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Launch your career with Clarkson: 96% placement rate, hands-on learning and high returns make Clarkson a standout.
Clarkson University
Potsdam Campus, Potsdam United States
# 851-900QS World University Rankings
70Undergrad. & Postgrad. Programmes
13 % International students
Follow University
About Clarkson University
Clarkson University is a private, international research university and proven leader in technological education and sustainable economic development. Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) intersects with our scholarship,...
Read more
Clarkson University is a private, international research university and proven leader in technological education and sustainable economic development. Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) intersects with our scholarship, research, innovation and teaching through more than 80+ rigorous programs of study in engineering, business, arts, education, sciences and health professions. With our 4,800+ students, we ignite connections across disciplines, industries and social cultures to create the entrepreneurial mindset, knowledge and intellectual curiosity needed to innovate world-relevant solutions and prepare the leaders of tomorrow. Alumni earn salaries that are among the top two percent in the USA and realize accelerated career growth. Clarkson’s main campus is located in Potsdam, New York, and additional graduate programs, online networks and research facilities are based in New York State near industry partners in Saranac Lake, Schenectady, Beacon and New York City.
The favorite verse of our namesake Thomas S. Clarkson, “the workman that needeth not to be ashamed,” was the motto chosen by the founders when our doors opened in 1896 as a new kind of school that blended a technology-rich curriculum with other disciplines, and compelled faculty and students to always seek out the real needs of everyday people. Today, we continue to defy convention by going beyond the status quo of deep disciplinary knowledge. Everyone has opportunities and hands-on access to build the practical skillsets to stretch boundaries. Clarkson graduates emerge with the entrepreneurial competence to make sense of complex systems and forge connections across people and fields. One in five alumni already leads as a CEO, senior executive or owner of a company.
Clarkson’s globally oriented faculty pursue interdisciplinary research focused on rapidly solving real world problems for a better future. Example signature areas of research include healthy global solutions, advanced materials development, computational and data-enabled discoveries, next generation medicine and healthcare, and STEM and entrepreneurial education. Our external network engages 380+ active partners in industry, government agencies, chambers of commerce and research organizations affording students access to world relevant problems to pursue with their professors as well as a direct pipeline to internships and careers after graduation. In addition to an engaged 46,000+ strong alumni community living in 87 countries, our global reach extends through the networks of our schools, ROTC command, research centers and institutes.
Independent think tank, Brookings Institution, validates the value of a Clarkson education by placing us in the top 10 universities in the United States for increasing our students' lifetime earnings potential. Our commitment to live and lead by example begins with the University Mission Statement, the Vision of a Clarkson Education, and our Clarkson Values.
Clarkson’s major academic units are the Wallace H. Coulter School of Engineering, the David D. Reh School of Business, the Earl R. and Barbara D. Lewis School of Health Sciences, the Graduate School, The Clarkson School (a unique academy for high school-age students who begin college early) and Sponsored Research Services, which oversees a $13.9 million portfolio of contracts. Three institutes also support key areas of interdisciplinary research, educational programs and public outreach. These are the Institute for a Sustainable Environment, the Institute for STEM Education and the Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries.
Research centers further leverage the University’s scholarly strengths. The Center for Advanced Materials Processing (CAMP), a New York state Center for Advanced Technology, contains state-of-the-art research laboratories that enable faculty to pursue cutting-edge research and are accessible to undergraduates and graduate students for collaborative projects. The Center for Rehabilitation Engineering, Science and Technology (CREST) serves to integrate biomedical engineering and science with assistive and adaptive technologies and physical therapy to improve lives affected by disease or injury. Clarkson University and SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry (ESF) co-lead a new Center of Excellence (CoE) in Healthy Water Solutions to deliver synergistic problem-solving on the wide range of water issues impacting the Empire State.
As a National Science Foundation Industry/University Cooperative Research Center, the Center for Identification Technology Research (CITeR) serves its affiliates in the rapidly growing areas of Biometric Identification and Credibility Assessment Technology through an interdisciplinary group of faculty, researchers and students. The Clarkson Center for Complex Systems Science (C3S2) addresses the rapidly growing field of identifying and understanding causality in large-scale systems, as well as the hierarchical interactions, patterns and scaling of system components across a variety of fields, such as brain science, insect swarming, social science and fluid dynamics.
