History, Affiliations and Rankings

Founded in 1896 in honour of Thomas S. Clarkson, a pioneering businessman and humanist, Clarkson University is now a private national research university that is a leader in technology education and sustainable economic development through teaching, research, and scholarship and innovation. Our primary mission is to develop talented and motivated men and women into successful professionals through quality pre-college, college, graduate and professional development programs, with a particular focus on the undergraduate experience. Over the years, Clarkson University has received many awards of which it is very proud.

Clarkson University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). The David D. Reh School of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). The MBA in Healthcare Management is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Healthcare Management Education (CAHME). It holds accreditations from the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, the Association for the Advancement of Collegiate Schools of Business, and the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, among others. It is ranked at #127 in National Universities, #49 in Best Value Schools and at #179 in the Top Performers on Social Mobility.

Infrastructure, Campuses and Courses

Clarkson University has 3 physical campus locations in New York State. Potsdam is the main campus, Schenectady, our Capital Region Campus (CRC) is home to several graduate and professional programs and Beacon is on the banks of the Hudson River. There are over 250 clubs and organisations on campus. Living Learning Communities are residential environments where students with the same interests live together and participate in programs that cater to their academic, social, and personal needs. Students living in these communities have the opportunity to participate in peer experiences and interact with dedicated staff who work to make the community thrive, while also enjoying the benefits of being part of a diverse community that shares personal interests, socially and academically. Clarkson offers 50 minors spanning all of our schools in engineering, arts, sciences, business, environmental studies and interdisciplinary programs. Some of the popular courses are Architectural and Facilities Engineering, Biology, Business, Chemistry, Communication, Computer Science, Economics, Electrical Engineering, History, Human Resource Management, Information Technology (IT), Law Studies, Literature and the Arts, Mathematics, Medicine and Healthcare, Physics, Robotics, Software Engineering and many more. 

Accomplishments and Alumni

Clarkson University's undergraduate programs in Aeronautics, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Computer, Electrical, Environmental, Mechanical and Software Engineering and the undergraduate program in Engineering and Management are accredited by the ABET Engineering Accreditation Commission. The Engineering and Management undergraduate  program is also accredited by the AACSB. The Department of Education's MAT program is accredited by the  Association for the Advancement of Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP) through 2026. The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) entry-level program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and the Physician Assistant Education Review Board (ARCPA). Clarkson University's Master of Occupational Therapy program is accredited by the American Occupational Therapy Association. It is hooked with the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). The alumni include Michael Emmet Walsh (an American actor and comedian who has appeared in over 200 films and television series), Grant Clitsome (a Canadian retired professional ice hockey defenceman who played for the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League (NHL) from 2008 to 2016), Kaitlin Monte (an American journalist working for Fox-owned KRIV in Houston, TX).

Student Diversity and Visiting Companies

There are 4,600+ undergraduates and graduate students from 42 states, and 61 countries. The number of faculty and staff is 748 and the Student-Faculty ratio is 12:1. There is 50+ study abroad partner universities in 24 countries for co-op opportunities. The visiting companies are Global Foundries, LC Drives, Kiewit, General Dynamics Mission Systems, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc., SRC, Inc., Northrop Grumman, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Saint-Gobain Abrasives - US and Canada, Amazon, Corning Incorporated, Exelon Corporation, Flatiron Construction Corp and many more.