Clarkson University is a private technology-focused university in Potsdam, in upstate New York near the Canadian border. It is best known for engineering, business and the sciences, with one of the highest job-placement rates of any US university and generous merit scholarships for international students. Choose it for a hands-on engineering degree with strong outcomes at a discounted price.
Potsdam, United States
Official website: clarkson.edu
#851
Around 95% of graduates employed or in graduate school within six months
Top 5% of US universities (PayScale)
12:1
$34,000 – $60,000
International students, undergraduate and master's programmes, before scholarships
$14,000 – $18,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on clarkson.edu before you apply.
MS Computer Science
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
MS Electrical and Computer Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
MS Mechanical Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
MS Data Analytics
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
MBA (Reh School of Business)
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
BS Mechanical Engineering
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
Job placement around 95% within six months — among the best of any US university.
Engineering — around 60% of students study engineering, with hands-on project teams from year one.
Reh School of Business — AACSB-accredited, with a strong supply chain programme.
Potsdam — a small town in the Adirondack foothills, 30 minutes from Canada.
Graduates join GE, IBM, Corning, Lockheed Martin, Procter & Gamble and New York's engineering firms.
Engineering bachelor's graduates report median starting salaries around USD 75,000-85,000.
STEM master's graduates can work in the US for up to three years on OPT.
Alumni are known for reaching senior engineering and executive roles at Fortune 500 firms.
Undergrad
15 Jan 2027
Postgrad
Varies by programme
Undergrad
No UG intake
Postgrad
Varies by programme
The 640-acre wooded campus sits on a hill above the village of Potsdam, with engineering buildings, residence halls and the student centre within a ten-minute walk.
Potsdam is a small college town of about 15,000 people with very low rent, long snowy winters and the Adirondack mountains nearby. Ottawa and Montreal are each about two hours away.
Form I-20 issued by Clarkson
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
For fall 2027 undergraduate entry, Early Decision closes 1 December 2026 and Regular Decision closes 15 January 2027, with applications accepted later while places last. Graduate deadlines are rolling, with priority dates around 1 April for fall and 1 October for spring.
Undergraduates start in the fall (late August). Most master's programmes, including computer science, electrical and mechanical engineering and data analytics, admit for both fall and spring (January), while the one-year MBA is fall only. Check your programme's admissions page to confirm.
You need an F-1 student visa. The International Center issues your Form I-20 after you accept the offer and submit proof of funding. Then pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 and book an interview at a US embassy or consulate.
Computer science, electrical and computer engineering, mechanical engineering, data analytics and the MBA attract the most international applicants. Graduate admission needs a bachelor's degree with a GPA of at least 3.0, TOEFL 80 or IELTS 6.5, and the GRE for some programmes. Undergraduate admission is selective, with an acceptance rate around 75%.
Yes. Nearly all international undergraduates receive a merit scholarship, often worth USD 20,000 to 35,000 a year, considered automatically when they apply. Master's applicants with strong records receive partial tuition scholarships, and research-track students can apply for assistantships. Check the financial aid pages for current amounts.