Clarkson University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). Programs in aerospace, chemical, civil, computer, electrical, environmental, mechanical and software engineering are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology Inc. (ABET). Students who have completed at least three years toward a bachelor’s degree in engineering are eligible to take the Fundamentals of Engineering examination toward licensure as professional engineers. The Reh School is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). The undergraduate engineering and management program in the Reh School is also accredited by EAC ABET. The healthcare MBA program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME).
The MAT program in the Department of Education has Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP) accreditation until 2026. The physical therapy curriculum is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). The Accreditation Review Committee on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) has granted Provisional Accreditation to the physician assistant studies program. The Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) has granted “Candidacy Status” to the occupational therapy program at Clarkson University. In addition, the University is accredited by the United States Civil Service Commission, and its curricula are approved by the New York State Board of Regents.
Read lessAbout Clarkson University
Clarkson University is a private, international research university and proven leader in technological education and sustainable economic development. Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) intersects with our scholarship,...
Read more
Clarkson University is a private, international research university and proven leader in technological education and sustainable economic development. Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) intersects with our scholarship, research, innovation and teaching through more than 80+ rigorous programs of study in engineering, business, arts, education, sciences and health professions. With our 4,800+ students, we ignite connections across disciplines, industries and social cultures to create the entrepreneurial mindset, knowledge and intellectual curiosity needed to innovate world-relevant solutions and prepare the leaders of tomorrow. Alumni earn salaries that are among the top two percent in the USA and realize accelerated career growth. Clarkson’s main campus is located in Potsdam, New York, and additional graduate programs, online networks and research facilities are based in New York State near industry partners in Saranac Lake, Schenectady, Beacon and New York City.
The favorite verse of our namesake Thomas S. Clarkson, “the workman that needeth not to be ashamed,” was the motto chosen by the founders when our doors opened in 1896 as a new kind of school that blended a technology-rich curriculum with other disciplines, and compelled faculty and students to always seek out the real needs of everyday people. Today, we continue to defy convention by going beyond the status quo of deep disciplinary knowledge. Everyone has opportunities and hands-on access to build the practical skillsets to stretch boundaries. Clarkson graduates emerge with the entrepreneurial competence to make sense of complex systems and forge connections across people and fields. One in five alumni already leads as a CEO, senior executive or owner of a company.
Clarkson’s globally oriented faculty pursue interdisciplinary research focused on rapidly solving real world problems for a better future. Example signature areas of research include healthy global solutions, advanced materials development, computational and data-enabled discoveries, next generation medicine and healthcare, and STEM and entrepreneurial education. Our external network engages 380+ active partners in industry, government agencies, chambers of commerce and research organizations affording students access to world relevant problems to pursue with their professors as well as a direct pipeline to internships and careers after graduation. In addition to an engaged 46,000+ strong alumni community living in 87 countries, our global reach extends through the networks of our schools, ROTC command, research centers and institutes.
Independent think tank, Brookings Institution, validates the value of a Clarkson education by placing us in the top 10 universities in the United States for increasing our students' lifetime earnings potential. Our commitment to live and lead by example begins with the University Mission Statement, the Vision of a Clarkson Education, and our Clarkson Values.
Clarkson’s major academic units are the Wallace H. Coulter School of Engineering, the David D. Reh School of Business, the Earl R. and Barbara D. Lewis School of Health Sciences, the Graduate School, The Clarkson School (a unique academy for high school-age students who begin college early) and Sponsored Research Services, which oversees a $13.9 million portfolio of contracts. Three institutes also support key areas of interdisciplinary research, educational programs and public outreach. These are the Institute for a Sustainable Environment, the Institute for STEM Education and the Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries.
Research centers further leverage the University’s scholarly strengths. The Center for Advanced Materials Processing (CAMP), a New York state Center for Advanced Technology, contains state-of-the-art research laboratories that enable faculty to pursue cutting-edge research and are accessible to undergraduates and graduate students for collaborative projects. The Center for Rehabilitation Engineering, Science and Technology (CREST) serves to integrate biomedical engineering and science with assistive and adaptive technologies and physical therapy to improve lives affected by disease or injury. Clarkson University and SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry (ESF) co-lead a new Center of Excellence (CoE) in Healthy Water Solutions to deliver synergistic problem-solving on the wide range of water issues impacting the Empire State.
As a National Science Foundation Industry/University Cooperative Research Center, the Center for Identification Technology Research (CITeR) serves its affiliates in the rapidly growing areas of Biometric Identification and Credibility Assessment Technology through an interdisciplinary group of faculty, researchers and students. The Clarkson Center for Complex Systems Science (C3S2) addresses the rapidly growing field of identifying and understanding causality in large-scale systems, as well as the hierarchical interactions, patterns and scaling of system components across a variety of fields, such as brain science, insect swarming, social science and fluid dynamics.
Clarkson University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). Programs in aerospace, chemical, civil, computer, electrical, environmental, mechanical and software engineering are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology Inc. (ABET). Students who have completed at least three years toward a bachelor’s degree in engineering are eligible to take the Fundamentals of Engineering examination toward licensure as professional engineers. The Reh School is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). The undergraduate engineering and management program in the Reh School is also accredited by EAC ABET. The healthcare MBA program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME).
The MAT program in the Department of Education has Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP) accreditation until 2026. The physical therapy curriculum is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). The Accreditation Review Committee on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) has granted Provisional Accreditation to the physician assistant studies program. The Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) has granted “Candidacy Status” to the occupational therapy program at Clarkson University. In addition, the University is accredited by the United States Civil Service Commission, and its curricula are approved by the New York State Board of Regents.
Read lessAvailable programmes
Business and Management (6)
3+1 Business BS/MBA Accelerated Program
3+1 Business BS/MBA Accelerated Program
B.S. in Business Administration
B.S. in Business Administration
B.S. in Business Analytics
B.S. in Business Analytics
B.S. in Financial Information and Analysis
B.S. in Financial Information and Analysis
B.S. in Innovation and Entrepreneurship
B.S. in Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Engineering and Technology (6)
B.S. Data Science
B.S. Data Science
B.S. in Aerospace Engineering
B.S. in Aerospace Engineering
B.S. in Chemical Engineering
B.S. in Chemical Engineering
B.S. in Civil Engineering
B.S. in Civil Engineering
B.S. in Computer Engineering
B.S. in Computer Engineering
B.S. in Computer Science
B.S. in Computer Science
B.S. in Electrical Engineering
B.S. in Electrical Engineering
B.S. in Engineering & Management
B.S. in Engineering & Management
B.S. in Environmental Engineering
B.S. in Environmental Engineering
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering
B.S. in Software Engineering
B.S. in Software Engineering
Life Sciences and Medicine (6)
B.S. in Biology
B.S. in Biology
B.S. in Healthcare
B.S. in Healthcare
B.S. in Psychology
B.S. in Psychology
Natural Sciences (6)
B.S. in Applied Mathematics and Statistics
B.S. in Applied Mathematics and Statistics
B.S. in Biomolecular Science
B.S. in Biomolecular Science
B.S. in Chemistry
B.S. in Chemistry
B.S. in Environmental Science and Policy
B.S. in Environmental Science and Policy
B.S. in Mathematics
B.S. in Mathematics
B.S. in Physics
B.S. in Physics
Others (6)
Chemical Engineering, BS
Chemical Engineering, BS
History
History
Social Sciences and Management (6)
B.S. in Global Supply Chain Management
B.S. in Global Supply Chain Management
Engineering and Technology (3)
MS in Applied Data Science
MS in Applied Data Science
MS in Business of Energy
MS in Business of Energy
