Quad

Head-to-head

Clarkson
McPherson

Key differences

The biggest gaps between these schools, largest first.

  1. 1

    Clarkson's yield is 78 pts higher than McPherson's

    Yield rate
  2. 2

    McPherson's grants cover 46% of its full price on average, vs. 20% at Clarkson

    Aid generosity
  3. 3

    Clarkson graduates 20 pts more of its students than McPherson (74% vs. 54%)

    Graduation rate
  4. 4

    Clarkson grads earn $12.8K more ten years out than McPherson's ($64,876 vs. $52,084)

    Median earnings, 10 yrs
  5. 5

    Clarkson costs about $5.8K less per year on average than McPherson ($21,329 vs. $27,153, all students)

    Average cost, all students
  6. 6

    McPherson is a bit larger (872 vs. 622)

    Undergrads

The shape of each school

Each axis is a national rank among 4-year colleges; further out = more of it.

SelectivityTest scoresSizePell shareFirst-genDiversity

Hollow dots at the center mean that measure isn't reported.

Who's hardest to get into

McPherson admits 77%, Clarkson 78%; Clarkson's yield is higher, at 100%.

Acceptance rate
Clarkson78%
McPherson77%
Quad's selectivity
  • ClarksonAccessible
  • McPhersonAccessible
SAT middle 50%Axis 900–1600
ClarksonTest-blind
McPherson
960–1200
How they read a recordfirst-years at 3.75+
  • ClarksonGPA and school record required
  • McPhersonGPA and school record required

Who's on each campus

McPherson is a bit larger than Clarkson (872 vs. 622 undergrads); Clarkson has the larger Pell share.

Undergrads
Clarkson622
McPherson872
Pell Grant share
Clarkson40%
McPherson38%

Majors and faculty

Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse leads at Clarkson, and Business Administration and Management at McPherson.

Students per faculty member
Clarkson10 to 1
McPherson16 to 1
Most popular majorshare of graduates
  • ClarksonRegistered Nursing/Registered Nurse76%
  • McPhersonBusiness Administration and Management, General24%

What each costs

Clarkson costs about $5.8K less a year than McPherson on average; McPherson's grants cover the larger share of its price.

Average cost, all students
Clarkson$21.3K
McPherson$27.2K
Aid generosity
Clarkson20%
McPherson46%

What each pays off

Clarkson's former students earn more, a median $64.9K ten years after enrolling; six-year graduation runs from 74% at Clarkson to 54% at McPherson.

Median earnings, 10 years
Clarkson$64.9K
McPherson$52.1K
Graduation rate
Clarkson74%
McPherson54%

How each has changed

Applications grew at McPherson, which got more selective.

Applications, 10-year change
  • ClarksonNot enough data
  • McPhersonGrowing+233%
All the numbersEvery figure for these colleges in one table, with differences highlighted.
Sources for this comparisonEvery dataset and year behind the numbers in this comparison; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, most recent release;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2023–24;College Scorecard, Entered fall 2023;IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D), Fall 2024;IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field), 2024–25 graduates;College Scorecard, 2023–24;IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients), Entered fall 2018About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why