Clarkson University vs Villanova University
Clarkson University and Villanova University, two esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Clarkson, a private research university in Potsdam, New York, boasts a strong focus on STEM fields, while Villanova, a private Catholic university in Villanova, Pennsylvania, excels in the liberal arts and business. With acceptance rates of 75% and 63%, respectively, both universities are moderately selective. Clarkson's student body is predominantly male (63%), while Villanova's is more evenly balanced (53% female, 47% male). Engineering and business are popular majors at Clarkson, while Villanova students often pursue business, nursing, and engineering degrees. Clarkson's graduation rate is 79%, while Villanova's is slightly higher at 84%. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more about these two exceptional universities and determine which one aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
|
![]() Clarkson University |
![]() Villanova University |
---|---|---|
Overview |
||
Location | Potsdam, New York | Villanova, Pennsylvania |
Campus setting | Town: Remote | Suburb: Large |
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 | 80.0% | 96.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Catholic | |
|
||
Admission |
||
Acceptance rate | 74.6% | 25.2% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$50
Graduate:
$50
|
Undergraduate:
$80
Graduate:
$50
|
SAT range | 1180 - 1380 | 1350 - 1490 |
ACT range | 25 - 32 | 31 - 34 |
Students submitting SAT score | 51.0% | 28.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 11.0% | 17.0% |
Total number of applicants | 7,011 | 24,410 |
Total number of admissions given out | 5,229 | 6,162 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 740 | 1,772 |
Yield rate | 14.2% | 28.8% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
|
||
Tuition and Fees |
||
Sticker price | $74,716 | $77,806 |
Average net price | $31,413 | $33,123 |
Tuition | $53,100 | $58,290 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$8,726
Meal plan:
$7,518
|
Room/dormitory:
$8,236
Meal plan:
$7,150
|
Available payment plans |
|
|
|
||
Financial Aid |
||
Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
100.0%
Average amount $38,981 |
52.0%
Average amount $43,106 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
71.0%
Average amount $5,323 |
34.0%
Average amount $5,267 |
Students taking out private loans |
16.0%
Average amount $16,547 |
7.0%
Average amount $29,933 |
|
||
Students and Campus |
||
Undergraduate students |
2,852
Men 69.3% Women 30.7% |
7,032
Men 45.6% Women 54.4% |
Graduate students |
1,101
Men 55.4% Women 44.6% |
3,838
Men 46.6% Women 53.4% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Low
|
Out-of-state students | 34.8% | 80.7% |
International students | 8.6% | 3.6% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Remote | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 2,482 | 5,400 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | New York Mississippi Connecticut Vermont New Hampshire | New Jersey Pennsylvania New York Connecticut Maryland |
|
||
Academics |
||
Popular study areas |
|
|
Students to faculty ratio | 13:1 | 11:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Middle States Commission on Higher Education | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
|
||
Outcome |
||
Graduation rate | 75.6% | 91.3% |
Dropout rate | 7.1% | 1.5% |
Transferred out | 17.1% | 7.2% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
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)
|
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Taxation (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Business/Managerial Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Real Estate (Bachelor's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Human Resources Management and Services (Master's Degrees)
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications 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.






























































































































































































































