MS in Chemical Engineering
MS in Chemical Engineering
MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering
MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering
MS in Computer Science
MS in Computer Science
MS in Construction Engineering Management
MS in Construction Engineering Management
MS in Electrical & Computer Engineering
MS in Electrical & Computer Engineering
MS in Electrical Engineering for Working Professionals
MS in Electrical Engineering for Working Professionals
MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Power Engineering Concentration
MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Power Engineering Concentration
MS in Engineering Management
MS in Engineering Management
MS in Engineering Science
MS in Engineering Science
MS in Mechanical Engineering
MS in Mechanical Engineering
MS in Mechanical Engineering for Working Professionals
MS in Mechanical Engineering for Working Professionals
Life Sciences and Medicine (3)
MS in Bioethics
MS in Bioethics
MS in Clinical Leadership in Healthcare Management
MS in Clinical Leadership in Healthcare Management
MS in Healthcare Data Analytics
MS in Healthcare Data Analytics
MS in Interdisciplinary Bioscience and Biotechnology
MS in Interdisciplinary Bioscience and Biotechnology
MS in Occupational Therapy
MS in Occupational Therapy
MS in Physician Assistant Studies
MS in Physician Assistant Studies
Natural Sciences (3)
MS in Chemistry
MS in Chemistry
MS in Environmental Policy
MS in Environmental Policy
MS in Environmental Science & Engineering
MS in Environmental Science & Engineering
MS in Mathematics
MS in Mathematics
MS in Physics
MS in Physics
Full-Time MBA (2)
MBA in Business Analytics
MBA in Business Analytics
MBA in Global Supply Chain Management
MBA in Global Supply Chain Management
MBA in Healthcare Management
MBA in Healthcare Management
MBA – Residential
MBA – Residential
Online/Distance MBA (2)
MBA – Online
MBA – Online
Engineering and Technology (3)
PhD in Chemical Engineering
PhD in Chemical Engineering
PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering
PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering
PhD in Computer Science
PhD in Computer Science
PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering
PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering
PhD in Engineering Science
PhD in Engineering Science
PhD in Materials Science and Engineering
PhD in Materials Science and Engineering
PhD in Mechanical Engineering
PhD in Mechanical Engineering
Life Sciences and Medicine (3)
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
PhD in Bioscience and Biotechnology, Interdisciplinary
PhD in Bioscience and Biotechnology, Interdisciplinary
Natural Sciences (3)
PhD in Chemistry
PhD in Chemistry
PhD in Environmental Science and Engineering
PhD in Environmental Science and Engineering
PhD in Mathematics
PhD in Mathematics
PhD in Physics
PhD in Physics
University information
Stay connected to Clarkson for the latest updates and information, as well as connect for opportunities to help in the college search process.
Read more
Stay connected to Clarkson for the latest updates and information, as well as connect for opportunities to help in the college search process.
Come visit Clarkson's campus:
The Office of Undergraduate Admissions is available to schedule on campus tours for prospective students and family members on our Potsdam, New York campus. We have specific guidelines put in place to continue to keep our Clarkson community and surrounding communities safe. For more information on how to plan your visit, please visit our Undergraduate Admissions Visits, Events and Tours page.
We recognize that many prospective students and families will still be unable to visit campus for a variety of reasons. With that, we encourage you to:
- check out our Virtual Viewbook and Interactive Map to learn more about Clarkson.
- set up a virtual guided tour with one of our Student Ambassadors, a chat with an admissions counselor, or meet with faculty and staff through our Undergraduate Admissions Visits, Events and Tours page.
- join our mailing list so that we can notify you of updates to our restrictions and offerings.
- check out our upcoming events here.
How can applicants contact the university about their application?Please fill in this form to get in touch with the University.
For students seeking Master’s and PhD options, many typically require exams such as the GRE or GMAT. Please contact Graduate Admissions for assistance with questions concerning these exams and the potential for waivers or postponement of submission.
Most international students, at all levels, are required to provide evidence of English proficiency. The minimum scores for our English exam requirements are as follows: TOEFL 80; IELTS 6.5; PTE 56; Duolingo 115. Check the TOEFL and IELTS websites for availability.
