Clarkson University is a small private STEM-focused research university founded in 1896 in Potsdam, in New York's North Country, roughly 20 miles from the St. Lawrence River and the Canadian border. Home to about 4,300 students (~3,000 undergraduates), Clarkson is one of the smallest nationally ranked research universities in the United States and consistently graduates one of the highest percentages of engineers per capita of any U.S. institution — roughly two-thirds of its undergraduates study engineering or business. The university is organized into four schools: the Wallace H. Coulter School of Engineering, the David D. Reh School of Business, the School of Arts & Sciences, and the Lewis School of Health Sciences (including a new Capital Region campus in Schenectady focused on graduate health professions). Academically, Clarkson is best known for engineering (U.S. News ranks Environmental Engineering among the top 60 nationally, with Chemical, Mechanical, Civil and Materials engineering all in the top-110 range), for the 'Engineering & Management' program that pioneered the integrated engineering-business degree in the U.S., and for a portfolio of growing STEM-designated graduate programs in cybersecurity, business analytics and supply-chain management. The Reh School of Business's full-time MBA is ranked among the top 125 nationally. Class sizes are small (median ~20 students, 13:1 student-faculty ratio), undergraduate research is unusually accessible, and Clarkson's Ignite Presidential Fellowship provides a full-tuition award to 10 incoming students each year. Campus culture is built around Clarkson Golden Knights Division I ice hockey — Cheel Arena is packed for every home series, and the Pep Band, fireworks and ice-carving traditions around Winter Carnival define the Potsdam student experience. The 640-acre Hill Campus sits next to the St. Regis River and the Adirondack Park, giving students year-round access to hiking, skiing, kayaking and hockey. Career outcomes are a core selling point: 98% of recent graduates are employed or in graduate school within six months, average starting salaries exceed $71,000, and 1 in 5 living alumni is a CEO, senior executive, or company owner — placing Clarkson in the top 40 nationally for graduate salary potential per PayScale.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
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Official SourceThe deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Domestic
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/yr
Out-of-State / Intl
$61,148
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
4 years
One of Clarkson's signature programs with hands-on research experience, modern pilot-scale facilities, and consistently strong post-graduation salaries (>$74K average). STEM-designated for 3-year OPT. Strong pipeline into the pharmaceutical and specialty-chemicals industries.
4 years
Top-60 nationally ranked program. 2024 graduates reported a 100% placement rate with average starting salaries of $69K-$76K. Coursework integrated with the Great Rivers Center and Adirondack Park research sites.
4 years
Clarkson's pioneering dual-discipline program combining a full ABET-accredited engineering core with a business curriculum. STEM-designated; favored by students targeting consulting, operations or product-management careers.
2 years
STEM-designated graduate program with hands-on lab work and strong placement into defense (General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin) and fintech employers. Ideal 3-year OPT runway for international students.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $59,398
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
