Clarkson vs. Penn State Harrisburg

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

Clarkson University
Penn State Harrisburg

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Clarkson (77.4% admitted vs 97.6%). Typical SAT 1300 vs 1220.
  • Cheaper after aid: Penn State Harrisburg. Average net price is $23,788 vs $32,406 at Clarkson.
  • Graduation: Clarkson 72% vs Penn State Harrisburg 63%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Clarkson $70,800 vs Penn State Harrisburg $55,300 (median).
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Key differences

Clarkson University Penn State Harrisburg
Acceptance rate
Clarkson more selective
Clarkson77.4%
Penn State Harrisburg97.6%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Clarkson higher
Clarkson1200-1390
Penn State Harrisburg1120-1310
Average net price
Penn State Harrisburg $8,618 less
Clarkson$32,406
Penn State Harrisburg$23,788
In-state tuition
Penn State Harrisburg $43,426 less
Clarkson$59,398
Penn State Harrisburg$15,972
Out-of-state tuition
Penn State Harrisburg $32,440 less
Clarkson$59,398
Penn State Harrisburg$26,958
Graduation rate
Clarkson +9 pts
Clarkson72%
Penn State Harrisburg63%
Median earnings (10 years)
Clarkson +$15,500
Clarkson$70,800
Penn State Harrisburg$55,300

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Clarkson 6,661
  • Penn State Harrisburg 9,316
  • Admitted
  • Clarkson 5,153
  • Penn State Harrisburg 9,092
  • Acceptance rate
  • Clarkson 77.4%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 97.6%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Clarkson 9.5%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 11.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Clarkson 1300
  • Penn State Harrisburg 1220
  • Typical ACT score
  • Clarkson 28
  • Penn State Harrisburg 26
  • Average high school GPA
  • Clarkson 3.8
  • Penn State Harrisburg 3.48
  • Typical high school grades
  • Clarkson A-
  • Penn State Harrisburg B+
  • Admissions standards
  • Clarkson Very High
  • Penn State Harrisburg Difficult
  • Applicant competition
  • Clarkson
  • Penn State Harrisburg
  • SAT range
  • Clarkson 1200-1390
  • Penn State Harrisburg 1120-1310
  • ACT range
  • Clarkson 25-32
  • Penn State Harrisburg 22-31
  • Submit test scores
  • Clarkson Test optional
  • Penn State Harrisburg Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Clarkson Jan 15, 2027
  • Penn State Harrisburg
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Clarkson $59,398
  • Penn State Harrisburg $15,972
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Clarkson $59,398
  • Penn State Harrisburg $26,958
  • Room & board
  • Clarkson $18,252
  • Penn State Harrisburg $14,474
  • Average net price
  • Clarkson $32,406
  • Penn State Harrisburg $23,788
  • Average grant aid
  • Clarkson $46,528
  • Penn State Harrisburg $9,245
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Clarkson 100%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 63%
  • Graduation rate
  • Clarkson 72%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 63%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Clarkson $70,800
  • Penn State Harrisburg $55,300
  • Making student loan payments
  • Clarkson 86%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 69%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Clarkson $27,000
  • Penn State Harrisburg $26,818
  • Median loan payment
  • Clarkson $279
  • Penn State Harrisburg $277
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Clarkson 13:1
  • Penn State Harrisburg 15:1
  • Popular majors
  • Clarkson
    • Engineering (48%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Engineering Technology (9%)
    • Communication (3%)
  • Penn State Harrisburg
    • Business (34%)
    • Engineering (23%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • English and Literature (5%)
  • Location
  • Clarkson Potsdam, NY
  • Penn State Harrisburg Middletown, PA
  • Setting
  • Clarkson Remote Town
  • Penn State Harrisburg Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Clarkson 3,348
  • Penn State Harrisburg 4,478
  • Type
  • Clarkson Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Harrisburg Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Clarkson #189
  • Penn State Harrisburg #574

Comparable Facts

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

Penn State Harrisburg is larger than Clarkson based on total student enrollment (4,478 students vs. 3,348 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Harrisburg 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 Harrisburg (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 Harrisburg (100% vs. 63%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Clarkson University students is 403.3% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($46,528 vs. $9,245).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 2 points higher at Clarkson than at Penn State Harrisburg (28 vs. 26, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Clarkson and Penn State Harrisburg.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Clarkson Jan 15, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Clarkson average a 3.8 high school GPA, 0.32 higher than at Penn State Harrisburg (3.48).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.5% at Clarkson vs. 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg.

Loans and repayment

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