• How is the university supporting applicants whose visa applications have been delayed?
Clarkson is monitoring the situation with visa appointments at local consulates around the world. We are issuing I-20 documents for those who are able to get appointments. Some students will get them at a later date, when visa interviews resume. I-20s will be reissued, as needed, if the original document expires before students are able to make an in-person interview appointment.
• Is the university still accepting applications? Are there any restrictions being placed on international applicants?
Clarkson University is still accepting applications with no restrictions on international applicants.
• How are applications for university accommodation being handled?
Admitted Fall 2023 undergraduate students can complete housing arrangements after they make their enrollment deposits. Limited housing is also available for graduate students.
• Is the university making any changes to entry requirements (i.e. test results, required documents)?
Clarkson University is test-optional for undergraduate admission in Fall 2023.
For students seeking Master’s and PhD options, check the program-specific pages for GRE, GMAT, and Miller Analogies requirements.
All undergraduate and graduate students are considered for merit funding during the admission process. On the undergraduate side, scholarships range from $5,000 to $30,000 annually. Decisions are made based on the applicant’s academic record.
For graduate students, there are partial scholarships, which are based on academic factors. The main factor in fully-funded assistantship decisions is the match between the student’s background and the department’s needs for research or teaching. Most fully funded offers are at the doctoral level.
Read lessGeneral
Potsdam and New York's "North Country"
Located in Potsdam, New York, our main campus is on the historic 640-acre wooded homestead of the Clarkson family in the foothills of the Adirondack Park, which provides plenty of outdoor opportunities for classes and extracurricular activities. The Village of Potsdam is nestled along the Raquette River in the heart of St. Lawrence County. The local...
Read more
Potsdam and New York's "North Country"
Located in Potsdam, New York, our main campus is on the historic 640-acre wooded homestead of the Clarkson family in the foothills of the Adirondack Park, which provides plenty of outdoor opportunities for classes and extracurricular activities. The Village of Potsdam is nestled along the Raquette River in the heart of St. Lawrence County. The local waterways, woods and mountains often serve as learning labs for our nationally recognized research university. Clarkson is committed to including sustainability in everything we do, especially on our North Country campus.
Living and Dining
At Clarkson nearly all of our undergraduates students live on campus, which creates a tight-knit community and leads to friendships and memories to last a lifetime. Our students create their home away from home in traditional residence halls, suite-style halls, on-campus apartments, and Greek houses all located right on campus. When it’s time to eat, students choose from Clarkson’s multiple dining options, including a traditional all-you-can-eat dining hall that serves up everything from comfort food favorites to international dishes. There are also many on-the-go locations and coffee shops spread across campus offering a quick bite on the way to class.
Research and Innovation
The Innovation Hub is a space dedicated to helping students develop entrepreneurial mindsets and skill sets through the latest technology, collaborative workspaces and peer guidance. The Innovation Hub includes a makerspace complete with 3D printers, 3D scanners, a digitizing table, a soldering station and handheld CNC capabilities.
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. Our research centers include: The Center for Advanced Materials Processing (CAMP), Center for Air and Aquatic Resources Engineering & Science (CAARES), Center of Excellence in Healthy Water Solutions (NYS COE HWS), Center for Identification Technology Research (CITeR), The Center for Rehabilitation Engineering, Science & Technology (CREST), Clarkson Center for Complex Systems Science (C3S2), and The Shipley Center for Innovation.
Health Sciences
Our Students in Health Sciences program benefit from an entire building dedicated to health sciences, including several lab spaces used only by healthcare graduate students. Our two-story Simulation Lab is an extension of the classroom that allows students to apply strategies learned in lectures to hands-on activities in a realistic environment. The Cadaver lab is also an integral part of our hands-on education, where students have the chance to work with an actual cadaver, something that isn’t offered to students at many other universities.
