Non-Profit Private
Accredited · New England Commission on Higher Education
Worcester, Massachusetts
41.7% Acceptance Rate
Clark University — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
41.7%Acceptance Rate
3.69Avg GPA
1339Avg SAT
32Avg ACT
$64,426Annual Cost
$62,381Grad Salary
21.3%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
41.7%
Avg GPA
3.69
Avg SAT
1339
Avg ACT
32
Selectivity
Selective
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
New England Commission on Higher Education
SAT Middle 50%
1240–1400
ACT Middle 50%
30–33
Need-Based Aid
21.3% receive Pell
Clark University Clark University, founded in 1887 in Worcester, Massachusetts, is a prestigious private research university known for its innovative liberal arts education. The 50-acre campus offers comprehensive programs with particular strengths in psychology, geography, and international development. Clark maintains a 10:1 student-faculty ratio and is classified as an R2 research university. The campus features modern facilities including the Lasry Center for Bioscience and the new Alumni and Student Engagement Center. Clark's accelerated BA/master's programs allow students to earn both degrees in five years.
Clark takes pride in its commitment to 'challenge convention, change our world' and its focus on meaningful research and social impact. Campus life includes NCAA Division III athletics and over 120 student organizations. The university's location in New England's second-largest city provides numerous internship and research opportunities. Recent additions include the Center for Media Arts, Computing, and Design. Clark's combination of academic rigor, research opportunities, and commitment to global citizenship creates a distinctive educational experience.
Clark University Acceptance Rate
At an acceptance rate of 41.7%, Clark University rewards applicants who show real academic growth rather than a flawless transcript.
What Clark University Admissions Looks For
- Holistic Read: Recommendations and community involvement carry real weight here.
- Test Scores Help: Where submitted, scores near or above the middle 50% strengthen an application.
Selectivity at a Glance
Selective
Selectivity scale: Selective — 41.7% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Slightly below-average GPA? A strong test score or clear leadership track record can still keep you competitive.
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.69 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.49 – 3.68
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.24
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Clark University Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
The application deadline for Clark University is November 15 for Early Decision I applicants, with additional plans listed below. Admission decisions are typically released by December 15.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 93 days left — Early Decision I
Early Decision I
November 15
Decision by: December 15
Early Decision II
January 15
Decision by: February 15
Regular Decision
February 1
Decision by: March 31
Early Action
November 15
Decision by: January 15
💡 The scholarship deadline (Merit scholarship priority: 2025/11/15) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Clark University GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Clark University is 3.69. That makes admissions here highly selective. Most admitted students carry mostly A's with the occasional B.
Between 3.39 and 3.69? A strong standardized test score is worth prioritizing.
Most schools report GPA on a weighted or unweighted 4.0 scale differently. For an unweighted profile like this, students with AP/IB coursework typically carry a weighted GPA of 3.89–4.09.Clark University GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Selective; solid academic performance is expected.
Recommended Strategy: Focus on a Strong 'Spike' in extracurriculars or research.
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.69 – 4.00
Target/Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.49 – 3.68
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.29 – 3.48
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.28
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- One optional 250-word essay with a choice of two community-focused prompts - never required, but Clark says it only helps
- LEEP (Liberal Education and Effective Practice) curriculum requires every student to complete a documented internship, research project, or community engagement experience before graduating
- Tuition-free accelerated BA/MA pathway available for qualifying students
- Waitlist has real movement: about 8% of everyone initially waitlisted is eventually admitted, roughly 18% among those who remain actively engaged
- Rigor Over Raw Number: A slightly lower GPA (say 3.8) paired with multiple AP or IB courses often outweighs a flat 4.0 from a standard curriculum.
- Trajectory Matters: A lower start in 9th or 10th grade, followed by a clear upward trend senior year, reads as academic resilience rather than a weakness.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at Clark University
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Clark University's verified institutional data
--%
Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Clark University Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if Clark University is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into Clark University Without SAT or ACT?
Clark University considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.
Clark University Average SAT Score: 1339
The average SAT score of admitted students at Clark University is 1339 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1339 — Competitive
This average is solidly above the national mean, without being in elite-tier territory.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1400 SAT or 33 ACT) to stand out. Below average? Clark University allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 1240, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at Clark University. Retaking multiple times is completely normal. Most competitive applicants sit for it two or three times. There's no official limit on attempts.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 645 | 600 | 690 |
| SAT Reading | 675 | 640 | 710 |
| SAT Composite | 1339 | 1240 | 1400 |
Below 1240, you're behind most admitted students; at 1400 or above, you're ahead of 75% of them. (25th/75th percentile = the score below which that share of admitted students fall.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1350
Can I get into Clark University with a 1400 SAT?
A 1400 SAT puts you ahead of most of Clark University's admitted class, but admissions still weighs GPA, course rigor, and essays alongside it. A strong score opens the door; the rest of your profile decides what happens next.
Clark University ACT Requirements
The average ACT score at Clark University is 32.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 32 — Very Competitive
An average of 32 is well above the national ACT mean.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 28 | 26 | 30 |
| ACT English | 33 | 31 | 35 |
| ACT Composite | 32 | 30 | 33 |
Can I get into Clark University with a 33 ACT?
A 33 ACT puts you ahead of 75% of Clark University's admitted students. That's a strong position, though the ACT is only one benchmark among several that admissions weighs.
Unlike the SAT, the ACT scores four separate sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science, each on a 1–36 scale. A noticeably weak section, especially Science at STEM-focused schools, stands out to reviewers, so it's worth checking your section breakdown for outliers before applying.
Your ACT score clears the first filter, but GPA, course rigor, extracurricular depth, recommendations, and essays are what carry an application the rest of the way at Clark University.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Clark University
Selective Strategy: Competitive Positioning
Clark University rewards consistency. Being a top-quartile applicant here doesn't just help admission odds. It's usually what unlocks the strongest scholarship offers too.
Use the optional essay to tell one concrete community story
Pick a single community - as small as an 8-person club or as large as a global fanbase - and show your actual role and impact in it, then connect it explicitly to how you'll contribute at Clark. A vague or generic version actively underperforms, since Clark reads this as a genuine opportunity, not a formality.
Ask directly about the tuition-free accelerated BA/MA pathway
Clark offers a rare structural benefit: qualifying students can add a master's degree with no additional tuition for that fifth year. Raise this with your admissions counselor during the application process, not after you've already committed.
If waitlisted, send a substantive letter of continued interest
Clark's waitlist has real movement - roughly 8% of everyone initially waitlisted is eventually admitted, and about 18% among students who stay actively engaged. Don't treat the waitlist as a dead end; a meaningful academic update can move the needle.
Signal genuine interest in hands-on experiential work
Clark's LEEP curriculum requires every student to complete a documented internship, research project, or community engagement experience before graduating. Use your application to show real interest in a specific field of applied work, not just academic strength.
Expert Insight:
Students sometimes skip Clark's optional essay entirely, assuming "optional" means low-stakes. Clark explicitly says it can only help, never hurt - skipping it removes a genuine chance to stand out in a process that already reads holistically.
Clark University Profile
Full Name
Clark University
City
Worcester
State
Massachusetts
ZIP Code
01610-1477
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
New England Commission on Higher Education (NECHE)
Is a Clark University Degree Worth It?
Whether Clark University is worth it depends less on its reputation and more on your program choice, financial aid package, and career goals. Here's the data to weigh it against.
The average household income among admitted students is $76,200, with a graduate unemployment rate of 2.97%.
How much does a degree from Clark University Cost?
The sticker price is $64,426/year, but the average net price students actually pay, after Pell and federal grants, is typically much lower.
21.3% of students receive a Pell Grant and 57.8% take federal loans at Clark University. File your FAFSA early and list Clark University as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a Clark University Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $62,381. That's about 54% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Clark University. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama in Huntsville | Huntsville, AL | 1321 | 28 |
| Auburn University | Auburn, AL | 1318 | 28 |
| University of the Pacific | Stockton, CA | 1303 | 27 |
| University of San Francisco | San Francisco, CA | 1313 | 29 |
| Fairfield University | Fairfield, CT | 1323 | 31 |
| United States Coast Guard Academy | New London, CT | 1290 | 28 |
| University of Delaware | Newark, DE | 1297 | 29 |
| Florida State University | Tallahassee, FL | 1323 | 29 |
| Rollins College | Winter Park, FL | 1304 | 29 |
| Agnes Scott College | Decatur, GA | 1296 | 29 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Clark University. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hendrix College | Conway, AR | 1336 | 29 |
| University of Denver | Denver, CO | 1344 | 31 |
| University of Connecticut | Storrs, CT | 1338 | 31 |
| Centre College | Danville, KY | 1345 | 29 |
| Bentley University | Waltham, MA | 1340 | 31 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Clark University. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Clara University | Santa Clara, CA | 1417 | 32 |
| Colorado School of Mines | Golden, CO | 1403 | 31 |
| Connecticut College | New London, CT | 1412 | 32 |
| Trinity College | Hartford, CT | 1396 | 32 |
| American University | Washington, DC | 1392 | 31 |
Degree Programs at Clark University
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Clark University Admissions
Median graduate earnings at Clark University run about $62,381 a year.
At about $64,426 a year, Clark University's cost is on the higher end; look closely at aid options.
Clark University's Pell Grant rate of 21.3% sits below the national average. Merit-based aid is worth checking regardless of income.
At 41.7%, Clark University's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at Clark University average a 3.69 GPA.
Clark University doesn't publish a hard GPA floor, but landing at or above 3.39 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 3.29, Clark University becomes a harder reach, though a strong test score, meaningful activities, and AP/IB coursework can still make a real case.
A strong SAT score matters at Clark University — aim above 1339, ideally within the 1240–1400 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for Clark University is November 15 for Early Decision I applicants. Admission decisions are released by December 15.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is Merit scholarship priority: 2025/11/15. Submit FAFSA before then for maximum consideration.
Yes, transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most, along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.
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