Clarkson vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre

Comparable Facts

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

Clarkson University is larger than Penn State Wilkes-Barre based on total student enrollment (3,348 students vs. 315 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Clarkson University is located in Potsdam, NY (Remote Town setting); Penn State Wilkes Barre is in Dallas, PA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Clarkson University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Wilkes Barre is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Clarkson University 13:1; Penn State Wilkes Barre 10:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Wilkes Barre are 16.3% lower than at Clarkson University ($15,274 vs. $18,252).
• Out-of-state tuition is 147.4% higher at Clarkson than at Penn State Wilkes Barre (about $35,392 more per year; $59,398 vs. $24,006).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Clarkson University than at Penn State Wilkes Barre (100% vs. 89%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Clarkson University students is 377.6% larger than aid received by Penn State Wilkes Barre students ($46,528 vs. $9,742).

Admissions details

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

Loans and repayment

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