Clarkson University (CU)

Clarkson University is a proven leader in technological education, research, innovation and sustainable economic development. With its main campus in Potsdam, N.Y., and additional graduate program and research facilities in the Capital Region and Hudson Valley, Clarkson faculty have a direct impact on more than 7,800 students annually through nationally recognized undergraduate and graduate STEM designated degrees in engineering, business, science and health professions; executive education, industry-relevant credentials and K-12 STEM programs. Alumni earn salaries among the top 2% in the nation: one in five already leads in the c-suite. To learn more go to clarkson.edu.

Clarkson is the destination of choice for tomorrow's scientists, engineers, educators, entrepreneurs, business people, health professionals and imaginative leaders.

It's a highly-collaborative community that ignites connections across fields, industries and cultures. We are all Golden Knights, and students instantly join a robust and active team that values the personal contributions of each member whether in the classroom, in academic clubs and organizations, on SPEED teams, in business plan competitions or athletics.

Our total student body is ~4300 students hailing from over 40 states and over 60 countries worldwide. About 35% of our undergraduates were in the top 10% of their high school graduating class.

At Clarkson, there's something for everyone. The University holds an activity fair near the beginning of the first semester each year to get first-year students and other students involved with clubs, organizations and activities. Students have over 250 clubs, organizations, and teams to choose from and also have the ability to start their own clubs with potential funding from the University.

Students interested in hands-on activities can join one of our 12 SPEED teams from Concrete Canoe and Steel Bridge, to FIRST Robotics and Clean Snowmobile. These teams represent Clarkson well at regional, national and international levels against other universities. For example, in 2018 our Design, Build, Fly team brought home a first place trophy in the AIAA International Competition.

We offer 18 Division III sports teams alpine and nordic skiing, baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming and volleyball and two Division I teams men's and women's hockey. We also have over a dozen intramural sports and over 30 club sports teams, like equestrian, bass fishing, mountain biking and skiing.

For those interested in Greek life, Clarkson offers eight national and two local fraternities as well as four national sororities.

Clarkson is a "close-knit community" of people who are mostly "very open to conversation and friendly." As one student describes it, "By the end of your senior year you will know everyone if you are a social person." Clarkson "attracts outdoorsy engineers" and there is a "great emphasis on spending time outside and sustainability." Another student agrees, describing fellow classmates as "pretty down-to-earth people who are very nature-oriented." Given the school's niche-"a small technology-based school very far north in New York"-Clarkson has tended to have a large male population, hailing largely from New England and the Northeast. That said, "the amount of diversity on campus is increasing with more promotion of our international programs" and the students who attend are definitively "here because they want to be." Because of its size, "Everyone knows everyone. You get to have the same classes with the same people for a while," which is "a great opportunity to form close friendships." It's a very supportive environment where "you will find help everywhere you look for it," says one student, whether it's from fellow students or professors. Another student agrees, saying, "all of us help and push each other to perform the best we can as well. Overall, it is a great environment to be in for college."

Students report an academically focused culture where peers are often "studying during the day. It's not surprising that many of the popular extracurriculars at UofL tend to reflect the school's STEM focus, including a number of SPEED teams (Student Projects for Engineering Experience and Design) where students can build various vehicles (all-terrain to an open-wheel racecar) or "team up with the local community to design and build mostly wooden bridges spanning from five to 75 feet." Of course, there's also a good mix of athletic options; as one student illustrates, "I play softball, and I also enjoy using the gym to lift weights, run, and play different sports like pickleball and basketball." Other popular activities include attending hockey games, playing rugby and golf, and horseback riding with the equestrian team. So far as purely social events go, students mention frat parties, although some find their way to "casual and calm" hangouts instead. Students say the location is one of the best things about the school, which tends to attract "people who like the mountains" and enjoy hiking, skiing, camping, and rock climbing. "The Clarkson Outing Club is absolutely phenomenal," says one student. Whatever type of activity you choose, students agree that it is "easy to get outdoors with groups of new people often."

Undergrads here boast that the university “is phenomenal at job placement” and note that “going to Clarkson means … you will have a job lined up when you are done.” This can partially be attributed to the hardworking Career Center, which offers year-round assistance, including “two career fairs and a myriad of workshops to help students find and prepare for co-ops, internships, and jobs.” One undergrad adds, “Group projects, mock interviews, and résumé workshops are all very common at Clarkson,” as are networking events, employer site visits, and informational interviews with alumni. Experiential education is so foundational to the curriculum that students are required to take part in a capstone professional experience in order to graduate; these experiences provide real-world experience or research to add to a student’s résumé and often act as trial runs for companies looking to hire Clarkson grads (particularly with co-ops) This focus on training and these connections go a long way, and top employers for recent grads have included National Grid, Lockheed Martin, General Electric, Amazon, and General Dynamics. Clarkson alums who visited PayScale.com reported a median starting salary of $77,500, and 61 percent of graduates feel their jobs contribute a good deal of meaning to their lives.