Clarkson University: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Potsdam, New York · Private nonprofit · Open access · CDS 2024-2025
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2024-2025
- Test-optional
- 6,661
- Applicants
- 5,153
- Admitted77%
- 489
- Enrolled
- 9%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Open access77% admittedRanked #137 (tie) in National Universities; Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs #102 (tie), Business Programs #262 (tie), Computer Science #217 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2024-2025 Common Data Set published by Clarkson University (see the source), read on 2026-06-15.
Is Clarkson University a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places Clarkson University against it in about a minute. No account needed.
Clarkson University is a private nonprofit university in Potsdam, New York that admits about 77% of applicants, making it a open access school. The average family pays about $30,305 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering and Engineering-Related Fields, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 78% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 0.9 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Clarkson University is a private institution located in Potsdam, New York. For the most recent reporting cycle, Clarkson University admits the majority of qualified applicants, with an overall admission rate of 77%. Admitted students typically post an average SAT of 1304 and an ACT composite around 29. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $30,305 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for Clarkson University?
Clarkson University has a broadly accessible admissions profile, and most students who complete a standard college-prep curriculum with a 3.0 GPA or higher are competitive for admission.
Compare Clarkson University with the other schools on your list
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What does Clarkson University weight in admissions?
Clarkson University reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). What the weights mean
Very Important
1- Rigor of secondary school record
Important
5- Academic GPA
- Application essay
- Recommendations
- Interview
- Extracurricular activities
Considered
8- Class rank
- Standardized test scores
- Talent/ability
- Character/personal qualities
- First generation status
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
- Level of applicant's interest
Not Considered
4- Alumni/ae relation
- Geographical residence
- State residency
- Religious affiliation/commitment
SAT and ACT scores Clarkson University typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 610–700, with an EBRW midpoint near 630. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 25–32. A score at or above this school's 75th percentile materially improves your child's odds, particularly when paired with a rigorous course load.
| 25th percentile | n/a |
| 50th percentile | 1304 |
| 75th percentile | n/a |
| % submitting SAT | % |
| 25th percentile | 25 |
| 50th percentile | 29 |
| 75th percentile | 32 |
| % submitting ACT | % |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Policy detail: Considered if submitted
How much does Clarkson University actually cost?
Published tuition is $59,398 for in-state students and $59,398 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $18,252 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $30,305 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 22% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $59,800 |
| Room and board | $18,762 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $30,305 |
| Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need | 82% |
| Average need-based grant | $45,602 |
| Average merit award, no financial need139 first-year students received one | $38,830 |
| Graduates who borrowed | 77% |
| Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed | $27,000 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | — |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Clarkson University
Will my child graduate from Clarkson University?
These predict outcomes at Clarkson University better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at Clarkson University
The most popular undergraduate programs at Clarkson University, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering and Engineering-Related Fields. Across all programs, Clarkson University confers roughly 500 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Mechanical Engineering program report a median income of about $92,873 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering | 158 | $92,873 |
| Civil Engineering | 90 | $83,782 |
| Engineering-Related Fields | 63 | $89,444 |
| Chemical Engineering | 45 | $95,129 |
| Biology, General | 43 | $75,369 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | 41 | $95,489 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 32 | $98,812 |
| Computer Engineering | 28 | $110,682 |
Is Clarkson University safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Clarkson University disclosed 2 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 0.9 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 0 violent offenses and 1 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at Clarkson University?
About 89% of undergraduates at Clarkson University live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. In Greek life, 10% of men join a fraternity and 8% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in New York parents ask about
- CUNY Queens College64% acceptance
- Farmingdale State College63% acceptance
- Hofstra University68% acceptance
- Long Island University86% acceptance
- State University of New York at Cortland60% acceptance
- State University of New York at Oswego81% acceptance
- SUNY at Purchase College74% acceptance
- SUNY Brockport71% acceptance
Next steps for Clarkson University
Common questions parents ask about Clarkson University
What GPA do I need for Clarkson University?
Clarkson University has a broadly accessible admissions profile, and most students who complete a standard college-prep curriculum with a 3.0 GPA or higher are competitive for admission.
What SAT or ACT score does Clarkson University typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 610–700, with an EBRW midpoint near 630. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 25–32.
How much does Clarkson University actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Clarkson University after grants and scholarships is $30,305 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $59,398. Budget against the net figure.
Is Clarkson University realistic for my child?
Clarkson University admits 77% of applicants, so 610–700 SAT Math is target range and below 610 is a reach. Then check the $30,305 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Clarkson University?
Clarkson University accepts about 77% of applicants out of roughly 6,661 who apply each year. It admits the majority of qualified applicants.
Is Clarkson University test-optional?
Yes. Clarkson 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 Clarkson University?
About 78% of students at Clarkson University graduate within six years, and 65% finish in four years. 85% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does Clarkson University look for in applicants?
Clarkson University rates course rigor as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is Clarkson University a public or private school, and where is it located?
Clarkson University is a private nonprofit institution located in Potsdam, New York.
What are the most popular majors at Clarkson University?
The largest undergraduate majors at Clarkson University by annual graduates are Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering and Engineering-Related Fields. The school awards about 500 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Clarkson University safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Clarkson University reported 2 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 0.9 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 Clarkson University?
At Clarkson University, 89% of undergraduates live on campus, 10% of men are in fraternities, 8% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by Clarkson University, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers