Enrollment: 67
Average GMAT: 540.00
GMAT Range (25-75%): 480-580
Average Undergrad GPA: 3.27
Rolling Admission: Yes
School Type: Private
Average Age: 24.00
Average Work Experience (months): 24
Student Faculty Ratio: 3:1

Part Time Program: Yes
Evening Program: No
Executive MBA Program Offered: No
Total Faculty: 24

Average Starting Salary: $62,677.88
Hired Consulting: 8.1%
Hired Finance: 5.4%
Hired Operations: 21.62%
Hired Marketing: 2.7%

In-State Tuition: $35,385.00
Financial Aid Deadline: 07/01
Students Receiving Some Aid: 85%
Average Annual Total Financial Aid: $26,476.00

Best Business Schools

Students Say - Academics
Clarkson University is best known for its fine engineering programs, so it should come as no surprise that the focus at Clarkson University School of Business is on developing business acumen in engineers. Students recognize what makes their school special, telling us, "Clarkson's academic record is outstanding. It is a competitive engineering school with a growing business program." The curriculum stresses that students approach problem-solving creatively to "focus on the big picture." As one student explains, "Life at Clarkson is academically strenuous but a balance of mind, body, and spirit is encouraged by the business school." Clarkson's history as a "technical school" comes in handy for those students interested in the business side of engineering since "Many technical companies are attracted to the school" and the campus has "strong industry connections" and a "good reputation in the technology world."

Clarkson MBAs are anxious to get their degrees and move on, and the school's accelerated 1-year program suits their needs perfectly. One MBA writes, "After four years of undergrad I don't mind a little extra work load to have a master's in one year." Students agree that "the workload is intense" and places "a strong stress on the team-based experience." All this hard work pays off in the end, though, as students feel that "the group-work emphasis will help in future employment" and "The fast pace and large workload proves [their] ability to work under pressure." Despite this "challenging" atmosphere, students get a break from their studies during the Globalization and Ethics Week where corporate executives and alumni speak on various topics.

Clarkson MBAs note that the school's "small size does not sacrifice the quality of most professors." "They are always available and put in every effort to assist students," says one student. Another enthuses, "Professors are incredibly concerned with student progress. They are very accessible outside the classroom and more than willing to start up conversations in the middle of a hallway with any student." However, "They will not tell you the way to succeed. All they will do is guide you in your search to find success." In this way, "The faculty at Clarkson treat their students as equals," which MBAs appreciate.

Students Say - Admissions
The admissions department at Clarkson University requires that applicants submit an undergraduate transcript, GMAT or GRE scores, TOEFL scores (if necessary), and a Test of Spoken English (TSE) (for international students whose native language is not English; the TSE can be administered via telephone), a detailed resume, two one-page personal essays, and three letters of reference. Awards of merit-based scholarships are determined during the admissions process; no separate application is required. Those requiring foundation course work prior to commencing their MBAs "may enroll in the courses at Clarkson during the summer Business Concepts Program before entering the advanced MBA program. For students doing graduate work at another university, they may be allowed to transfer in nine credit hours of graduate work."

Students Say - Campus Life
The majority of Clarkson's student body is full-time, and they report a predictable rhythm to their school days. "You are generally on campus from 8:00 A.M. until 6:00 or 7:00 P.M. There is a lot of work and a lot of meetings to attend with group members," explains one student. As it's a business school, the prevailing mood is businesslike. Students "treat each day as if it were a work day" by dressing "business casual" and acting in "a professional manner." The business school facility follows suit with its "multiple computer labs," "student lounges," and "Learning Development Labs."

Potsdam, of course, is hardly a bustling metropolis. The closest large city is Ottawa, which lies approximately 90 miles and one international border to the north. One student simply states, "It's pretty cold, unless it's summer then it's pretty hot." With "only about three bars in town which are shared with a local SUNY school," students find "not much raucous" about the social scene, saying "It's pretty ho-hum." "Unless you skate or enjoy winter sports, there isn't much else in Potsdam to do," says one student.

Some students, however, manage to see the glass as half full instead of half empty. "A vast diversity of sports, intramurals, and clubs allow students to keep busy outside of class and to socialize with their peers," explains one student. A "majority" of Clarkson students are "involved in an activity of one sort or another." Another adds that the school provides for a "fun environment." Fortunately for all, Clarkson's accelerated 1-year program keeps most students too busy to worry about what type of fun they are, or are not, missing. Students work hard all week long and through much of the weekend as well. One MBA explains, "Weekends are spent doing work all day long. You go out with friends one night a week on the weekend; that's about it."

Students Say - Careers
Clarkson MBAs receive career services from the Graduate Career Services Office and the university's Career Center, which serves all students at the university. The center schedules career fairs each semester, puts students in contact with Clarkson's alumni network, and provides students with access to the online job database MonsterTrak. MBAs give the office mixed reviews. Some wish it would "attract a more diverse pool of job recruiters in relation to the interests of the students in the program." "They could try to get more business related type firms," adds a student. However, others praise the "many helpful resources such as e-recruiting" that are provided.

Clarkson MBAs most frequently find work with IBM, Accenture, Lockheed Martin, GE, Cooper Industries, Frito-Lay, HSBC, Knowledge Systems and Research, Texas Instruments, and Whiting Turner. While the majority of graduates remain in the Northeast, students are placed throughout the country.

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