 students. Most students (95%) are traditional college-age (18-24).

Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for Clarkson University — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →

🎓 Similar Colleges to Clarkson University

Compare with other 4-Year private non-profit institutions of similar size.

C+
Adelphi University
Garden City, NY · 7,406 students
C+
New York Institute of Technology
Old Westbury, NY · 6,757 students
C+
St. John Fisher University
Rochester, NY · 3,674 students
C+
Manhattan College
Riverdale, NY · 3,495 students
C+
Nazareth University
Rochester, NY · 2,439 students
C+
Molloy College
Rockville Centre, NY · 4,970 students

Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology