Clarkson vs. Penn State Brandywine

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

Clarkson University
Penn State Brandywine

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Clarkson (77.4% admitted vs 98.1%). Typical SAT 1300 vs 1200.
  • Cheaper after aid: Penn State Brandywine. Average net price is $22,710 vs $32,406 at Clarkson.
  • Graduation: Clarkson 72% vs Penn State Brandywine 37%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Clarkson $70,800 vs Penn State Brandywine $55,300 (median).
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Key differences

Clarkson University Penn State Brandywine
Acceptance rate
Clarkson more selective
Clarkson77.4%
Penn State Brandywine98.1%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Clarkson higher
Clarkson1200-1390
Penn State Brandywine1080-1310
Average net price
Penn State Brandywine $9,696 less
Clarkson$32,406
Penn State Brandywine$22,710
In-state tuition
Penn State Brandywine $44,190 less
Clarkson$59,398
Penn State Brandywine$15,208
Out-of-state tuition
Penn State Brandywine $34,006 less
Clarkson$59,398
Penn State Brandywine$25,392
Graduation rate
Clarkson +35 pts
Clarkson72%
Penn State Brandywine37%
Median earnings (10 years)
Clarkson +$15,500
Clarkson$70,800
Penn State Brandywine$55,300

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Clarkson 6,661
  • Penn State Brandywine 2,431
  • Admitted
  • Clarkson 5,153
  • Penn State Brandywine 2,385
  • Acceptance rate
  • Clarkson 77.4%
  • Penn State Brandywine 98.1%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Clarkson 9.5%
  • Penn State Brandywine 16.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Clarkson 1300
  • Penn State Brandywine 1200
  • Typical ACT score
  • Clarkson 28
  • Penn State Brandywine
  • Average high school GPA
  • Clarkson 3.8
  • Penn State Brandywine -
  • Typical high school grades
  • Clarkson A-
  • Penn State Brandywine -
  • Admissions standards
  • Clarkson Very High
  • Penn State Brandywine Challenging
  • Applicant competition
  • Clarkson
  • Penn State Brandywine
  • SAT range
  • Clarkson 1200-1390
  • Penn State Brandywine 1080-1310
  • ACT range
  • Clarkson 25-32
  • Penn State Brandywine
  • Submit test scores
  • Clarkson Test optional
  • Penn State Brandywine Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Clarkson Jan 15, 2027
  • Penn State Brandywine
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Clarkson $59,398
  • Penn State Brandywine $15,208
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Clarkson $59,398
  • Penn State Brandywine $25,392
  • Room & board
  • Clarkson $18,252
  • Penn State Brandywine $14,474
  • Average net price
  • Clarkson $32,406
  • Penn State Brandywine $22,710
  • Average grant aid
  • Clarkson $46,528
  • Penn State Brandywine $9,113
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Clarkson 100%
  • Penn State Brandywine 73%
  • Graduation rate
  • Clarkson 72%
  • Penn State Brandywine 37%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Clarkson $70,800
  • Penn State Brandywine $55,300
  • Making student loan payments
  • Clarkson 86%
  • Penn State Brandywine 69%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Clarkson $27,000
  • Penn State Brandywine $26,818
  • Median loan payment
  • Clarkson $279
  • Penn State Brandywine $277
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Clarkson 13:1
  • Penn State Brandywine 15:1
  • Popular majors
  • Clarkson
    • Engineering (48%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Engineering Technology (9%)
    • Communication (3%)
  • Penn State Brandywine
    • Business (28%)
    • Work and Family Studies (28%)
    • Communication (23%)
    • Ethnic Studies (6%)
    • Education (5%)
  • Location
  • Clarkson Potsdam, NY
  • Penn State Brandywine Media, PA
  • Setting
  • Clarkson Remote Town
  • Penn State Brandywine Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Clarkson 3,348
  • Penn State Brandywine 1,236
  • Type
  • Clarkson Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Brandywine Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Clarkson #189
  • Penn State Brandywine #821

Comparable Facts

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

Clarkson University is larger than Penn State Brandywine based on total student enrollment (3,348 students vs. 1,236 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Clarkson University is located in Potsdam, NY (Remote Town setting); Penn State Brandywine is in Media, PA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Clarkson University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Brandywine is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Clarkson University 13:1; Penn State Brandywine 15:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Brandywine are 20.7% lower than at Clarkson University ($14,474 vs. $18,252).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 133.9% higher at Clarkson than at Penn State Brandywine (about $34,006 more per year; $59,398 vs. $25,392).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Clarkson University than at Penn State Brandywine (100% vs. 73%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Clarkson University students is 410.6% larger than aid received by Penn State Brandywine students ($46,528 vs. $9,113).

Admissions details

  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Clarkson and Penn State Brandywine.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Clarkson Jan 15, 2027.
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.5% at Clarkson vs. 16.8% at Penn State Brandywine.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Brandywine graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Clarkson graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Penn State Brandywine 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 Brandywine 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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