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The first step is working with you to make your college experience affordable through grants, scholarships, work study, loans and other sources of financial aid. Explore our many options and resources below to help finance your Clarkson education.
The Department of Education announced further delays with the 24-25 FAFSA processing. Colleges and universities will not begin receiving FAFSA data until mid-March which will delay official financial aid offers from being released. Clarkson remains committed to supporting families during this challenging year and assures you that this delay will not impact student’s eligibility to receive financial aid. We will continue to provide updates as information becomes available. Please reach out to the Office of Admissions with any questions or concerns at admissions@clarkson.edu.
Every student’s financial aid package begins with our team reviewing your application and FAFSA (if you’ve completed it) to see if you qualify for need-based grants and merit-based awards.
Due to the significant changes and improvements under the FAFSA Simplification Act, the 2024-2025 FAFSA will not be released until December 2023.
Need-based grants are available through both the Federal Government and Clarkson University and involve review of your FAFSA. Government need based grants include:
Clarkson also offers our own form of need-based aid in:
Exceptional effort deserves recognition. If we think your admission application shows outstanding promise, you could be selected for one or more of the following merit-based scholarships from Clarkson University:
The Clarkson Ignite Presidential Fellowship program is a merit-based scholarship covering all tuition costs for 10 first-time students entering Clarkson for four years (eight semesters) of undergraduate study.
To apply for this award, you must:
Clarkson University now offers an additional $8,000 scholarship to Early Decision admission applicants. The scholarship will be split evenly over four years ($2,000 per year) and is exclusively offered to Early Decision admission applicants.
To qualify for this award, you must:
Federal, State, and Institutional Aid is awarded on an annual basis. It is based on full time enrollment (12 credits per semester) in both the Fall and Spring semesters. If a student is not enrolled in a semester, the aid will be pro-rated for 1 semester of attendance, i.e. 1/2 of the annual award amount. Students are not eligible to receive the annual total amount in one single semester.
Clarkson offers a $1000 scholarship to any student who has an official undergraduate admissions visit to our Potsdam, New York campus. Visits must be completed no later than December 1st for Early Decision and February 15 for Regular Decision of the senior year of high school. Like most Clarkson scholarships, this award is renewable each year for four years for a total of $4,000. Each student will only receive one $1000 Clarkson Visit Scholarship, regardless of how many official admission visits they complete.
Qualifying official admission visits include:
Federal, State, and Institutional Aid is awarded on an annual basis. It is based on full time enrollment (12 credits per semester) in both the Fall and Spring semesters. If a student is not enrolled in a semester, the aid will be pro-rated for 1 semester of attendance, i.e. 1/2 of the annual award amount. Students are not eligible to receive the annual total amount in one single semester.
Prospective students that are selected into these programs at the Young Entrepreneurs and Innovators Business Plan Competition hosted by the Shipley Center for Innovation will receive guidance and support from faculty and alumni mentors, office space in our incubator, and will attend Clarkson without payment of tuition for their four year undergraduate career through a combination of merit-based financial aid (after accounting for other aid for which the student may be eligible) and a purchase by Clarkson of 10% equity in their firm at fair market value.
The Honors Program offers unique academic challenges and experiential learning opportunities to prepare Clarkson University’s most promising students to lead fulfilling lives and to drive positive change in science, technology, and society. Admission to the Honors Program is highly competitive and requires a separate application. Learn more about the Honors Program application process.
Students interested in the Honors Program must complete the Honors Program application in addition to the regular admissions requirements for Clarkson University. The priority deadline for Honors is February 1. Early applications are welcome and will be reviewed as they are completed.
Learn more about applying to the Honors Program.
This program is for high achieving Cape Cod high school students. The program provides a $50,000 scholarship – $12,500 per year, for up to four years of undergraduate study at Clarkson.
