Clarkson University - Overview

Founded in 1896 to honor Thomas S. Clarkson, a pioneering entrepreneur and humanitarian, Clarkson University today is a private, national research university that is a leader in technological education and sustainable economic development through teaching, research and scholarship and innovation.

Consistent with the founders' vision to always seek out the real needs of the American people, Clarkson stretches the boundaries of solution-oriented thinking by looking to what's next, challenging the status quo, and leveraging our combined ingenuity at the intersections of science, technology, engineering, arts and business to create real impact, relevant innovations and enduring value in the world.

With its main campus in Potsdam, New York, and additional graduate program and research satellites in Saranac Lake, Schenectady in the Capital Region, Beacon, New York City and online, the University attracts more than 4,600 enterprising, high-ability scholars from diverse backgrounds.  Our students embrace challenge and thrive in rigorous programs in engineering, arts, sciences, business, education and health professions that lead to bachelor's, master's, certificate and/or doctoral degrees. Alumni, K-12 and community members also have access to many of the speakers, programs and educational resources. 

Clarkson's size is its advantage by fostering leadership, networking and problem solving skills; and readily affording students and faculty the flexibility to stretch boundaries across traditional academic areas.   We add value to our students’ education by partnering with leading businesses, industries and thought leaders to bring relevance to the challenges and needs of the fast-paced world in which the boundaries of knowledge, discipline, nations and cultures blur. For over 120 years, our graduates have achieved extraordinary professional success, risen to societal challenges, and advanced the global economy ethically and responsibly.  Among our 44,000 alumni, one in five is already a CEO, senior executive or owner of a company.

The University's main campus in Potsdam is located on the historic 640-acre wooded homestead of the Clarkson family in the foothills of the Adirondack Park. Read more on the history of the Clarkson family and its ties to New York State below.

With four other universities nearby in the region (SUNY Potsdam, St. Lawrence University, SUNY Canton and Paul Smith's College), Potsdam is truly "a college town." Clarkson community members enjoy a constantly changing social scene and an unparalleled intellectual quality of life largely influenced by our proximity to the north slope of the Adirondacks; easy drives to Lake Placid as well as Ottawa and Montreal, Canada; and a high level of regional camaraderie to encourage innovative partnerships in small business development, arts, tourism, recreation, agriculture and green energy.