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Virginia Tech UD Rutgers UConn Pitt UMass UB NC State Michigan State Clemson Syracuse Drexel| Clarkson University | Penn State Main Campus | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Clarkson | Penn State | ||
| Location | Potsdam, NY | University Park, PA | ||
| Setting | Remote Town | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 3,719 | 50,028 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #220 | #167 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | clarkson.edu | psu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Clarkson | Penn State | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $54,960 | $18,368 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $54,960 | $35,946 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,744 | $12,744 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $32,450 | $26,747 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $41,285 | $10,066 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 44% |
Admission |
Clarkson | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 6,594 | 85,784 | ||
| Admitted | 5,171 | 47,360 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 78.4% | 55.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 11.5% | 19.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.8 | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 25/30 | 26/31 | ||
| SAT Range | 1190/1370 | 1210/1390 | ||
| 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 |
Academics |
Clarkson | Penn State | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 14:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Clarkson | Penn State | ||
| Graduation Rate | 72% | 87% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $70,800 | $55,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 86% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $26,818 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $277 |
Diversity |
Clarkson | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 64% | 53% | ||
| % Women | 36% | 47% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 84% | 69% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 3% | 11% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 2% |
Students |
Clarkson | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 65% | 51% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 31% | 40% | ||
Campus |
Clarkson | Penn State | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | Yes | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Penn State Main Campus is larger than than Clarkson based on total student enrollment (50,028 students vs. 3,719 students)
Clarkson vs. Penn State Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Clarkson or Penn State?
- Clarkson University is 199.2% more expensive to attend than Penn State for in-state tuition ($54,960.00 vs. $18,368.00)
- Out of state tuition is 52.9% higher at Clarkson than Penn State Main Campus ($54,960.00 vs. $35,946.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Main Campus than Clarkson ($26,747 vs. $32,450)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 31.4% lower than costs at Clarkson University ($12,744 vs. $16,744)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Clarkson University than Penn State Main Campus (100% vs. 44%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Clarkson University students is 310.1% larger than aid received Penn State Main Campus ($41,285 vs. $10,066)
Clarkson vs. Penn State Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Clarkson or Penn State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Penn State or Clarkson .
- The average SAT score at Penn State Main Campus (1202) is 4 points higher than at Clarkson (1198)
- Incoming Clarkson students have at the same average ACT score (27) as students at Penn State (27)
- Clarkson has a higher acceptance rate (78.4%) than Penn State (55.2%)
Clarkson vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Clarkson or Penn State? 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 Penn State and Clarkson.
- The graduation rate at Penn State is higher than Clarkson University (87% vs. 72%)
- Graduates from Clarkson University earn on average $15,500 more per year than Penn State graduates after ten years. ($70,800 vs. $55,300)
- Penn State Main Campus students graduate with a $182 lower median federal student loan debt than Clarkson graduates. ($26,818 vs. $27,000)
- Penn State graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than Clarkson graduates. ($277 vs. $279)
- More Clarkson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 69%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/