To apply for the Heintzelman Scholars Program, you must:
Learn more about the Heintzelman Scholars Program
Federal, State, and Institutional Aid is awarded on an annual basis. It is based on full time enrollment (12 credits per semester) in both the Fall and Spring semesters. If a student is not enrolled in a semester, the aid will be pro-rated for 1 semester of attendance, i.e. 1/2 of the annual award amount. Students are not eligible to receive the annual total amount in one single semester.
This award recognizes students from the five boroughs for their hard work and commitment to academics. Recipients will receive $6,000 per year upon enrollment at Clarkson.
To qualify and apply for this scholarship, you must:
Federal, State, and Institutional Aid is awarded on an annual basis. It is based on full time enrollment (12 credits per semester) in both the Fall and Spring semesters. If a student is not enrolled in a semester, the aid will be pro-rated for 1 semester of attendance, i.e. 1/2 of the annual award amount. Students are not eligible to receive the annual total amount in one single semester.
Clarkson University has established a scholarship to recognize high school seniors from the North Country for their hard work and commitment to academics. Recipients of this scholarship will receive up to $6,000 per year, depending on financial need, for a total of four years of undergraduate study at Clarkson. Award recipients may enroll in any course of study at Clarkson University. The Undergraduate Admission and New Student Financial Assistance Committee determines the recipients of the Adirondack Scholars Award.
To be eligible for this award, you must:
Federal, State, and Institutional Aid is awarded on an annual basis. It is based on full time enrollment (12 credits per semester) in both the Fall and Spring semesters. If a student is not enrolled in a semester, the aid will be pro-rated for 1 semester of attendance, i.e. 1/2 of the annual award amount. Students are not eligible to receive the annual total amount in one single semester.
This award goes to select high school seniors who have completed three of the five Project Lead the Way courses in their high school. We award $2,000 scholarships to 10 students each year.
To apply for the Clarkson University Project Lead the Way Scholarship, you must:
Federal, State, and Institutional Aid is awarded on an annual basis. It is based on full time enrollment (12 credits per semester) in both the Fall and Spring semesters. If a student is not enrolled in a semester, the aid will be pro-rated for 1 semester of attendance, i.e. 1/2 of the annual award amount. Students are not eligible to receive the annual total amount in one single semester.
This award recognizes select high school seniors who have participated on a FIRST Robotics (FRC) or Tech Challenge (FTC) team. We award 25 FIRST Scholarships each year of up to $6,000 each.
To apply for the Clarkson University FIRST Scholarship, you must:
Federal, State, and Institutional Aid is awarded on an annual basis. It is based on full time enrollment (12 credits per semester) in both the Fall and Spring semesters. If a student is not enrolled in a semester, the aid will be pro-rated for 1 semester of attendance, i.e. 1/2 of the annual award amount. Students are not eligible to receive the annual total amount in one single semester.
Eight $6,000 scholarships are available to outstanding undergraduate students who plan to study engineering at Clarkson.
To apply for the SAE Engineering Scholarship, you must:
Federal, State, and Institutional Aid is awarded on an annual basis. It is based on full time enrollment (12 credits per semester) in both the Fall and Spring semesters. If a student is not enrolled in a semester, the aid will be pro-rated for 1 semester of attendance, i.e. 1/2 of the annual award amount. Students are not eligible to receive the annual total amount in one single semester.
SAGE Tuition Rewards (Savings and Growth for Education) is a unique, private college savings program. Tuition Rewards are discounts off tuition at participating colleges that represent the minimum scholarship that an eligible student will receive if attending a member college. Students receive Tuition Rewards from multiple “sponsors” (for example, parents and grandparents). A sponsor designates the tuition rewards to students when they begin their senior year of high school. If the students do not use the tuition rewards, they are rolled back into the sponsor’s account for use by other students. Clarkson counts Tuition Rewards as part of the normal institutional and merit scholarships. For more information on SAGE Tuition Rewards please visit https://secure.tuitionrewards.com/index.cfm. Clarkson must receive confirmation from SAGE of your Tuition Rewards by February 15 of your Senior Year of high school.
