Clarkson vs. Penn State

Clarkson University and Penn State Main Campus side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Clarkson University
Penn State Main Campus

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Penn State (60.6% admitted vs 77.4%). Typical SAT 1330 vs 1300.
  • Cheaper after aid: Penn State. Average net price is $27,889 vs $32,406 at Clarkson.
  • Graduation: Clarkson 72% vs Penn State 87%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Clarkson $70,800 vs Penn State $55,300 (median).
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Key differences

Clarkson University Penn State Main Campus
Acceptance rate
Penn State more selective
Clarkson77.4%
Penn State60.6%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Penn State higher
Clarkson1200-1390
Penn State1240-1420
Average net price
Penn State $4,517 less
Clarkson$32,406
Penn State$27,889
In-state tuition
Penn State $38,754 less
Clarkson$59,398
Penn State$20,644
Out-of-state tuition
Penn State $17,608 less
Clarkson$59,398
Penn State$41,790
Graduation rate
Penn State +15 pts
Clarkson72%
Penn State87%
Median earnings (10 years)
Clarkson +$15,500
Clarkson$70,800
Penn State$55,300

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Clarkson 6,661
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Clarkson 5,153
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance rate
  • Clarkson 77.4%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Clarkson 9.5%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Clarkson 1300
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Clarkson 28
  • Penn State 29
  • Average high school GPA
  • Clarkson 3.8
  • Penn State -
  • Typical high school grades
  • Clarkson A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions standards
  • Clarkson Very High
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant competition
  • Clarkson
  • Penn State Low
  • SAT range
  • Clarkson 1200-1390
  • Penn State 1240-1420
  • ACT range
  • Clarkson 25-32
  • Penn State 27-32
  • Submit test scores
  • Clarkson Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Clarkson Jan 15, 2027
  • Penn State
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Clarkson $59,398
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Clarkson $59,398
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & board
  • Clarkson $18,252
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average net price
  • Clarkson $32,406
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average grant aid
  • Clarkson $46,528
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Clarkson 100%
  • Penn State 37%
  • Graduation rate
  • Clarkson 72%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Clarkson $70,800
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making student loan payments
  • Clarkson 86%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Clarkson $27,000
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median loan payment
  • Clarkson $279
  • Penn State $277
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Clarkson 13:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular majors
  • Clarkson
    • Engineering (48%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Engineering Technology (9%)
    • Communication (3%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Location
  • Clarkson Potsdam, NY
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Clarkson Remote Town
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Clarkson 3,348
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Clarkson Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Clarkson #189
  • Penn State #185

Comparable Facts

Compare Clarkson University in Potsdam, NY with Penn State Main Campus in University Park, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Penn State Main Campus is larger than Clarkson based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 3,348 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Clarkson University is located in Potsdam, NY (Remote Town setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • Clarkson University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Clarkson University 13:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 20.7% lower than at Clarkson University ($14,474 vs. $18,252).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 42.1% higher at Clarkson than at Penn State Main Campus (about $17,608 more per year; $59,398 vs. $41,790).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Clarkson University than at Penn State Main Campus (100% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Clarkson University students is 310.4% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($46,528 vs. $11,336).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 1 point higher at Penn State than at Clarkson (29 vs. 28, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Clarkson and Penn State.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Clarkson Jan 15, 2027.
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.5% at Clarkson vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Main Campus graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Clarkson graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Penn State graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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