Clark University: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes

Worcester, Massachusetts · Private nonprofit · Selective · CDS 2024-2025

Admission at a glance

Common Data Set 2024-2025

  • Test-optional
11,452
Applicants
4,528
Admitted40%
486
Enrolled
11%
Yield rate

Selectivity

Selective40% admitted
AccessibleHighly selective
Median SAT
1370
Mid 50: 1300–1450
In-state tuition
$58,867
per year, before aid
Net price (avg)
$28,714
after aid, what families pay

Ranked #133 (tie) in National Universities; Business Programs #262 (tie), Economics #140 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027

Admission figures come from the 2024-2025 Common Data Set published by Clark University (see the source), read on 2026-06-15.

Is Clark University a reach, target or safety for your student?

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Quick answer

Clark University is a private nonprofit university in Worcester, Massachusetts that admits about 40% of applicants, making it a selective school. The average family pays about $28,714 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Psychology, General, Graphic Communications and Business Administration, Management and Operations, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 77% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 5.4 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.

Clark University is a private institution located in Worcester, Massachusetts with a selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, Clark University admits between a quarter and half of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 40%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1370 and an ACT composite around 29. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $28,714 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.

What GPA does my child need for Clark University?

59% of enrolled students at Clark University had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.76, according to its 2024-2025 Common Data Set.

Actual GPA distribution of admitted students
4.00
38.0%
3.75–3.99
21.0%
3.50–3.74
22.0%
3.25–3.49
11.0%
3.00–3.24
6.0%
2.50–2.99
2.0%
From the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by Clark University.

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What does Clark University weight in admissions?

Clark University reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). What the weights mean

Very Important

3
  • Rigor of secondary school record
  • Academic GPA
  • Recommendations

Important

5
  • Application essay
  • Extracurricular activities
  • Talent/ability
  • Character/personal qualities
  • Volunteer work

Considered

7
  • Class rank
  • Standardized test scores
  • Interview
  • First generation status
  • Geographical residence
  • Work experience
  • Level of applicant's interest

Not Considered

3
  • Alumni/ae relation
  • State residency
  • Religious affiliation/commitment

SAT and ACT scores Clark University typically admits

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 630–720, with an EBRW midpoint near 666. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 30–33. A score at or above this school's 75th percentile materially improves your child's odds, particularly when paired with a rigorous course load.

SAT Composite
25th percentile1300
50th percentile1370
75th percentile1450
% submitting SAT16%
ACT Composite
25th percentile30
50th percentile31
75th percentile33
% submitting ACT5%
Current testing policy
  • • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
  • • Policy detail: Considered if submitted

Where admitted students ranked in their high school class

Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort, often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.

Top 10% of class42%
Top 25% of class75%
Top 50% of class95%
% submitting class rank24%

How much does Clark University actually cost?

Published tuition is $58,867 for in-state students and $58,867 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $12,500 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $28,714 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 23% of students receive Pell Grants.

In-state tuition—
Room and board—
Average net price (after aid)$28,714
Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need95%
Average need-based grant$43,023
Average merit award, no financial need158 first-year students received one$24,784
Graduates who borrowed53%
Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed$37,343
Financial aid formsFAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list
Application fee—

Application deadlines and early decision data for Clark University

Regular admission
Regular deadline1/15
Notification dateApril 1
Reply deadlineMay 1

Will my child graduate from Clark University?

These predict outcomes at Clark University better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates

Freshman retention
86%
returned for sophomore year
4-year graduation
69.5%
finished on time
6-year graduation
77%
finished within 6 years

Most popular majors at Clark University

The most popular undergraduate programs at Clark University, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Psychology, General, Graphic Communications and Business Administration, Management and Operations. Across all programs, Clark University confers roughly 385 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Psychology, General program report a median income of about $56,449 five years after entering college. What these figures mean

MajorGraduates / yearMedian earnings (5 yrs out)
Psychology, General87$56,449
Graphic Communications64n/a
Business Administration, Management and Operations53n/a
Political Science and Government46$60,708
Biology, General43$64,992
Economics37$85,062
Sociology28$55,998
Computer Science27n/a
Bachelor's-degree completions from federal IPEDS data; earnings from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Is Clark University safe? Campus crime & safety

In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Clark University disclosed 12 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 5.4 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 0 violent offenses and 11 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts

Total offenses
12
5.4 per 1,000 students
Violent crime
0
0.00 per 1,000
Sexual assault / VAWA
11
4.97 per 1,000
Burglary
1
reported incidents
Clery Act 2024, rates per 2,214 enrolled.

What is campus life like at Clark University?

About 68% of undergraduates at Clark University live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. In Greek life, 0% of men join a fraternity and 0% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.

Live on campus
68%
of undergraduates
Classes under 20 students
62%
of course sections
Classes of 100 or more
0%
of course sections
In fraternities
0%
of men
In sororities
0%
of women
From the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by Clark University.

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Common questions parents ask about Clark University

What GPA do I need for Clark University?

59% of enrolled students at Clark University had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.76, according to its 2024-2025 Common Data Set.

What SAT or ACT score does Clark University typically admit?

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 630–720, with an EBRW midpoint near 666. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 30–33.

How much does Clark University actually cost after financial aid?

The average net price at Clark University after grants and scholarships is $28,714 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $58,867. Budget against the net figure.

Is Clark University realistic for my child?

Clark University admits 40% of applicants, so 630–720 SAT Math is target range and below 630 is a reach. Then check the $28,714 average net price against what your family can carry.

What is the acceptance rate at Clark University?

Clark University accepts about 40% of applicants out of roughly 11,452 who apply each year. That makes it a selective school.

Is Clark University test-optional?

Yes. Clark University is test-optional, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.

What is the graduation rate at Clark University?

About 77% of students at Clark University graduate within six years, and 70% finish in four years. 86% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.

What does Clark University look for in applicants?

Clark University rates course rigor, GPA and recommendations as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.

Is Clark University a public or private school, and where is it located?

Clark University is a private nonprofit institution located in Worcester, Massachusetts.

What are the most popular majors at Clark University?

The largest undergraduate majors at Clark University by annual graduates are Psychology, General, Graphic Communications and Business Administration, Management and Operations. The school awards about 385 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.

Is Clark University safe? What is its campus crime rate?

Clark University reported 12 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 5.4 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.

What is campus life like at Clark University?

At Clark University, 68% of undergraduates live on campus, 0% of men are in fraternities, 0% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.

Sources: the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by Clark University, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers