Clarkson vs. Penn State Erie-Behrend College

Comparable Facts

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

Clarkson University is larger than Penn State Erie-Behrend College based on total student enrollment (3,348 students vs. 3,336 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Clarkson University is located in Potsdam, NY (Remote Town setting); Penn State Erie Behrend College is in Erie, PA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Clarkson University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Erie Behrend College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Clarkson University 13:1; Penn State Erie Behrend College 12:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Erie Behrend College are 20.7% lower than at Clarkson University ($14,474 vs. $18,252).
• Out-of-state tuition is 120.3% higher at Clarkson than at Penn State Erie Behrend College (about $32,440 more per year; $59,398 vs. $26,958).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Clarkson University than at Penn State Erie Behrend College (100% vs. 76%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Clarkson University students is 332.4% larger than aid received by Penn State Erie Behrend College students ($46,528 vs. $10,760).

Admissions details

• Incoming Clarkson students have the same typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate; 28) as students at Penn State Erie-Behrend College (28).
• SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Clarkson and Penn State Erie-Behrend College.
• Typical fall application deadline: Clarkson Jan 15, 2027.
• Enrolled first-year students at Clarkson average a 3.8 high school GPA, 0.31 higher than at Penn State Erie-Behrend College (3.49).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.5% at Clarkson vs. 14.5% at Penn State Erie-Behrend College.

Loans and repayment

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