AU vs. Clarkson

Should I go to American University or Clarkson University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if AU or Clarkson is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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American University vs. Clarkson University comparison
American University Clarkson University College 3 College 4
American University Clarkson University
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Overview

 AU Clarkson
Location Washington, DC Potsdam, NY
Setting Large City Remote Town
Enrollment 13,885 3,719
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #93 #220
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website american.edu clarkson.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 AU Clarkson
Tuition (In State) $53,070 $54,960
Tuition (Out of State) $53,070 $54,960
Room & Board $15,706 $16,744
Avg Net Price $41,369 $32,450
Avg Grant Aid $27,138 $41,285
% Receiving Grant Aid 66% 100%

Admission

 AU Clarkson
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 19,510 6,594
Admitted 7,926 5,171
Acceptance Rate 40.6% 78.4%
Enrolled % 22.2% 11.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.8
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 29/32 25/30
SAT Range 1290/1430 1190/1370
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2024 Jan 15, 2024

Academics

 AU Clarkson
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (43%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Psychology (3%)
  • Engineering (48%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Engineering Technology (9%)
  • Communication (3%)

Outcomes

 AU Clarkson
Graduation Rate 77% 72%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $64,800 $70,800
Making Student Loan Payments 80% 86%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,250 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $250 $279

Diversity

 AU Clarkson
% Men 37% 64%
% Women 63% 36%
Racial Diversity High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 58% 84%
% Black 7% 2%
% Hispanic 12% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 2%
% International 7% 3%
% Unknown Race 4% 2%

Students

 AU Clarkson
% In-State 2% 65%
% Out-of-State 94% 31%

Campus

 AU Clarkson
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • American University is larger than than Clarkson based on total student enrollment (13,885 students vs. 3,719 students)

AU vs. Clarkson Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or Clarkson?

  • Clarkson University is 3.6% more expensive to attend than AU for in-state tuition ($54,960.00 vs. $53,070.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 3.6% higher at Clarkson than American University ($54,960.00 vs. $53,070.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Clarkson University than AU ($32,450 vs. $41,369)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American University are 6.6% lower than costs at Clarkson University ($15,706 vs. $16,744)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Clarkson University than American University (100% vs. 66%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Clarkson University students is 52.1% larger than aid received American University ($41,285 vs. $27,138)

AU vs. Clarkson Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AU or Clarkson? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Clarkson or AU .

  • The average SAT score at American University (1252) is 54 points higher than at Clarkson (1198)
  • Incoming AU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at Clarkson (27)
  • Accepted freshman Clarkson students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at AU (3.7)
  • Clarkson has a higher acceptance rate (78.4%) than AU (40.6%)

AU vs. Clarkson Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, AU or Clarkson? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Clarkson and AU.

  • The graduation rate at AU is higher than Clarkson University (77% vs. 72%)
  • Graduates from Clarkson University earn on average $6,000 more per year than AU graduates after ten years. ($70,800 vs. $64,800)
  • American University students graduate with a $2,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Clarkson graduates. ($24,250 vs. $27,000)
  • AU graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans than Clarkson graduates. ($250 vs. $279)
  • More Clarkson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AU students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 80%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/