Scholarships, Grants, and Loans
You've probably seen the accolades touting that we have an incredible return on investment. How do we do it?
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.
Financial Aid Opportunities
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.
Need-Based Grants
Need-based grants are available through both the Federal Government and Clarkson University and involve review of your FAFSA. Government need based grants include:
- Federal Grants
- Federal Pell Grant
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
Learn more about these government-sponsored programs.
Clarkson also offers our own form of need-based aid in:
- Clarkson Grants
- Special Awards (see more information below)
Merit-Based Awards
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:
- Clarkson Scholarships
We consider you automatically for your potential to contribute to the Clarkson Community based on your application.
- Clarkson Leadership Awards and Clarkson Achievement Awards
A $25,000 (Leadership) or $20,000 (Achievement) annual scholarship renewable for up to four years for qualified students who demonstrate leadership and outstanding academic achievement. Leadership & Achievement nominations are made by high school guidance counselors during the student's junior year of high school with final approval made by Clarkson University.
Special Awards and Unique Funding Options
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:
- First, you must apply to Clarkson University for Early Decision OR Regular Decision.
- Second, you must apply for the Clarkson Ignite Presidential Fellows program by February 15.
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:
- apply for admission to Clarkson via Early Decision no later than December 1
- be a new incoming freshman applicant
- submit your Early Decision admission deposit within two weeks of receiving your financial aid notice (in extenuating circumstances the Admission Office may offer a short extension)
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:
- any personalized visit set up directly through the Undergraduate Admission Office
- pre-arranged overnight admission visits for accepted students
- Summer Visit Day, Fall Open House, Spring Open House, Accepted Students Day
- Group visits to campus (high school, college planning/access program, athletics) in which you have a pre-arranged on-campus admission interview or complete an interview following the visit via phone, video or an off-campus interview
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.
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.
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:
- submit a complete Clarkson University admission application
- submit Heintzelman Scholars Program application materials, including a short essay or video submission
- attend a Cape Cod, Massachusetts area high school
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 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:
- Have a minimum overall high school average of 88
- Complete the Clarkson University admission application
- Complete the Clarkson University Project Lead the Way Scholarship application
- Submit an official high school transcript confirming completion of at least three Project Lead the Way courses
- Provide one letter of recommendation from a teacher or advisor in your Project Lead the Way 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.
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 http://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.
Alumni Connection Awards
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 1 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.
Additional Resources for Financing Your Education
Financing Options and Resources
For an overview of financing options, request a copy of our Financial Planning Packet from newstudentfa@os-tw.com, which contains information about:
- Clarkson University’s Payment Plan
- Federal student Loans
- Federal parent Loans
- Alternative student loans
You can also check out these helpful resource websites:
Scholarship Searches
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:
- Your high school guidance office
- Student and parent employers
- Online searches
Work Study
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.
State Grants - NY Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)
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.
Tuition Exchange for Admissions Applicants
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 $43,000 (2025-26) 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@os-tw.com.