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Clarkson College

Private nonprofit Omaha, NE · Urban · Plains · 93% data
A Diversity A- Earnings B- Value
Graduation Rate
67% B-
Solid completion rate — most students graduate
Earnings (10yr)
$64,876 A-
Top 10% nationally — exceptional earning power
Net Price
$19,241 C-
Close to the national average
Acceptance Rate
78% C
Accessible to most qualified applicants
Earnings +59% vs avg
Graduation +18% vs avg
Net Price 12% vs avg

Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 17.6× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $17.6 over 20 years.

17.6× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $17.6 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,276,664.

What The Data Says

  1. A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.

  2. Graduates earn 59% more than the national college median.

  3. Inventor rate in the top 7% nationally — patents, startups, and new technology flow from its graduates.

  4. Every $1 invested returns $17.6 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Economic Footprint

Inventor Rate
3.9%
Top 7%
Patents
274
Linked to graduates
Patent Citations
226
Downstream influence

Why Clarkson College Matters

Clarkson College is a private special-focus institution in Omaha, NE and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an unusually high rate of inventors and patents. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 10% of all U.S. colleges.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Private Special-Focus Institution
Carnegie Class
Special Focus
Enrollment
622
Setting
Urban
Designations
50
Primary Strengths
Health Professions, Business & Marketing

Why students choose Clarkson College

Startup & founder culture
Inventors produced at the top 7% rate nationally
Patent powerhouse
274 patents tied to its people
Exceptional earning outcomes
Graduate earnings in the top 10% of colleges

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

B-
Top 32% overall
A-
Earnings
$64,876 median
B-
Value
3.4× net price
C-
Affordability
$19,241/yr net
B-
Graduation
67% graduate
C
Selectivity
78% admit rate
A
Diversity
0.76 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

Clarkson College is a solid choice for students interested in health professions or business and marketing. With an acceptance rate of 78%, it welcomes a diverse group of learners. The college emphasizes hands-on experience, preparing students for real-world challenges in their fields. This focus can be especially appealing for those who thrive in practical environments and want to jump straight into their careers.

After graduation, students can expect to earn an average of $64,876 within ten years. This figure reflects a strong return on the investment in their education. The college’s commitment to affordability is evident, especially for those who qualify for Pell Grants, which are awarded to about 40% of students here. This level of support can make a significant difference in easing the financial burden as graduates step into the workforce.

When it comes to costs, the net price after financial aid stands at $19,241, while the median debt is $23,716. This manageable debt load is important for students who want to focus on their careers rather than be weighed down by overwhelming financial obligations. Clarkson College tends to attract motivated individuals who are ready to engage deeply with their studies and take advantage of the opportunities available in their chosen fields.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Clarkson College is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Clarkson College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in Omaha, Nebraska, Clarkson College admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 78%. The graduation rate is roughly 67%.

Acceptance Rate
78%
Retention Rate
61%
Full-Time Faculty
82%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$6,775
Student–Faculty Ratio
15:1
Diversity Index
0.76
First-Gen Students
33%
Applicants
66
Admitted
37

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 Clarkson College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Clarkson College is $16,104, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $19,241. The median graduate leaves with about $23,716 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$16,104
Out-of-State
$16,104
Avg Net Price
$19,241
Median Debt
$23,716
Pell Grant Rate
40%
Federal Loan Rate
81%

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Students Like You

Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Clarkson College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.

Compare schools in the full simulator →Sources: College Scorecard, Common Data Set, Opportunity Insights · today's dollars (CPI-adjusted) · descriptive, not predictive

Graduate Outcomes

Is Clarkson College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Clarkson College earn a median of $64,876, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

6 Years After Entry
$62,339
8 Years
$65,073
10 Years
$64,876
Debt-to-Earnings
0.37x
Earning > $25K
86%

Earnings Trajectory

$62,339 6yr $65,073 8yr $64,876 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (8)
35%
100% (8)
35%
100% (8)
35%
100% (8)
35%

How Clarkson Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation67%Earnings 10yr$65KNet Price$19KRetention61%Median Debt$24KPell Grant Rate40%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$19K$30-48K$17K$48-75K$20K$110K+

College ROI Calculator

Is Clarkson College Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Clarkson College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $19,241/year ($76,964 total). Graduates earn $64,876 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,353,628 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,276,664 (17.6× your investment). The median debt is $23,716, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 67% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$76,964
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,353,628
Net Return
$1,276,664
ROI Multiple
17.6×
Cost Per Year
$19,241
Median Debt
$23,716
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
67%

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Innovation & Knowledge Creation

Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education

Clarkson College produces inventors at an exceptional rate — the top 7% of U.S. colleges, with 274 patents tied to its graduates.

Inventor Rate
3.89%
Top 7% nationally
Patents Produced
274
Linked to graduates
Patent Citations
226
Downstream influence
Inventors From Low-Income
1.38%
Bottom-20% families

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Endowment
$5,762,459
Federal Grants
$2,414,351
Investment Income
$353,091

Top Programs

The fields Clarkson College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.

Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Clarkson College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in Omaha, Nebraska, Clarkson College admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 78%. The graduation rate is roughly 67%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Clarkson College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Clarkson College is $16,104, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $19,241. The median graduate leaves with about $23,716 in federal student loans.

Is Clarkson College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Clarkson College earn a median of $64,876, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

Similar Schools

Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Clarkson College.

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

The 2026 Annual Report

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

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