That is what I want to do with you here. I am not going to tell you whether Clark University is the right school for your child. No article knows that, and neither do I. What I can do is carefully explain what official United States government data allows us to see about this university and help you distinguish what is hard data, what is reasonable interpretation, and what you still need to ask yourself.
Clark University in a Nutshell
Clark University is a private, nonprofit, four-year university located in Worcester, Massachusetts, within Worcester County and the city's metropolitan area. The federal system classifies it among doctoral universities with high research activity, and its undergraduate profile places it among schools with more selective admission.
It also describes Clark as a highly residential institution: at least half of degree-seeking students live in housing owned, controlled, or affiliated with the university, and at least eight out of ten attend full time. That tells you something real about the pace of life there, but it does not settle your particular situation. If your child is thinking about living at home, this does not make the decision; it is worth driving the route on a weekday, at the exact time of your child's classes, because the actual travel time is almost never what the map says.
Clark offers programs through the doctoral level, although that is an institutional fact: it does not tell you whether your child's specific major exists there or whether it connects undergraduate and graduate study. And it has none of these three designations: it is not a historically Black college or university, a tribal college or university, or a land-grant institution. That says nothing about which communities it serves well or poorly; you find that out directly by talking with someone who already studies there.
One idea worth keeping in mind from the start: do not decide anything based on the list price. What you compare across colleges is the number left after scholarships and aid, not the published price. We will get to that.
The Size of the Community and Who Makes It Up
Clark had 4,124 enrolled students in the most recent official count: 2,369 undergraduate students and 1,755 graduate students. It is a medium-sized school, and compared with the other 941 selective private schools in this same census, it is on the larger side: between one and three out of ten have more students.
Here is something that can save you from a common misunderstanding. The total—4,124—includes graduate students. If your child is entering an undergraduate program, the number that matters is 2,369, not the university-wide total.
Among those undergraduate students, 12 out of every 100 are Hispanic or Latino: a small minority, though slightly above the midpoint among a group of 941 similar selective private schools that report this information. There are more women than men—57 out of every 100—and almost no adult students: only 1 out of every 100 is between 25 and 64 years old. And something worth keeping in mind if your family lives far away: fewer than half of first-time students, 36 out of every 100, reported permanent residence in Massachusetts. The rest come from other states or other countries, or their residence was not reported.
If your child is Latino and this is part of what you are looking for in a college, it makes sense to ask during the visit what exists today for Latino students: a student group, a cultural center, someone in the office who speaks Spanish. The figure of “12 out of every 100” does not answer that question; it opens it.
How Academic Life Is Organized
Clark's academic year is organized into semesters: two long terms of about 15 weeks each. In its most recent report, the university indicated that it does accept credit for AP exams, but did not indicate that it awards credit for life experience, and reported that it does not enroll high school students in college courses for credit.
Accepting AP credit does not mean that every exam automatically counts. This information does not tell us what scores are required or how many credits are awarded. If your child has AP credits, request a written equivalency evaluation before enrolling. Do not budget for savings in time or money until you have it in hand.
As for majors: in the most recent year, Clark awarded 602 bachelor's degrees across 21 different academic families. None accounts for a large share—not even psychology, the most popular, reached 17 out of every 100 degrees awarded that year. Compared with 942 similar selective private schools, Clark is in the top quartile for the variety of academic families represented in its offerings. It is a broad selection, although “21 families with a row in the report” is not the same as 21 complete majors that are active today: it is worth verifying the exact program that interests your child.
Regarding the student-to-faculty ratio: Clark reports 9 students for every full-time-equivalent faculty member, one of the lowest ratios among 941 similar schools, placing it in the bottom quartile of that table. It sounds good, and it probably is, but this figure does not measure actual class size or a professor's availability outside class. Ask directly how many students are in first-year classes.
What the University Reports as Academic Opportunities
Clark reports that it offers study abroad, a complete program that can be taken exclusively during evenings or weekends, preparation for teacher certification below the postsecondary level, the ability to complete preparation there in certain teacher-specialization areas, and state approval of its initial teacher-certification program. These are opportunities reported by the institution; they say nothing about availability, cost, or whether they fit your child's specific plan. They are starting points for questions, not promises.
What It Takes to Get In: Admission and What It Really Requires
Clark does not have open admission. Of the nine considerations reviewed in this report, excluding standardized tests and legacy status, it marks six as required: high school transcript, GPA, completion of the college-preparatory program required by the university, a personal essay, letters of recommendation, and an English-proficiency exam for applicants to whom it applies. It also considers class rank and work experience, though neither is required.
It is a long application, with several pieces that come together over time, not in a single night. The published application fee is $0. And because the essay is required, it deserves to be started over the summer, not the week before the deadline: the first draft is never the one you submit.
Now, the numbers people usually look for first:
Selectivity. In the most recent cycle, Clark received 10,730 first-time applications and admitted 4,471 applicants. That is 42 out of every 100. Among 942 similar selective private schools, this places Clark on the lower side: seven out of ten of those schools, or more, accepted a higher percentage of their applicants. It is selective. And that figure of 42 out of every 100 is for the school as a whole: if your child is pursuing a specific major, you need to request that number directly from admissions.
Who actually enrolls after being admitted. Here is a figure that surprises many families: for every 100 admitted students, only 14 ultimately enrolled at Clark. Put another way, of every seven who receive a yes, about one decides to attend. The other six had a place there and chose something else. Do not read this as a mark against the school—the federal record does not say why each person made the decision they made. Most importantly, what others decided tells you nothing about what your child will be offered. You will learn that from your own financial aid letter, which is what truly determines whether the school stays on the list.
Standardized tests. The SAT and ACT are not required at Clark. If submitted, they are considered; if not, the application remains valid all the same. Among students who enrolled and submitted SAT scores (17 out of every 100), the middle half scored between 640 and 710 in reading and writing, and between 600 and 690 in mathematics. These are ranges for students who were already admitted and enrolled, not minimums or guarantees for anyone else.
Transfers. Of a bachelor's-degree-seeking cohort that entered in 2017, 15 out of every 100 transferred to another institution without completing a degree at Clark. This is a common proportion among similar schools: it falls near the middle of the table. Transferring colleges is not failing; it is still worth making sure your child knows in advance how to request the necessary records if a transfer becomes necessary.
The List Price, in Full Numbers
This is where many families feel their stomachs tighten, so let us take it slowly.
For the 2023–24 year, the total cost of attendance at Clark for a first-time, full-time undergraduate student living on campus was $68,700. This figure is the same for Massachusetts residents and out-of-state students. It breaks down as follows:
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees | $55,160 |
| On-campus housing and food | $11,690 |
| Books and supplies | $900 |
| Other estimated expenses | (remainder needed to reach $68,700) |
Compared with 888 similar schools, this cost of attendance is among the highest in the group. It is a real number, and it is also the list price, not the bill your family will pay. The “other expenses” that complete the total are an estimate from the financial aid office—they may include laundry, transportation, and entertainment—and they do not replace your own budget if your child will be traveling a long distance.
There is no honest shortcut here: complete the FAFSA and request the aid letter in writing. Until you have it in hand, you do not know what Clark costs for your specific family.
Net Price: What Families Actually Pay, Based on Their Income
At Clark University, among 66 first-time, full-time credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid and whose EFC records showed family income below $30,000, the average net price was $16,629. Among 73 students in the same population with EFC family income from $48,001 to $75,000, it was $20,719; among 186 students with EFC family income above $110,000, it was $38,832. For dependent students, the band combines their parents' income with their own.
There is a difference of $22,203 between the average for the lowest-income band (66 students) and the average for the highest-income band (186 students). These are group averages, not a prediction of your family's price. Among first-year students who received any grant aid, the average was $32,767.
$16,629 was the average net price for families in the lowest-income band in academic year 2022-23. That does not mean it is what your family will pay. It helps you decide whether it is worth requesting the aid letter.
Because the price changes so much from one income band to another, correctly identifying yours is the first step. The income bands in this profile describe first-time, full-time credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid; at public institutions, they use the in-state or in-district rate. The overall average with grant aid, when shown, describes first-time, full-time credential-seeking students who received federal, state, local, or institutional grants or scholarships. The aid letter you receive is what matters.
How It Gets Paid: Scholarships, Loans, and Other Options
Almost everyone at Clark receives something. 98 out of every 100 degree-seeking students received some scholarship or grant aid that does not have to be repaid, with an average of $30,540 among those who received it. The federal Pell Grant, intended for low-income families, reached 22 out of every 100 students.
That average of $30,540 is real money, but it is not your offer. When your letter arrives, what matters is how much your family would have to pay out of pocket, not the size of the discount being advertised.
And here is a truth that should not be softened: financing with debt is common at Clark. 58 out of every 100 undergraduate students received a federal student loan, with an average of $6,436 per student for the year. If your child borrowed a similar amount in each of the four years of the degree, the total would be around $25,744, not including interest, Parent PLUS loans that parents sometimes sign for, or bank or credit-card debt.
