Clark University
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 14.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $14.9 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $14.9 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,592,312.
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What The Data Says
A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
Graduates earn 53% more than the national college median.
A 77% graduation rate — 35% above the national average.
Social mobility rate of 2.24% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
Every $1 invested returns $14.9 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Clark University Matters
Clark University is a private research university in Worcester, MA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a strong research base, a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network, and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R2 · High Research
- Enrollment
- 2,214
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Psychology, Social Sciences, Visual & Performing Arts, Biology & Biomedical
Why students choose Clark University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Selective — admits about 40% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1288–1460. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $28,714 a year after grants and scholarships — 68% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $62,381 ten years after enrolling — 53% above the typical college, against $26,759 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.2% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 22% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.70 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of around 2,200 students, Clark University is a solid choice for those interested in psychology, social sciences, visual and performing arts, biology, and business. The acceptance rate sits at 40%, making it moderately selective. This means students who thrive here are often looking for a blend of academic rigor and community engagement, focused on exploring real-world issues through various lenses. The graduation rate of 77% suggests that most students find their footing and complete their studies, which is encouraging for prospective students.
Looking ahead to life after graduation, Clark graduates earn an average of $62,381 within ten years of finishing their degree. This figure indicates that students are able to find rewarding careers that reflect their studies. While we don’t have specific mobility data, the earning potential is a key consideration for many. The affordability factor is also important; understanding the financial landscape helps us make informed decisions.
When it comes to costs, the net price after aid is approximately $28,714, and the median debt for graduates stands at $26,759. This financial snapshot reveals that while attending Clark can be an investment, many students manage their debt well in relation to their earnings. Students who tend to thrive here are often those who engage actively with their community and take advantage of the university's resources, helping to ensure a successful transition into their careers.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Clark University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Clark University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Worcester, Massachusetts, Clark University reviews applicants selectively, with an acceptance rate near 40%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,370. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 77%.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Clark University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
When weighing the true cost of attending Clark University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $58,867 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $28,714 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $18,188 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $26,759.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Clark University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Clark University earn a median of $62,381, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
How Clark Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Clark University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Clark University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $28,714/year ($114,856 total). Graduates earn $62,381 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,707,168 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,592,312 (14.9× your investment). The median debt is $26,759, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 77% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Clark University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Clark University is a genuine engine of upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 2.24%, among the highest in the country. About 5.3% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 42.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $103,000, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields Clark University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Clark University's most popular programs, with median pay and projected growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Clark University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +
Based in Worcester, Massachusetts, Clark University reviews applicants selectively, with an acceptance rate near 40%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,370. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 77%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Clark University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending Clark University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $58,867 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $28,714 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $18,188 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $26,759.
Is Clark University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +
Ten years out, alumni of Clark University earn a median of $62,381, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.
Does Clark University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes +
Clark University is a genuine engine of upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 2.24%, among the highest in the country. About 5.3% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 42.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $103,000, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Clark University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks +
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Clark University, with an economic connectedness score of 1.70 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 17% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Clark University.
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Clark University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Clark University, with an economic connectedness score of 1.70 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 17% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note