We want to make sure students are considered for all possible funding to help offset the cost of attending Clarkson. Submitting the FAFSA form is the first step, and in doing so, we will include a $1,000 FAFSA scholarship, renewable for four years, in your financial aid offer. Submit a FAFSA to Clarkson by February 15th to be eligible for the scholarship.
Holcroft Alumni Recognition Awards
Awards based on strong potential for success and the recommendation from a Clarkson alumnus/alumna. Awards are $500 per year—students can only receive one award, regardless of the number of recommendations. We suggest students contact alumni who know enough about them to provide a meaningful reference. Recommendation letters must be submitted by February 15 of the student’s senior year (December 1 for early decision applicants).
Alumni Family Award
If you indicate on your application for admission that you have a brother, sister, aunt, uncle, or cousin that attended Clarkson, you may qualify for a $500 scholarship. Only one scholarship will be granted no matter how many alumni family members you have.
Alumni Legacy Award
If you indicate on your application for admission that you have a mother, father, grandfather, or grandmother who attended Clarkson, you may qualify for a $1000 scholarship. You can only receive one Alumni Legacy Award no matter how many alumni family connections you have.
For an overview of financing options, request a copy of our Financial Planning Packet from newstudentfa@clarkson.edu, which contains information about:
You can also check out these helpful resource websites:
We encourage you to apply for additional scholarships. We will not reduce our scholarship/grant offer if you receive outside scholarships, unless the total amount of your scholarship money from all sources exceeds Clarkson’s cost. Please note, ROTC scholarships are not designated as outside scholarships and your Clarkson awards may be adjusted to accommodate room and board incentives.
Sources for scholarships include:
If you have financial need, as determined by the FAFSA, you are eligible to work under the Federal Work Study Program. You will have the opportunity to seek jobs at various sites on and off campus. Federal Work Study money is allocated to the University by the federal government and jobs are contingent upon funding. Once you find a job, you will be added to the University payroll and paid bi-weekly by check.
If you do not qualify for Federal Work Study, you may be considered for the University Work Program to work on campus.
Learn more about student employment once to you come to campus and see current job listings.
New York Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) and Scholarships are available for students that meet residence, income, academic, or other requirements, as established by state law. If you are from New York State, once you complete the FAFSA, your information will be forwarded to the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (NYSHESC). If you have never received a state award before, or if NYSHESC needs more information, you will be sent an Express TAP Application to complete.
An estimated NYS TAP award may be included as part of your financial aid awards, however the state’s notification is your official approved award. Some students may also be selected for state-sponsored awards such as the Academic Excellence Scholarship or the NYS Leaders of Tomorrow award.
More information about NYS financial aid programs is available here.
Admission applicants applying for Tuition Exchange at Clarkson University should see the Tuition Exchange Liaison at the exporting school for direction on how to apply. Tuition Exchange is not guaranteed and is very competitive at Clarkson. We typically receive approximately 75 applications but are only able to offer 8-10 TE Grants to incoming students. Preference is given to Early Decision applicants. Clarkson University offers the TE set rate of $42,000 (2024-25) to Tuition Exchange recipients. Clarkson also offers Tuition Exchange Merit Awards in the amounts of $2,000- $10,000 in addition to the Set Rate. These recipients are not eligible for any other Clarkson University funded scholarships or grants. Recipients may file the FAFSA in order to be considered for additional Federal and State need-based assistance. When selecting students for Tuition Exchange, Clarkson looks at a number of factors including the admission application, GPA, SAT or ACT scores, extra-curricular activities, and demonstrated interest in the University. Interviews are not required however they are strongly recommended. For questions or concerns, please contact Erin Dumers at edumers@clarkson.edu.
Scholarships, Grants, and Loans
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Potsdam, NY 13699
Phone: 315-268-6400
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Schenectady, NY 12308
Phone: 518-631-9831
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