The Clarkson School Admissions & Aid
What to Expect
The Clarkson School isn't "college lite." Here, experience life as a Clarkson student, taking a full course load while participating in student clubs, athletic teams and academic and social organizations. Clarkson students love to solve problems by getting their hands dirty. Sometimes that means building a solar car; sometimes that means launching a business. You can, too.
Living in a residence hall with other Clarkson School students and a dedicated staff of House Advisors (HAs) makes your transition to college easier. Working closely with an academic advisor keeps you focused on the future.
Fast Facts
STUDENT BODY: ~4,600 students from 40+ states and 60+ countries; ~3,000 undergraduate students
LOCATION (for undergraduate study): Potsdam, New York
HISTORY: 1896 — Founded as the Thomas S. Clarkson Memorial School of Technology, a memorial to Thomas S. Clarkson, a Potsdam businessman and humanitarian. 1913 — Renamed Thomas S. Clarkson Memorial College of Technology — where we
got our chant, “Let’s Go Tech!” 1984 — Renamed Clarkson University to reflect status as a university with master’s and PhD programs in more than two fields.
PRESIDENT: David Heacock (2024-Present)
MASCOT: Golden Knight
COLORS: Green and Gold, after Thomas S. Clarkson’s favorite flower, the goldenrod
ATHLETICS: 2 Division I sports teams (men’s and women’s hockey); 18 Division III sports teams; 200+ club sports teams and intramural leagues
MILITARY: Army and Air Force ROTC programs
STUDENT/FACULTY RATIO: 14:1
PLACEMENT RATE: 97% in chosen field
AVERAGE STARTING SALARY: $71,635
ALUMNI: 46,000+
APPLICATION DEADLINES: Early Decision - December 1; Regular Decision - January 15
TEST SCORES: Optional for 2024 Admission; Self-reported
SCHOOLS: Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries; Wallace H. Coulter School of Engineering and Applied Sciences; Institute for STEM Education; Institute for a Sustainable Environment; Earl R. and Barbara D. Lewis School of Health and Life Sciences; David D. Reh School of Business; Graduate School
HONORS PROGRAM: Research-based option for students looking to pursue research even before the start of their first year in college; culminates in a senior thesis.
STUDENT INVOLVEMENT: 200+ clubs, organizations and teams to join on campus, including musical/performance, religious, political, hobby/special interest, volunteer/community service, Greek (9 fraternities, 4 sororities), athletic, academic/preprofessional, honor societies and Leadership development clubs.
CO-OPS & INTERNSHIPS: All Clarkson students have a professional experience before graduation. For the majority of students, this means a co-op or internship with a top company in their industry of interest.
GLOBAL/OFF-CAMPUS EXPERIENCES: 50+ partner institutions in nearly 30 countries plus three U.S. experiences: Washington D.C. Semester; several Clarkson-led short-term trips throughout the year.
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH: Clarkson is a nationally recognized research university with focus areas in Healthy Global Solutions, Computational and Data-Enabled Discovery, Advanced Materials Development and Next Generation Medicine and Healthcare. Any undergraduate student who wants to perform research with a faculty member has the ability to do so.
HOUSING: Discover Clarkson's housing options here.
By the Numbers
14:1
Student-to-faculty ratio.
Learn from the same world-class faculty as any Clarkson student.
65%
Of our student return to Clarkson for their sophomore year. You can also transfer most (if not all) of your credits elsewhere.
$30,000
Clarkson School students are eligible for all the same financial aid as other first-year students, including federal, state and University aid, such as grants, loans and scholarships.
Top 10%
Students in The Clarkson School are typically ranked at the top of their high school classes.
50+
Accredited degree programs in which you can start your studies.
Applying to The Clarkson School
The Clarkson School Admissions Committee requires each applicant to submit an application, an essay, transcripts and recommendations. Review all application requirements and financial aid information to get started.
Earning Your High School Diploma
The Clarkson School does not grant high school diplomas. If you want to earn one, you can work with your current high school to develop a suitable academic plan that satisfies your graduation requirements while studying at The Clarkson School. We will incorporate these requirements into your schedule here over the course of one or two semesters.
Get the Lowdown
What should you bring to campus? What is there to do in the Adirondacks? What will classes be like? You're not the only one to ask these questions — and you can find the answers from other students on the Clarkson Blog.
Who We Are
The Clarkson School (TCS) is a selective early college program for talented and motivated high school-aged students who enroll as first-year students at Clarkson. Typically, these students have progressed beyond their high school curriculum and are ready for a fresh academic challenge.
Global Experience Trip
Carly LaBow, a Business Administration senior, speaks about her opportunity to explore Europe as a part of her The Clarkson School experience.