Recreational
Indoor Recreation Center (IRC) - At Clarkson, we encourage students to maintain good health and fitness by supporting social and recreational activities, giving students an opportunity to develop or maintain their athletic skills. The Deneka Family Fitness Center offers a complete workout facility featuring cardiovascular machines and weight rooms that students can use anytime. Some classes offered include yoga, belly dancing and aikido. The IRC contains a 25-meter swimming pool; an indoor track; a field house for tennis, volleyball or basketball; racquetball courts; a weight room; a fitness center; and locker rooms with a jacuzzi and sauna. Students can use the IRC for recreation, team practice and intramural sports. The Alumni Gym features the courts used by three of Clarkson's 18 Division III sports teams: men's and women's basketball and women's volleyball.
Cheel - Cheel Campus Center & Arena is home to the Clarkson Golden Knights men's and women's Division I hockey teams. The arena seats 3,000 fans, and all Clarkson students get free admission to home games. Aside from hockey, Cheel Arena holds community events, fairs, concerts and university events such as commencement. Students can enjoy activities like open skating and broomball and get something to eat at the dining facilities. Extensive renovations and a 30,000-square-foot addition to Cheel started in 2018 and concluded in the fall of 2021. The project included the Munter Family Climbing Wall, a new state-of-the-art collegiate Yianoukos Fitness Center.
Student Services
The Educational Resources Center (ERC) is a large, centrally located building that houses some of the campus's most sought-after services, including the Library, Career Center, International Center, Student Success Center, Diversity & Inclusion offices and Student Health and Counseling Center. Campus Safety and Security are also located here.
The Capital Region Campus
Clarkson’s Capital Region Campus, located in Schenectady, New York, offers expanded opportunities for graduate and professional programs and serves as the graduate admissions and recruiting hub for the University. Centrally located to many of Clarkson’s corporate partners for research, graduate education, talent development and alumni networking, the campus also affords convenient transportation via train, air and automobile interstates. The Capital Region Campus is less than 15 minutes from the state capital in Albany and less than three hours from New York City, Syracuse and Boston.
Read lessStudent life
Your university experience shapes your life.At Clarkson, we want that experience to be balanced. We merge academics and extracurricular activities into what we like to think of as “serious fun.” We're known for our tight-knit community, where our students make lifelong connections and consider the people around them their Golden Knight family. There are 65 countries represented on...
Read more
Student life
Your university experience shapes your life.At Clarkson, we want that experience to be balanced. We merge academics and extracurricular activities into what we like to think of as “serious fun.” We're known for our tight-knit community, where our students make lifelong connections and consider the people around them their Golden Knight family. There are 65 countries represented on campus among the student body, with three percent of students at undergraduate level classed as international students. At the graduate level, about 16 percent of students are international.
Diversity & Inclusion: The Clarkson community embraces all forms of diversity on our campus and strives to create an inclusive and supportive environment. We also believe it is essential for our students, faculty and staff members to be global citizens.
Activities & Clubs: What’s there to do on campus? The question should be, how will I find time to do it all? With more than 250 options — from anime to zombies —the chances are good that we have a club, team, or activity that matches your extracurricular passion. Clarkson is home to a range of fraternities and sororities, as well as more than 130 clubs and organizations. Notable ones include the K2CC Amateur Radio Club, Golden Knotes (an a cappella group) and Clarkson Theater Company
Living on Campus: We want Clarkson to be your home away from home. There are plenty of living options, from comfortable, well equipped residence halls to living-learning communities that bring together students with shared interests. Expect a warm welcome!
Dining: You’re going to be hungry. We make sure that you have the food choices you want, when you want them, with dining options and meal plans that let you focus on the important things: academics, hands-on experiences and extracurricular fun.
Clarkson Ignite: Clarkson Ignite is our call to action and our framework to fast-track innovation in an open environment. Part of Ignite is the President's Challenge, an annual competition for teams of students to solve a specific issue.
Careers & International Experiences: Some of the best experiences our undergraduate students have while at Clarkson aren't actually at Clarkson - internships, co-ops and studying abroad. Our International Center staff and Career Center will help you find the right places to visit and learn.
Explore the Region: From our home community, take a two-hour drive to the bustling Canadian cities of Ottawa or Montreal. Or head south into the Adirondack Mountains to experience some of the best outdoor recreation in the United States.
