Clark University

Clark University has experienced downward movement in national rankings while maintaining a selective admissions process. In the 2027 US News Best National Universities ranking, Clark placed 133rd. Gaining admission is relatively competitive compared to similar institutions. In 2025, the university posted an overall undergraduate admit rate of 39.5%, which was higher than only 3% of peer schools in a comparison group of 30 similarly ranked private research universities. This selective posture indicates that Clark turns away a substantially higher share of applicants than most of its direct peers. At the same time, the university sees modest commitment from accepted students. Its yield rate reached 10.7% in 2025, which was higher than 20% of peer schools. This relatively low yield means that while Clark admits fewer than four in ten candidates, only a small fraction of admitted students ultimately enroll. For prospective applicants, this suggests that earning an offer requires strong credentials, though the university contends with peer institutions when convincing accepted applicants to matriculate.

Clark University operates under a test-optional admissions policy, meaning standardized test scores are considered if submitted. In 2025, only a small fraction of enrolled students chose to submit standardized testing. For applicants presenting examination results in 2025, the published ACT composite score ranged from 30 to 33, while the median SAT score reached 1358, which is higher than 85% of peer schools in its comparison group of similarly ranked private comprehensive universities. High school academic performance remains central to admissions evaluations, with the vast majority of admitted students presenting strong grade records across the 2023–2024 applicant pool. In applicant cases collected by Forward Pathway, which are unofficial figures rather than official institutional data, admitted international students had a median unweighted high school GPA of 3.63. These figures indicate that successful candidates generally present rigorous secondary school coursework and solid grades alongside test scores that meet or exceed these mid-range benchmarks.

Clark University demonstrates clear academic focus in the social sciences at the undergraduate level, alongside high-demand technology fields in its graduate division. Among undergraduates, degree recipients are moderately concentrated, with the top three bachelor's majors accounting for 30.5% of graduates in 2025. General psychology led the undergraduate class with 77 graduates, aligning with the university's academic standing where graduate psychology ranked 81st in the 2025 US News rankings. Other undergraduate majors with substantial enrollment include political science and biology. Career compensation differs considerably across disciplines. According to 2023 earnings data measured one year after graduation, bachelor's degree recipients in economics achieved median earnings of $64,436, whereas general psychology graduates reported median earnings of $35,857. At the master's level, graduates cluster overwhelmingly in applied technical fields, particularly computer science and information technology. For prospective students, this profile indicates that while Clark maintains nationally recognized strength in psychology, undergraduate earnings are highest in quantitative and technical fields.

Clark University enrolled 3,925 students in 2025, showing distinct demographic profiles between its undergraduate and graduate populations. The undergraduate student body is predominantly domestic, with domestic White students forming the largest racial group alongside substantial Hispanic representation. Asian students made up a modest share of undergraduates, including 122 continuing students, while international undergraduates comprised only a small fraction of the college cohorts. In sharp contrast, the graduate division relies extensively on global enrollment. International students numbered 1,234, accounting for 74.4% of all graduate students in 2025, while domestic Asian students formed only a minor presence in advanced degree programs. This composition creates two separate campus environments: a traditional, domestically oriented undergraduate college and an overwhelmingly international graduate school.

The student body at Clark University divides neatly by age between its undergraduate and graduate divisions. In 2025, undergraduates were overwhelmingly of traditional collegiate age: 43.0% were between 18 and 19 years old, and 45.1% were aged 20 to 21, with only a small minority older than 21. This clustering indicates that undergraduate life revolves around standard four-year residential experiences. Conversely, graduate students entered Clark at early career stages. Those aged 22 to 24 made up the largest graduate cohort at 43.3%, followed by students aged 25 to 29. These dynamics show that undergraduate campus spaces cater to traditional young adults, while graduate programs bring slightly older, career-focused students into seminar rooms.

International participation at Clark University has followed opposing paths across degree levels. Among undergraduates, the international proportion declined over the past decade to 6.0% in 2025. Despite this drop, the undergraduate international share remained higher than 77% of peer schools in a comparison group of 30 similarly ranked private research universities. In contrast, the graduate division has experienced substantial international expansion, with international students reaching 74.4% of all graduate enrollment in 2025. This divide is clearly visible among degree recipients. At the undergraduate level, international students represented only a small minority across majors like psychology and government. At the master's level, however, international graduates dominate technical programs, accounting for 99.4% of master's degree recipients in computer science as well as vast majorities in informatics and information technology. For international applicants, Clark presents an undergraduate setting where global students represent a selective minority alongside peers, contrasted with graduate programs where international candidates form the primary student base in technical fields.

Applicants looking at Clark University can evaluate several higher education alternatives located in the surrounding region of Massachusetts. Within the same city, Worcester Polytechnic Institute sits 1.9 kilometers away and was ranked 73rd among National Universities in 2027, offering a close STEM-focused option. Also in town, College of the Holy Cross is located just 1.2 kilometers away, holding the 22nd spot among Liberal Arts Colleges. Further east toward the Boston metropolitan area, Brandeis University is located 29.9 kilometers from Clark and held the 59th position among National Universities in 2027. Additionally, Wellesley College, located 26.6 kilometers away, was ranked 10th among Liberal Arts Colleges. These nearby institutions present diverse educational structures ranging from technical institutes to top-ranked liberal arts colleges.

Campus safety records at Clark University show that reported offenses are largely driven by student conduct violations rather than violent crime. In 2025, the university registered a weighted crime rate of 7.3 per 1,000 students, reflecting a decline from 23.6 in 2016. Across the three-year span from 2023 to 2025, institutional disciplinary referrals made up the vast majority of all recorded cases. The most frequent infractions were 189 liquor law disciplinary referrals and 46 drug law disciplinary referrals. More serious offenses occurred at much lower levels over the same three-year window, including small numbers of rapes, sexual harassment, thefts, and stalking incidents. For prospective students and their families, these figures indicate that day-to-day security on campus centers primarily on monitoring substance policies and student behavior, while physical safety risks remain relatively contained.