That percentage describes other families, not necessarily yours. The amount your child would have to borrow comes from your child's own financial aid letter. That is why it is worth waiting for that letter before ruling Clark out or committing to it.
Clark also reports formal payment options: a prepaid tuition plan and an installment payment plan. They are worth asking about when the time comes to build the actual budget.
Campus Life, Support, and Other Details That Matter
Clark has its own housing and meal plans, although it does not require everyone to live there, and the number of meals per week is not fixed: it varies by plan. Its reported maximum housing capacity is 1,773 students. The existence of housing does not guarantee an available bed for your child; request the rate, application deadline, and whether housing is guaranteed or there is a waiting list in writing.
If your child is interested in ROTC, Clark reports opportunities in two branches: Army and Air Force. Navy is not indicated. Its appearance in the report does not mean the program is offered on this specific campus or that a place is guaranteed; ask about it by name.
In athletics, Clark competes in the NCAA, with reported membership in basketball, baseball, and cross-country or track and field, among other sports. If your child is an athlete, contact the coach directly: ask whether there is a place available, what division they compete in, and whether that sport awards scholarships.
Regarding distance education: Clark offers online courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels and reports at least one complete program that can be completed through distance education. But in the actual fall count, fewer than 1 out of every 100 undergraduate students took their entire course load online. If this matters to your family, confirm in writing the exact level and major to which it applies.
The library has employed staff, physical and digital collections, and interlibrary lending. The university also reports academic and career counseling services, employment services for current students, placement services for graduates, participation in the Yellow Ribbon program for veterans, and a webpage for services for students with disabilities. The fact that these services are reported says nothing about how effective they are in practice; ask about that directly.
Who Stays and Who Completes a Degree
Here we come to something nearly every family wants to know: do students stay? Do they graduate?
Of a cohort of 703 first-time, full-time students who entered in 2022, 88 out of every 100 were still enrolled at Clark or had already completed a bachelor's degree one year later. That proportion places Clark near the top compared with 930 similar selective private schools. It is a solid figure, although it combines two different groups—those who remain enrolled and those who have already completed the degree—and does not say what happened to the rest.
Regarding graduation: of a cohort of 612 students who entered in 2017, 472 had their degrees in hand six years later: 77 out of every 100. At four years, the figure had already reached 71 out of every 100—only six points lower—suggesting that a large share of those who finish do so on time. Compared with 920 similar schools, Clark is in the top quartile: three out of four of those schools, or more, had an equal or lower proportion of graduates.
Of that same cohort of 612: 94 transferred without completing a degree at Clark, 3 remained enrolled without completing a degree, and 43 were recorded as “no longer enrolled”—a category that does not explain the reason and may include people who completed a degree after the official deadline.
Over a longer period of eight years, following a different cohort that entered in 2015–2016: 78 out of every 100 had earned a degree or certificate from Clark. Among Pell Grant recipients, the figure was nearly identical: 77 out of every 100. Compared with 935 similar schools, this also places Clark in the top quartile.
And here is the truth that supports everything above without drama or promises: a high graduation rate describes what happened to an earlier cohort. It does not predict your child's outcome. What is within your control, and your child's, is making sure the credits are in order upon entry, knowing from the first semester who the academic advisor is, and knowing when registration opens for courses in the major.
What This Article Cannot Tell You
There is no official data here showing what happens to Clark graduates after they leave: not their salaries, employment, or how much debt they carry at graduation. That belongs to another conversation, with other sources, and is not authorized here.
Putting the Pieces Together
You now know, in detail and with its limitations, one of the three pieces you need to make a decision about Clark University: what the university actually is, how much it costs, how it admits students, who stays, and who graduates.
The other two pieces are still missing, and no federal report has them: what your child wants to study and what your child has already built to get there, and what your family can and is willing to pay. No figure in this article decides that for you. What this information can do is keep you from deciding blindly, being frightened by a number that does not actually apply to your situation, or becoming excited about an average that is not your offer either.
If Clark is on your child's list, do not let it be the only one. If the list price stopped you before you requested the aid letter, request it anyway. And if something you read here does not match what the university tells you directly, ask in writing until the answer is clear. That is the part that is up to you.
Source note: The information in this article comes from IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) and reports from the United States Department of Education, corresponding primarily to the years 2022-23 and 2023-24. Best College Aid does not represent Clark University or any government agency; this article is an educational effort intended to help families interpret public information.