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Clarkson University is a private research university that makes the most of its scenic upstate New York location to make it "very easy to enter research as an undergraduate." Academics at Clarkson are "appropriately challenging" and one biologist notes that it "keeps you busy, but it is manageable." Students appreciate the variety of "project-based classes" and report that even lectures "often have a project component." Students also enjoy the internship opportunities and research labs; one student details spending a semester working for biologists in the Adirondack Park Forest. Students describe a supportive and engaging academic environment where "discussion is prioritized over lectures" and professors provide "strong academic support outside class time" and are "always ready to give a helping hand." While some students say that a few professors are "tough" or "seem as if they are here for their research and teaching is a side job," many others emphasize that their professors "are engaging, fun, and very knowledgeable in their curriculum" and that most "teach well and grade generously." One student adds, "I love my professors. They are very understanding and are always willing to help you."

Clarkson is a "close-knit community" of people who are mostly "very open to conversation and friendly." As one student describes it, "By the end of your senior year you will know everyone if you are a social person." Clarkson "attracts outdoorsy engineers" and there is a "great emphasis on spending time outside and sustainability." Another student agrees, describing fellow classmates as "pretty down-to-earth people who are very nature-oriented." Given the school's niche-"a small technology-based school very far north in New York"-Clarkson has tended to have a large male population, hailing largely from New England and the Northeast. That said, "the amount of diversity on campus is increasing with more promotion of our international programs" and the students who attend are definitively "here because they want to be." Because of its size, "Everyone knows everyone. You get to have the same classes with the same people for a while," which is "a great opportunity to form close friendships." It's a very supportive environment where "you will find help everywhere you look for it," says one student, whether it's from fellow students or professors. Another student agrees, saying, "all of us help and push each other to perform the best we can as well. Overall, it is a great environment to be in for college."

Students report an academically focused culture where peers are often "studying during the day. It's not surprising that many of the popular extracurriculars at UofL tend to reflect the school's STEM focus, including a number of SPEED teams (Student Projects for Engineering Experience and Design) where students can build various vehicles (all-terrain to an open-wheel racecar) or "team up with the local community to design and build mostly wooden bridges spanning from five to 75 feet." Of course, there's also a good mix of athletic options; as one student illustrates, "I play softball, and I also enjoy using the gym to lift weights, run, and play different sports like pickleball and basketball." Other popular activities include attending hockey games, playing rugby and golf, and horseback riding with the equestrian team. So far as purely social events go, students mention frat parties, although some find their way to "casual and calm" hangouts instead. Students say the location is one of the best things about the school, which tends to attract "people who like the mountains" and enjoy hiking, skiing, camping, and rock climbing. "The Clarkson Outing Club is absolutely phenomenal," says one student. Whatever type of activity you choose, students agree that it is "easy to get outdoors with groups of new people often."

Undergrads here boast that the university 鈥渋s phenomenal at job placement鈥� and note that 鈥済oing to Clarkson means 鈥� you will have a job lined up when you are done.鈥� This can partially be attributed to the hardworking Career Center, which offers year-round assistance, including 鈥渢wo career fairs and a myriad of workshops to help students find and prepare for co-ops, internships, and jobs.鈥� One undergrad adds, 鈥淕roup projects, mock interviews, and r茅sum茅 workshops are all very common at Clarkson,鈥� as are networking events, employer site visits, and informational interviews with alumni. Experiential education is so foundational to the curriculum that students are required to take part in a capstone professional experience in order to graduate; these experiences provide real-world experience or research to add to a student鈥檚 r茅sum茅 and often act as trial runs for companies looking to hire Clarkson grads (particularly with co-ops) This focus on training and these connections go a long way, and top employers for recent grads have included National Grid, Lockheed Martin, General Electric, Amazon, and General Dynamics. Clarkson alums who visited PayScale.com reported a median starting salary of $77,500, and 61 percent of graduates feel their jobs contribute a good deal of meaning to their lives.