Clarkson University vs Case Western Reserve University (CWRU)
Clarkson University and Case Western Reserve University, two esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Clarkson, nestled in the scenic town of Potsdam, New York, boasts a strong focus on engineering, business, and health sciences, while Case Western Reserve, located in the vibrant city of Cleveland, Ohio, excels in engineering, medicine, and the arts. With acceptance rates of 75% and 30%, respectively, these universities cater to different levels of academic competitiveness. Clarkson's student body comprises 4,000 undergraduates, predominantly hailing from the Northeast, while Case Western Reserve's 5,000 undergraduates represent a more diverse geographical distribution. Both universities boast impressive graduation rates, with Clarkson's reaching 80% and Case Western Reserve's at 85%. Explore the detailed comparison table below to delve into further distinctions between these two exceptional universities and determine which aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
|
![]() Case Western Reserve University |
![]() Clarkson University |
---|---|---|
Overview |
||
Location | Cleveland, Ohio | Potsdam, New York |
Campus setting | City: Large | Town: Remote |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 94.0% | 80.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
|
||
Admission |
||
Acceptance rate | 30.2% | 74.6% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$70
Graduate:
$50
|
Undergraduate:
$50
Graduate:
$50
|
SAT range | 1410 - 1530 | 1180 - 1380 |
ACT range | 32 - 35 | 25 - 32 |
Students submitting SAT score | 39.0% | 51.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 31.0% | 11.0% |
Total number of applicants | 33,232 | 7,011 |
Total number of admissions given out | 10,049 | 5,229 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,606 | 740 |
Yield rate | 16.0% | 14.2% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Required | Required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
|
||
Tuition and Fees |
||
Sticker price | $74,114 | $74,716 |
Average net price | $38,166 | $31,413 |
Tuition | $54,020 | $53,100 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$9,584
Meal plan:
$6,898
|
Room/dormitory:
$8,726
Meal plan:
$7,518
|
Available payment plans |
|
|
|
||
Financial Aid |
||
Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
81.0%
Average amount $33,761 |
100.0%
Average amount $38,981 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
61.0%
Average amount $5,091 |
71.0%
Average amount $5,323 |
Students taking out private loans |
7.0%
Average amount $11,016 |
16.0%
Average amount $16,547 |
|
||
Students and Campus |
||
Undergraduate students |
5,792
Men 52.5% Women 47.5% |
2,852
Men 69.3% Women 30.7% |
Graduate students |
6,350
Men 45.1% Women 54.9% |
1,101
Men 55.4% Women 44.6% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
|
Low
|
Out-of-state students | 79.8% | 34.8% |
International students | 19.2% | 8.6% |
Campus local/setting | City: Large | Town: Remote |
Dormitory capacity | 4,494 | 2,482 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Ohio New York Illinois Pennsylvania California | New York Mississippi Connecticut Vermont New Hampshire |
|
||
Academics |
||
Popular study areas |
|
|
Students to faculty ratio | 9:1 | 13:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
|
||
Outcome |
||
Graduation rate | 84.4% | 75.6% |
Dropout rate | 15.1% | 7.1% |
Transferred out | N/A | 17.1% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Doctoral Degrees)
Dentistry (First Professional Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (First Professional Degrees)
Human Resources Management and Services (Master's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees)
|
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
|
Compare Similar Colleges
The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing
statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you
don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page.
There, you can search for the
specific colleges and initiate your comparison.


























































































































































































































