Welcome to Clarkson University.

Clarkson is a private, national research university and proven leader in technological education and sustainable economic development. STEM intersects with our scholarship, research, innovation and teaching through more than 90 rigorous programs of study in engineering, business, arts, education, sciences and health professions. With our 4,800+ students, we ignite connections across disciplines, industries and social cultures to create the entrepreneurial mindset, knowledge and intellectual curiosity needed to innovate world-relevant solutions and prepare the leaders of tomorrow. Alumni earn salaries that are among the top two percent in the nation and realize accelerated career growth. Clarkson’s main campus is located in Potsdam, New York, and additional graduate programs, online networks and research facilities are based near industry partners in Saranac Lake, Schenectady, Beacon and New York City.

The favorite verse of our namesake Thomas S. Clarkson, “the workman that needeth not to be ashamed,” was the motto chosen by the founders when our doors opened in 1896 as a new kind of school that blended a technology-rich curriculum with other disciplines, and compelled faculty and students to always seek out the real needs of the American people.  Today, we continue to defy convention by going beyond the status quo of deep disciplinary knowledge.  Everyone has opportunities and hands-on access to build the practical skillsets to stretch boundaries.  Clarkson graduates emerge with the entrepreneurial competence to make sense of complex systems and forge connections across people and fields.  One in five alumni already leads as a CEO, senior executive or owner of a company.  

Clarkson’s globally oriented faculty pursue interdisciplinary research focused on rapidly solving real world problems for a better future. Example signature areas of research include healthy global solutions, advanced materials development, computational and data-enabled discoveries, next generation medicine and healthcare, and STEM and entrepreneurial education. Our external network engages 380+ active partners in industry, government agencies, chambers of commerce and research organizations affording students access to world relevant problems to pursue with their professors as well as a direct pipeline to internships and careers after graduation. In addition to an engaged 44,000+ strong alumni community living in 87 countries, our global reach extends through the networks of our schools, ROTC command, research centers and institutes.

Independent think tank, Brookings Institution, validates the value of a Clarkson education by placing us in the top 10 universities nationwide for increasing our students' lifetime earnings potential. Our commitment to live and lead by example begins with the University Mission Statement, the Vision of a Clarkson Education, and our Clarkson Values.

Mission

Old Main in the fall

Clarkson University is an independent, nationally recognized technological university whose faculty of teacher-scholars aspires to offer superior instruction and engage in high-quality research and scholarship in engineering, business, science, health, education and liberal arts. Our primary mission is to educate talented and motivated men and women to become successful professionals through quality pre-collegiate, undergraduate, graduate, and professional continuing education programs, with particular emphasis on the undergraduate experience. Our community and campus settings enhance the quality of student life and afford students access to and interaction with their faculty. We value the diversity of our University community, and we strive to attune ourselves and our programs to our global, pluralistic society. We share the belief that humane and environmentally sound economic and social development derive from the expansion, diffusion, and application of knowledge.

Vision

Formally adopted in 1995, the Vision of a Clarkson Education is the foundation that differentiates Clarkson graduates around the globe — first as students, then as young professionals in high demand in a highly competitive marketplace, and ultimately as CEOs, company owners and leaders with proven career and life success with remarkable mobility.  (as cited by Brookings in naming top 10 universities nationwide for ROI).

The Clarkson University educational experience is designed to provide talented and ambitious students with the knowledge and skills necessary to achieve positions of leadership within their chosen profession. The combination of Clarkson’s strong technologically rich curricula and state-of-the-art teaching and research facilities, coupled with an unparalleled commitment to a friendly learning environment and to students’ personal development, uniquely prepares Clarkson graduates to excel in their chosen professions and to lead rewarding and creative lives.

Clarkson Students Doing Teamwork Exercises in Close Formation

In addition to attaining mastery of the core knowledge within the field, a Clarkson education is designed to enable students to:

  • solve real-world, open-ended problems with creativity and risk taking to obtain solutions that are practical and sustainable, including those they encounter in state-of-the-art research under the direction of distinguished faculty;
  • develop and refine exceptional communication skills with an awareness of potential cultural differences;
  • lead effectively and work productively within disciplinary and multidisciplinary teams composed of members with diverse interests and backgrounds;
  • excel in using computing and information technologies;
  • learn through instruction and guidance by nationally recognized faculty whose commitment to both teaching and research has made Clarkson a nationally ranked university.

A Clarkson student’s education is greatly enhanced by a personal and friendly learning environment, within a small, residential, nationally recognized University, which:

  • places students at the center of the educational process and where all employees have a commitment to creating an environment that contributes positively to students’ overall educational experience;
  • draws undergraduates, graduate students, faculty and staff together into a cohesive and stimulating learning community, wherein an atmosphere of scholarship and spirit of research is cultivated;
  • uses our campus as a living laboratory to improve learning, and uses the wider region to broaden and extend Clarkson’s outreach and service;
  • provides personal advising and interaction with faculty and staff as well as supportive relationships among students;
  • offers many leadership opportunities through co-curricular groups and activities;
  • respects and learns from its community of diverse people, backgrounds and cultures.

Values

Together, these provide a unique educational experience that is directed toward developing the whole person.

Teamwork
Effective teamwork encourages creativity and self-initiative in our respective roles and partnerships. It is essential in getting the task done and in developing the skills needed to meet the challenges of ensuring sustainability of local and global economic, environmental and social systems.

Professor Luciana Echaz with student in TAC atrium

Caring
A positive and friendly atmosphere is created when we care about each other, when we are open to constructive criticism and when we show appreciation for a job well done.

Integrity
Honesty and accountability in one’s actions and words form the foundation of our relationships with others.

Vision
Having a vision of a sustainable future helps us prepare for it. Embracing the inevitable changes in our world as opportunities allows us to anticipate, promote and facilitate change.

Diversity
The mutual appreciation of differences and a plurality of opinions, beliefs and cultural traditions inform and enrich our lives.

Service
Offering our time and skills for the good of our fellow citizens leads to the prosperity and environmental health of the community and to the well-being and character development of the individual.

Growth
Educational experiences in and out of the classroom enliven our minds, broaden our horizons and facilitate dialogue and consensus. Learning is a lifelong activity.

Diligence
“A workman that needeth not to be ashamed.” (The favorite Biblical phrase of University namesake Thomas S. Clarkson.) Initiative and hard work are key ingredients in getting the task done.