- Acceptance rate: 77% for fall 2024
- SAT, middle 50%: 590–690 reading and writing, 610–700 math
- ACT, middle 50%: 25–32 composite
- Average net price: $33,192 a year (2022–23)
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How does your GPA compare?
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Where you standEnter your GPA
Add a test score to compare it with what Clarkson University reported: an acceptance rate of 77% for fall 2024 and an ACT middle 50% of 25–32.
Weighted GPAs above 4.0 can't be compared directly. Many colleges recalculate on their own scale, so use your unweighted GPA here.
A guide based on reported data, not a prediction. Clarkson University reviews each application.
Clarkson University GPA requirements
Clarkson University requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Federal data doesn't include GPA averages, and Clarkson University hasn't published one we could verify, so this page doesn't list an average GPA.
Clarkson University acceptance rate
Clarkson University admitted 5,153 of 6,661 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 77%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Clarkson University is a private nonprofit 4-year university in Potsdam, New York, with 2,296 undergraduates.
SAT and ACT scores
Scores of the first-year students who entered Clarkson University in fall 2024 and submitted them. Half of them scored between the 25th and 75th percentiles:
| Test | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading and Writing | 590 | 640 | 690 |
| SAT Math | 610 | 660 | 700 |
| ACT Composite | 25 | 28 | 32 |
| ACT English | 23 | 25 | 30 |
| ACT Math | 25 | 28 | 32 |
The U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard estimates an average SAT score of 1304 for admitted students.
Admission requirements
What Clarkson University looks at when it decides on first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024:
| Admission factor | Status |
|---|---|
| High School GPAYour cumulative high school grade point average. | Required |
| High School RecordYour transcript: the courses you took and the grades you earned. | Required |
| High School Class RankYour ranking relative to other students in your graduating class. | Required |
| RecommendationsLetters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other mentors. | Required |
| Essay or Personal StatementA personal statement or essay written for your application. | Required |
| College Preparatory ProgramCompletion of a college preparatory curriculum in high school. | Considered if submitted |
| Test ScoresSAT or ACT scores. | Considered if submitted |
| Other TestsOther admission tests, such as the Wonderlic or WISC-III. | Not considered |
| Demonstration of CompetenciesEvidence of specific skills through portfolios, auditions, or other demonstrations. | Not considered |
| Work ExperiencePaid or volunteer work. | Not considered |
| Legacy StatusWhether a parent or other relative attended the college. | Not considered |
AP credit
Clarkson University awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
It doesn't award credit for life experience.
Average net price
First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average net price of $33,192 a year at Clarkson University in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
Can a 3.0 GPA get you into Clarkson University?
GPA alone can't tell you here. Clarkson University admitted 77% of first-year applicants for fall 2024. It requires a high school GPA but hasn't published an average we could verify, so there's no admitted-student GPA to compare a 3.0 against. Your transcript and test scores are the clearer guide.
Does Clarkson University require the SAT or ACT?
No. Clarkson University is test optional: it considers SAT or ACT scores if you send them, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. Of its fall 2024 first-year students, 51% sent SAT scores and 11% sent ACT scores.
How important is GPA for getting into Clarkson University?
A lot: Clarkson University requires high school GPA, high school record, high school class rank, recommendations and essay or personal statement. It considers college preparatory program and test scores if you send them. It doesn't consider other tests, demonstration of competencies, work experience and legacy status. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
What SAT and ACT scores do Clarkson University students have?
The middle 50% of Clarkson University's fall 2024 first-year students who sent scores had SAT 590–690 in reading and writing and 610–700 in math; ACT composite 25–32, according to what the college reported to the U.S. Department of Education. A quarter scored below that range.
How many applicants get into Clarkson University?
Clarkson University's acceptance rate was 77% for fall 2024: it admitted 5,153 of 6,661 first-year applicants, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Is Clarkson University hard to get into?
Not for most prepared students: at least 3 in 4 applicants got in. Clarkson University admitted 77% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.
What GPA do you need to get into Clarkson University?
Clarkson University requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. It hasn't published an average GPA we could verify, so we don't list one.
Can you get college credit for AP scores at Clarkson University?
Yes. Clarkson University awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
What is the average net price at Clarkson University?
First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $33,192 a year at Clarkson University in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Does Clarkson University consider legacy status?
No. Clarkson University doesn't consider whether a parent or other relative attended, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Before you apply, check Clarkson University's official admissions site: requirements can differ by program and change from year to year.
Sources
- College Navigator: Clarkson UniversityU.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2024–25 provisional data): admissions, test scores and admission factors for fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment for fall 2024, net price for 2022–23 and credit policies for 2024–25.
- College Scorecard dataAverage SAT: an estimate by the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 10, 2026 release).
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