BC vs. Clarkson

Boston College and Clarkson University side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Boston College
Clarkson University

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: BC (16.4% admitted vs 77.4%). Typical SAT 1490 vs 1300.
  • Cheaper after aid: about even. Average net price is $32,519 at BC vs $32,406 at Clarkson. BC in-state tuition is about $11,304 more per year.
  • Graduation: BC 91% vs Clarkson 72%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: BC $90,900 vs Clarkson $70,800 (median).
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Key differences

Boston College Clarkson University
Acceptance rate
BC more selective
BC16.4%
Clarkson77.4%
SAT range (middle 50%)
BC higher
BC1440-1540
Clarkson1200-1390
Average net price
About even
BC$32,519
Clarkson$32,406
In-state tuition
Clarkson $11,304 less
BC$70,702
Clarkson$59,398
Out-of-state tuition
Clarkson $11,304 less
BC$70,702
Clarkson$59,398
Graduation rate
BC +19 pts
BC91%
Clarkson72%
Median earnings (10 years)
BC +$20,100
BC$90,900
Clarkson$70,800

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • BC 35,037
  • Clarkson 6,661
  • Admitted
  • BC 5,755
  • Clarkson 5,153
  • Acceptance rate
  • BC 16.4%
  • Clarkson 77.4%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • BC 43.5%
  • Clarkson 9.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • BC 1490
  • Clarkson 1300
  • Typical ACT score
  • BC 34
  • Clarkson 28
  • Average high school GPA
  • BC 3.86
  • Clarkson 3.8
  • Typical high school grades
  • BC A
  • Clarkson A-
  • Admissions standards
  • BC Elite
  • Clarkson Very High
  • Applicant competition
  • BC Very High
  • Clarkson
  • SAT range
  • BC 1440-1540
  • Clarkson 1200-1390
  • ACT range
  • BC 33-35
  • Clarkson 25-32
  • Submit test scores
  • BC Test optional
  • Clarkson Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • BC Jan 1, 2027
  • Clarkson Jan 15, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • BC $70,702
  • Clarkson $59,398
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • BC $70,702
  • Clarkson $59,398
  • Room & board
  • BC $18,916
  • Clarkson $18,252
  • Average net price
  • BC $32,519
  • Clarkson $32,406
  • Average grant aid
  • BC $56,971
  • Clarkson $46,528
  • % receiving grant aid
  • BC 40%
  • Clarkson 100%
  • Graduation rate
  • BC 91%
  • Clarkson 72%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • BC $90,900
  • Clarkson $70,800
  • Making student loan payments
  • BC 90%
  • Clarkson 86%
  • Median student loan debt
  • BC $19,000
  • Clarkson $27,000
  • Median loan payment
  • BC $196
  • Clarkson $279
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • BC 10:1
  • Clarkson 13:1
  • Popular majors
  • BC
    • Business (24%)
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
  • Clarkson
    • Engineering (48%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Engineering Technology (9%)
    • Communication (3%)
  • Location
  • BC Chestnut Hill, MA
  • Clarkson Potsdam, NY
  • Setting
  • BC Small City
  • Clarkson Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • BC 15,432
  • Clarkson 3,348
  • Type
  • BC Private 4 Year
  • Clarkson Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • BC #34
  • Clarkson #189

Comparable Facts

Compare Boston College in Chestnut Hill, MA with Clarkson University in Potsdam, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Boston College is larger than Clarkson based on total student enrollment (15,432 students vs. 3,348 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Boston College is located in Chestnut Hill, MA (Small City setting); Clarkson University is in Potsdam, NY (Remote Town setting).
  • Boston College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Clarkson University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Boston College 10:1; Clarkson University 13:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clarkson University are 3.5% lower than at Boston College ($18,252 vs. $18,916).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 19% higher at BC than at Clarkson University (about $11,304 more per year; $70,702 vs. $59,398).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Clarkson University than at Boston College (100% vs. 40%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Boston College students is 22.4% larger than aid received by Clarkson University students ($56,971 vs. $46,528).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 6 points higher at BC than at Clarkson (34 vs. 28, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both BC and Clarkson.
  • Typical fall application deadline: BC Jan 1, 2027; Clarkson Jan 15, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at BC average a 3.86 high school GPA, 0.06 higher than at Clarkson (3.8).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43.5% at BC vs. 9.5% at Clarkson.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Boston College graduates have a $8,000 lower median loan debt than Clarkson graduates ($19,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, BC graduates have an estimated $83 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Clarkson graduates ($196 vs. $279).
  • More BC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Clarkson students, three years after graduation (90% vs. 86%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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