MHC vs. Clarkson

Deciding between Mount Holyoke College and Clarkson University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Mount Holyoke College
Clarkson University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • MHC South Hadley, MA
  • Clarkson Potsdam, NY
  • Setting
  • MHC Large Suburban
  • Clarkson Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • MHC 2,275
  • Clarkson 3,348
  • Type
  • MHC Private 4 Year
  • Clarkson Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • MHC #81
  • Clarkson #189
  • Religious Affiliation
  • MHC -
  • Clarkson -
  • Status
  • MHC Non-profit
  • Clarkson Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • MHC
  • Clarkson

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • MHC $67,018
  • Clarkson $59,398
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • MHC $67,018
  • Clarkson $59,398
  • Room & Board
  • MHC $19,684
  • Clarkson $18,252
  • Average Net Price
  • MHC $32,526
  • Clarkson $32,406
  • Average Grant Aid
  • MHC $52,418
  • Clarkson $46,528
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • MHC 77%
  • Clarkson 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • MHC 5,226
  • Clarkson 6,661
  • Admitted
  • MHC 1,883
  • Clarkson 5,153
  • Acceptance Rate
  • MHC 36%
  • Clarkson 77.4%
  • Enrolled
  • MHC 27.2%
  • Clarkson 9.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • MHC 1460
  • Clarkson 1300
  • Typical ACT score
  • MHC 33
  • Clarkson 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • MHC 3.87
  • Clarkson 3.8
  • Typical High School Grades
  • MHC A
  • Clarkson A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • MHC Elite
  • Clarkson Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • MHC High
  • Clarkson
  • ACT Range
  • MHC 32/35
  • Clarkson 25/32
  • SAT Range
  • MHC 1380/1530
  • Clarkson 1200/1390
  • Submit Test Scores
  • MHC Test optional
  • Clarkson Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • MHC Jan 15, 2027
  • Clarkson Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • MHC 9:1
  • Clarkson 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • MHC
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • Clarkson
    • Engineering (48%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Engineering Technology (9%)
    • Communication (3%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • MHC 85%
  • Clarkson 72%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • MHC $50,000
  • Clarkson $70,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • MHC 77%
  • Clarkson 86%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • MHC $21,206
  • Clarkson $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • MHC $219
  • Clarkson $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • MHC 1%
  • Clarkson 66%
  • % Women
  • MHC 99%
  • Clarkson 34%
  • Racial Diversity
  • MHC Very High
  • Clarkson Very Low
  • HBCU
  • MHC No
  • Clarkson No
  • % White
  • MHC 45%
  • Clarkson 84%
  • % Asian
  • MHC 10%
  • Clarkson 3%
  • % Black
  • MHC 6%
  • Clarkson 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • MHC 8%
  • Clarkson 4%
  • % Native American
  • MHC 0%
  • Clarkson 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • MHC 0%
  • Clarkson 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • MHC 4%
  • Clarkson 2%
  • % International
  • MHC 26%
  • Clarkson 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • MHC 1%
  • Clarkson 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • MHC 19%
  • Clarkson 67%
  • % Out-of-State
  • MHC 63%
  • Clarkson 25%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • MHC Yes
  • Clarkson Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • MHC No
  • Clarkson No
  • Meal Plan
  • MHC Yes
  • Clarkson Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • MHC No
  • Clarkson No
  • Daycare Facility
  • MHC No
  • Clarkson No

Comparable Facts

Compare Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA with Clarkson University in Potsdam, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Clarkson University is larger than MHC based on total student enrollment (3,348 students vs. 2,275 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Mount Holyoke College is located in South Hadley, MA (Large Suburban setting); Clarkson University is in Potsdam, NY (Remote Town setting).
  • Mount Holyoke College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Clarkson University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Mount Holyoke College 9:1; Clarkson University 13:1.

MHC vs. Clarkson Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MHC or Clarkson? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Clarkson University than MHC ($32,406 vs. $32,526).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clarkson University are 7.3% lower than at Mount Holyoke College ($18,252 vs. $19,684).
  • Mount Holyoke College is 12.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Clarkson (about $7,620 more per year; $67,018.00 vs. $59,398.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 12.8% higher at MHC than at Clarkson University (about $7,620 more per year; $67,018.00 vs. $59,398.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Clarkson University than at Mount Holyoke College (100% vs. 77%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mount Holyoke College students is 12.7% larger than aid received by Clarkson University students ($52,418 vs. $46,528).

MHC vs. Clarkson Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MHC or Clarkson? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Clarkson and MHC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Mount Holyoke College (1460) is 160 points higher than at Clarkson (1300).
  • Incoming MHC students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 28 at Clarkson).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mount Holyoke College 1380/1530; Clarkson University 1200/1390.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mount Holyoke College 32/35; Clarkson University 25/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MHC - Test optional; Clarkson - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: MHC Jan 15, 2027; Clarkson Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman MHC students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.87) than students at Clarkson (3.8).
  • Clarkson has a higher acceptance rate (77.4%) than MHC (36%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.2% at MHC vs. 9.5% at Clarkson.

MHC vs. Clarkson Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MHC and Clarkson? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Mount Holyoke College's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than Clarkson University's (72%).
  • Graduates from Clarkson University earn a median of about $20,800 more per year than MHC graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,800 vs. $50,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Mount Holyoke College graduates have a $5,794 lower median loan debt than Clarkson graduates ($21,206 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, MHC graduates have an estimated $60 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Clarkson graduates ($219 vs. $279).
  • More Clarkson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MHC students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 77%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.