International Students & Scholars: International Student & Scholar Services staff assist all incoming international students & scholars to Clarkson University. Whether you are a full-time international student completing a degree at the University, an exchange student from one of our partner universities, or a visiting scholar, these pages will provide you with the information to make a smooth transition to Clarkson. We hope that your stay at Clarkson will be both pleasant and rewarding and you use the International Center as a resource of information as you navigate challenging & rewarding experiences. We look forward to getting to know you and again WELCOME you to CU!
Clarkson Athletics & Recreation
The Clarkson Golden Knights compete in 20 intercollegiate varsity sports — at the NCAA Division I-level in men’s and women’s hockey and at the NCAA Division III/USCSA-level in the other 18. Based on our historical presence as an ice hockey powerhouse, Clarkson is one of only a few institutions in the country that have been grandfathered in by the NCAA to allow students to compete in both levels of play. The Golden Knights’ women’s ice hockey team has won three D-1 National Championships in the last ten years. The men’s team has a storied legacy in the sport since 1919. Led by a pep band that is the envy of our competitors, both teams enjoy a great fan following in Cheel Arena at home games – and on road trips often feel a sense of home-field advantage because of the number of students and alumni that turn out for away games.
In keeping with our winter climate during the academic year, the Alpine and Nordic ski teams have also enjoyed much recent success. Other sports offered include baseball, basketball, golf, lacrosse, soccer, swimming, softball and volleyball. Our volleyball team has been to the NCAAs for the past nine years and reached the Elite 8 for four of those years. Of our 450 student-athletes, 400 of them compete at the Division III level, with over 75% of those teams advancing to post season play. The high level at which our students compete is consistent with their dedication to their studies. The overall student-athlete GPA is 3.3 – significantly above that of the general student population.
All students are encouraged to participate in robust intramural leagues and recreational activities, and most facilities and fitness classes are available to faculty and staff as well. Clarkson’s main location in Potsdam provides students with a wide array of outdoor sporting opportunities, including individual and team challenges. The ROTC Program’s challenge course and the Munter Trails also intertwine with community recreation systems.
Read lessClarkson's all-in education results in graduates who earn salaries that are among the top 2% in the United States and who realize accelerated career growth. One in five alumni already leads as a CEO, senior executive or owner of a company. Undergraduate students have a 98 percent placement rate in their chosen field of study within the first six months, either in employment or advanced...
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Clarkson's all-in education results in graduates who earn salaries that are among the top 2% in the United States and who realize accelerated career growth. One in five alumni already leads as a CEO, senior executive or owner of a company. Undergraduate students have a 98 percent placement rate in their chosen field of study within the first six months, either in employment or advanced studies. Among graduate students earning a master’s or Ph.D. in 2022, 98 percent were placed by the time of our 2022 study.
The Clarkson Career Center is dedicated to helping you reach your career goals. Our full-time staff offers customized services to all Clarkson students and alumni who want to
We're 46,000+ strong in alumni alone. Add into that a vast array of corporate partners, educational institutions, and organizations, and you've got yourself an outstanding network of people all looking to hire Clarkson students and graduates.
Read lessTuition fees
Domestic Students
International Students
Rankings & Ratings
Clarkson University is one of the top private universities in Potsdam, United States. It is ranked #851-900 in QS World University Rankings 2025.
QS World University Rankings
QS Sustainability Ranking
Full-time MBA Rankings - United States
QS World University Rankings
QS World University Rankings
QS Sustainability Ranking
Full-time MBA Rankings - United States
QS World University Rankings
Clarkson University
Videos & media
Videos & media
Campus locations
Main Campus
Potsdam Campus Campus
8 Clarkson Avenue
Potsdam
US
13699
Open in Maps
Frequently Asked Questions
Check out our Apply Now page for all undergraduate programs. Fall Semester Entry Deadlines include First year early decision admission/ Financial Aid: December 1st & First Year Regular Decision Admissions: January 15.
Our Return on Investment:
Our Scholarship Opportunities:
Our Flexible Approach: