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Clarkson University: Clarkson Capital Region Campus Building
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College · Catholic life on campus

Clarkson University

  • LocationPotsdam, NY
  • Type and sizePrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 3,603 students
Official website
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Clarkson University is not a Catholic college. This rating measures Catholic life on campus: campus ministry, priests, Mass and confession, student groups, and nearby parishes.

Clarkson University in Potsdam, NY is served by the Newman Club and Campus Ministry based at St. Mary's Church in Potsdam, a ministry shared with SUNY Potsdam. The ministry's page lists Mass on weekdays and on Saturday and Sunday, some of them at St. Patrick's Church in Colton, along with a Thursday adoration, a Wednesday Bible study, a Friday dinner and retreats.

Mass, confession, and adoration

Confirm with the parish

Mass 8

  • Monday8:00 AMSt. Patrick's, Colton
  • Tuesday12:10 PMSt. Mary's, Potsdam
  • Wednesday8:00 AMSt. Patrick's, Colton
  • Thursday5:15 PMSt. Mary's, Potsdam · Potluck after the Mass.
  • Friday8:00 AMSt. Mary's, Potsdam
  • Saturday5:00 PMSt. Patrick's, Colton
Show 2 more mass times
  • Sunday9:00 AMSt. Mary's, Potsdam · Latin Mass in the Extraordinary Form.
  • Sunday11:00 AMSt. Mary's, Potsdam

Adoration 1

  • Thursday7:30 PMSt. Mary's, Potsdam · Listed as 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM in the ministry's weekly activities. The adoration times section shows a Thursday 7:45 PM to 8:30 PM block; see gaps.

Times come only from official parish, chaplaincy, or school pages, and can change with the season. Last verified Oct. 14, 2026.

Sources for these times (1)
  1. Newman Club and Campus Ministry | St. Mary's Potsdamstmarystpatrick.net/campus-ministry · verified Oct. 14, 2026
    “Monday: 8:00 AM English English EN St. Patrick's, Colton Tuesday: 12:10 PM English English EN Mass at St. Mary's Potsdam Wednesday: 8:00 AM English English EN Mass at St. Patrick's Colton Thursday: 5:15 PM English English EN Mass at St. Mary's Potsdam, potluck after Friday: 8:00 AM English English EN Mass at St. Mary's Potsdam”
    The campus ministry's daily Mass schedule lists a Mass on each weekday, at St. Mary's Potsdam on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and at St. Patrick's Colton on Monday and Wednesday.
    “Monday: 8:00 AM English English EN St. Patrick's, Colton Tuesday: 12:10 PM English English EN Mass at St. Mary's Potsdam Wednesday: 8:00 AM English English EN Mass at St. Patrick's Colton Thursday: 5:15 PM English English EN Mass at St. Mary's Potsdam, potluck after Friday: 8:00 AM English English EN Mass at St. Mary's Potsdam”
    The campus ministry's daily Mass schedule lists a Mass on each weekday, at St. Mary's Potsdam on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and at St. Patrick's Colton on Monday and Wednesday.
    “Monday: 8:00 AM English English EN St. Patrick's, Colton Tuesday: 12:10 PM English English EN Mass at St. Mary's Potsdam Wednesday: 8:00 AM English English EN Mass at St. Patrick's Colton Thursday: 5:15 PM English English EN Mass at St. Mary's Potsdam, potluck after Friday: 8:00 AM English English EN Mass at St. Mary's Potsdam”
    The campus ministry's daily Mass schedule lists a Mass on each weekday, at St. Mary's Potsdam on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and at St. Patrick's Colton on Monday and Wednesday.
    “Monday: 8:00 AM English English EN St. Patrick's, Colton Tuesday: 12:10 PM English English EN Mass at St. Mary's Potsdam Wednesday: 8:00 AM English English EN Mass at St. Patrick's Colton Thursday: 5:15 PM English English EN Mass at St. Mary's Potsdam, potluck after Friday: 8:00 AM English English EN Mass at St. Mary's Potsdam”
    The campus ministry's daily Mass schedule lists a Mass on each weekday, at St. Mary's Potsdam on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and at St. Patrick's Colton on Monday and Wednesday.
    “Monday: 8:00 AM English English EN St. Patrick's, Colton Tuesday: 12:10 PM English English EN Mass at St. Mary's Potsdam Wednesday: 8:00 AM English English EN Mass at St. Patrick's Colton Thursday: 5:15 PM English English EN Mass at St. Mary's Potsdam, potluck after Friday: 8:00 AM English English EN Mass at St. Mary's Potsdam”
    The campus ministry's daily Mass schedule lists a Mass on each weekday, at St. Mary's Potsdam on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and at St. Patrick's Colton on Monday and Wednesday.
    “Saturday: 5:00 PM English English EN Mass at St. Patrick's in Colton”
    The campus ministry's Sunday Mass schedule lists a Saturday 5:00 PM Mass at St. Patrick's, Colton.
    “Sunday: 9:00 AM Latin Latine LA | Mass in the Extraordinary Form at St. Mary's”
    The campus ministry's Sunday Mass schedule lists a 9:00 AM Latin Mass in the Extraordinary Form at St. Mary's, Potsdam.
    “11:00 AM English English EN At St. Mary's Potsdam”
    The campus ministry's Sunday Mass schedule lists an 11:00 AM Mass at St. Mary's, Potsdam.
    “Thursday: Adoration 7:30 PM-8:30PM at Saint Mary's Potsdam”
    The campus ministry's weekly activities list places Thursday adoration at St. Mary's, Potsdam, 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM.

Catholic churches nearby

Map of Clarkson University, its Catholic center and nearby Catholic churches0.25 mi0.5 mi1 miSt. Mary's Church: 1.3 mi1St. Mary's Church, Potsdam (Newman Club and Campus Ministry): 1.2 miClarkson University (campus)N0.5 mi
CampusCatholic centerCatholic church (numbered below)Open a street map ›
  1. St. Mary's Church — 1.3 mi

Within 3 miles, as mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors. The map may be incomplete. Confirm with the parish or diocese.

Catholic life scorecard

Each line is one thing we looked for. A check means yes, a half means partly, a dash means no. “Not enough information” means official sources did not say.

BCatholic life on campus: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.

Catholic life on campus

81 of 100 points on what we could document.

  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Catholic campus ministry serving this campus (Catholic center, campus ministry, or chaplaincy)Yes (The Diocese of Ogdensburg's campus ministry page lists SUNY Potsdam and Clarkson University as campuses served from St. Mary's Church, Potsdam, and the parish's campus ministry page names a local Newman Club at Clarkson.)
    Sources (2)
    1. Campus Ministry | Diocese of Ogdensburgrcdony.org/cm.html · verified Oct. 14, 2026
      “SUNY Potsdam and Clarkson University”
      The diocese's campus ministry page lists Clarkson University among the campuses served from St. Mary's Church, Potsdam.
    2. Newman Club and Campus Ministry | St. Mary's Potsdamstmarystpatrick.net/campus-ministry · verified Oct. 14, 2026
      “The local Newman Clubs are at Clarkson University, SUNY Canton, St. Lawrence, and SUNY Potsdam”
      The campus ministry's page says it runs a local Newman Club at Clarkson University.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Dedicated Catholic center or chapel on or next to campusNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Priest chaplain assigned to campus ministryPart-time or shared priest (The diocesan campus ministry page names Rev. Joseph Giroux as pastor of St. Mary's, Potsdam. He is the pastor of an ordinary parish that runs the ministry; the value is parttime. The diocese's parish page names Rev. Bryan D. Stitt as pastor instead; see gaps.)
    Sources (2)
    1. Campus Ministry | Diocese of Ogdensburgrcdony.org/cm.html · verified Oct. 14, 2026
      “Pastor: Rev. Joseph Giroux”
      The diocese's campus ministry page names Rev. Joseph Giroux as pastor of St. Mary's Church, Potsdam.
    2. Potsdam | Diocese of Ogdensburgrcdony.org/parish/potsdam · verified Oct. 14, 2026
      “Pastor: Reverend Bryan D. Stitt”
      The diocese's Potsdam parish page names Reverend Bryan D. Stitt as pastor.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Weekday Mass at the campus ministryEvery weekday (5 or more weekdays) (The ministry's Mass schedule lists weekday Masses on Monday through Friday: three at St. Mary's, Potsdam (Tuesday, Thursday, Friday) and two at St. Patrick's, Colton (Monday, Wednesday). Both churches are listed on the ministry's schedule as its Mass sites.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Newman Club and Campus Ministry | St. Mary's Potsdamstmarystpatrick.net/campus-ministry · verified Oct. 14, 2026
      “Monday: 8:00 AM English English EN St. Patrick's, Colton Tuesday: 12:10 PM English English EN Mass at St. Mary's Potsdam Wednesday: 8:00 AM English English EN Mass at St. Patrick's Colton Thursday: 5:15 PM English English EN Mass at St. Mary's Potsdam, potluck after Friday: 8:00 AM English English EN Mass at St. Mary's Potsdam”
      The campus ministry's daily Mass schedule lists a Mass on each weekday, at St. Mary's Potsdam on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and at St. Patrick's Colton on Monday and Wednesday.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Sunday Mass at the campus ministry or a campus chapelTwo or more weekend Masses (Three weekend Masses are listed: a Saturday 5:00 PM Mass at St. Patrick's, Colton, and Sunday Masses at 9:00 AM (Latin, Extraordinary Form) and 11:00 AM at St. Mary's, Potsdam.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Newman Club and Campus Ministry | St. Mary's Potsdamstmarystpatrick.net/campus-ministry · verified Oct. 14, 2026
      “Saturday: 5:00 PM English English EN Mass at St. Patrick's in Colton”
      The campus ministry's Sunday Mass schedule lists a Saturday 5:00 PM Mass at St. Patrick's, Colton.
      “Sunday: 9:00 AM Latin Latine LA | Mass in the Extraordinary Form at St. Mary's”
      The campus ministry's Sunday Mass schedule lists a 9:00 AM Latin Mass in the Extraordinary Form at St. Mary's, Potsdam.
      “11:00 AM English English EN At St. Mary's Potsdam”
      The campus ministry's Sunday Mass schedule lists an 11:00 AM Mass at St. Mary's, Potsdam.
  • Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.
    Scheduled confession at the campus ministryNot enough information: not found in official sources.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Catholic student groups and missionary outreach (e.g., FOCUS, Saint Paul's Outreach, Knights of Columbus, Bible studies)Two or more (The ministry lists a Newman Club at Clarkson and a Clarkson Bible Study.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Newman Club and Campus Ministry | St. Mary's Potsdamstmarystpatrick.net/campus-ministry · verified Oct. 14, 2026
      “The local Newman Clubs are at Clarkson University, SUNY Canton, St. Lawrence, and SUNY Potsdam”
      The campus ministry's page says it runs a local Newman Club at Clarkson University.
      “Wednesday: Clarkson Bible Study”
      The campus ministry lists a Clarkson Bible Study on Wednesdays.
      “The Newman Club, named after John Henry Cardinal Newman, is a worldwide Catholic student organization”
      The Newman Club is described as a Catholic student organization.
  • Yes: the school meets this item and earns its full points.
    Formation programs (retreats, OCIA/RCIA, service, small groups)Two or more kinds (The ministry lists a fall retreat, a spring service retreat, and a weekly Bible study.)
    Sources (1)
    1. Newman Club and Campus Ministry | St. Mary's Potsdamstmarystpatrick.net/campus-ministry · verified Oct. 14, 2026
      “Wednesday: Clarkson Bible Study”
      The campus ministry lists a Clarkson Bible Study on Wednesdays.
      “Camp Guggenheim Fall Retreat Weekend in Saranac Lake Spring Service Retreat, various locations”
      The campus ministry lists a fall retreat weekend in Saranac Lake and a spring service retreat.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Catholic church within walking distance (computed from OpenStreetMap)Within 3 milesComputed from OpenStreetMap church locations.
  • Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.
    Published weekly schedule of Mass, confession, and adoration6 to 11 times a week (9 weekly times documented: 8 Mass, 0 confession, 1 adoration.)Computed from the verified Mass, confession, and adoration times listed on this page (each day a time is offered counts once).

Grades come from the documented indicators under the published rubric. “Not enough information” does not mean the school lacks it.

Strengths

  • Mass is listed on every weekday, with three weekday Masses at St. Mary's, Potsdam.
    Sources (1)
    1. Newman Club and Campus Ministry | St. Mary's Potsdamstmarystpatrick.net/campus-ministry · verified Oct. 14, 2026
      “Monday: 8:00 AM English English EN St. Patrick's, Colton Tuesday: 12:10 PM English English EN Mass at St. Mary's Potsdam Wednesday: 8:00 AM English English EN Mass at St. Patrick's Colton Thursday: 5:15 PM English English EN Mass at St. Mary's Potsdam, potluck after Friday: 8:00 AM English English EN Mass at St. Mary's Potsdam”
      The campus ministry's daily Mass schedule lists a Mass on each weekday, at St. Mary's Potsdam on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and at St. Patrick's Colton on Monday and Wednesday.
  • Weekend Masses are listed on Saturday and on Sunday at 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM.
    Sources (1)
    1. Newman Club and Campus Ministry | St. Mary's Potsdamstmarystpatrick.net/campus-ministry · verified Oct. 14, 2026
      “Saturday: 5:00 PM English English EN Mass at St. Patrick's in Colton”
      The campus ministry's Sunday Mass schedule lists a Saturday 5:00 PM Mass at St. Patrick's, Colton.
      “Sunday: 9:00 AM Latin Latine LA | Mass in the Extraordinary Form at St. Mary's”
      The campus ministry's Sunday Mass schedule lists a 9:00 AM Latin Mass in the Extraordinary Form at St. Mary's, Potsdam.
      “11:00 AM English English EN At St. Mary's Potsdam”
      The campus ministry's Sunday Mass schedule lists an 11:00 AM Mass at St. Mary's, Potsdam.
  • A weekly Clarkson Bible Study, a Friday dinner and fall and spring retreats are listed.
    Sources (1)
    1. Newman Club and Campus Ministry | St. Mary's Potsdamstmarystpatrick.net/campus-ministry · verified Oct. 14, 2026
      “Wednesday: Clarkson Bible Study”
      The campus ministry lists a Clarkson Bible Study on Wednesdays.
      “Friday: Campus Ministry Dinner and Fellowship 6:00 PM @ Potsdam Rectory”
      The campus ministry lists a dinner and fellowship on Fridays at 6:00 PM at the Potsdam Rectory.
      “Camp Guggenheim Fall Retreat Weekend in Saranac Lake Spring Service Retreat, various locations”
      The campus ministry lists a fall retreat weekend in Saranac Lake and a spring service retreat.

Concerns

  • The pastor is named only on diocesan pages.
    Sources (2)
    1. Campus Ministry | Diocese of Ogdensburgrcdony.org/cm.html · verified Oct. 14, 2026
      “Pastor: Rev. Joseph Giroux”
      The diocese's campus ministry page names Rev. Joseph Giroux as pastor of St. Mary's Church, Potsdam.
    2. Newman Club and Campus Ministry | St. Mary's Potsdamstmarystpatrick.net/campus-ministry · verified Oct. 14, 2026
      “The local Newman Clubs are at Clarkson University, SUNY Canton, St. Lawrence, and SUNY Potsdam”
      The campus ministry's page says it runs a local Newman Club at Clarkson University.
  • The confession times are not labeled separately on the ministry's page.
    Sources (1)
    1. Newman Club and Campus Ministry | St. Mary's Potsdamstmarystpatrick.net/campus-ministry · verified Oct. 14, 2026
      “The local Newman Clubs are at Clarkson University, SUNY Canton, St. Lawrence, and SUNY Potsdam”
      The campus ministry's page says it runs a local Newman Club at Clarkson University.

Know something we missed? Suggest a correction.

The Catholic center

St. Mary's Church, Potsdam (Newman Club and Campus Ministry)

  • Address: 17 Lawrence Avenue, Potsdam, NY 13676
  • Distance from campus: 1.2 mi (straight line from the campus point in federal IPEDS data)

View on map ↗

Source: rcdony.org, verified Oct. 14, 2026, stmarystpatrick.net, verified Oct. 14, 2026

Catholic clubs and student life

7 groups and regular activities · 0 on campus, 1 off campus, 6 location not published

Retreats 1

  • Camp Guggenheim Fall Retreat WeekendOff campus
    Fall retreat weekend held in Saranac Lake.
    stmarystpatrick.net

Faith formation 1

  • Clarkson Bible Study
    Wednesdays
    Weekly Bible study for Clarkson students listed by the campus ministry.
    stmarystpatrick.net

Clubs and groups 1

  • Newman Club (Clarkson, with SUNY Potsdam, SUNY Canton and St. Lawrence)
    Local Newman Club, a Catholic student organization, run by the campus ministry at St. Mary's, Potsdam.
    stmarystpatrick.net, stmarystpatrick.net

Liturgy and prayer 1

  • Thursday Eucharistic Adoration
    Thursdays 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM
    Weekly adoration at St. Mary's, Potsdam; the ministry's page says it is open to all and initiated by college students and the campus minister.
    stmarystpatrick.net

Service 1

Social life 2

  • Campus Ministry Dinner and Fellowship
    Fridays 6:00 PM
    Campus ministry dinner and fellowship, listed at the Potsdam Rectory.
    stmarystpatrick.net
  • Coffee Hours
    Sundays 10 AM and 12 PM
    Sunday coffee hours listed by the campus ministry.
    stmarystpatrick.net

Everything listed is published by the school, its campus ministry, or the parish. Ask the campus minister what’s happening this semester.

Catholic campus ministry

Sources (3)
  1. Campus Ministry | Diocese of Ogdensburgrcdony.org/cm.html · verified Oct. 14, 2026
    “SUNY Potsdam and Clarkson University”
    The diocese's campus ministry page lists Clarkson University among the campuses served from St. Mary's Church, Potsdam.
  2. Newman Club and Campus Ministry | St. Mary's Potsdamstmarystpatrick.net/campus-ministry · verified Oct. 14, 2026
    “The local Newman Clubs are at Clarkson University, SUNY Canton, St. Lawrence, and SUNY Potsdam”
    The campus ministry's page says it runs a local Newman Club at Clarkson University.
    “The local Newman Clubs are at Clarkson University, SUNY Canton, St. Lawrence, and SUNY Potsdam”
    The campus ministry's page says it runs a local Newman Club at Clarkson University.
  3. Potsdam | Diocese of Ogdensburgrcdony.org/parish/potsdam · verified Oct. 14, 2026
    “The Roman Catholic Church of St. Mary 17 Lawrence Avenue Potsdam, New York 13676”
    The Roman Catholic Church of St. Mary in Potsdam has its address at 17 Lawrence Avenue.

Reach out

Contact details for Hattie Taylor (Campus Minister) and the campus ministry are available to signed-in users.

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Academic Excellence

BAcademic Excellence: Good (grade B): 70 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.
82 of 100
From federal data, on fixed published scales.

Each measure counts for the share shown.

  • Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.75%
  • First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.85%
  • Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 1,304 · ACT 28.5
  • Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.13 to 1
  • Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$16,750

Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.

Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))

Campus facts

SportsNCAA Division III · Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association
SettingTown
ROTCArmy · Air Force
Study abroadOffered
Students per faculty member13 to 1

Federal data (IPEDS). None of this changes the faith grades.

Cost and value

Federal data, shown separately. Cost, debt, and earnings are never part of any grade.

Undergraduate students
Fall enrollment (IPEDS)
2,513
Total students3,603
Average net price (per year)
After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid
$30,305
Cost of attendance (per year)$79,022
Median federal debt at graduation$26,000
Graduation rate
First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time
75%
First-year retention85%
Median earnings 10 years after entry$89,696
Admission rate77%
Students receiving Pell grants22%
Admitted students’ middle range:SAT 1200–1390ACT 25–32
Admission test scores (middle 50% of admitted students who submitted scores)
Average SAT1304
SAT reading & writing590–690
SAT math610–700
ACT composite25–32
Test policyConsidered but not required

Value index: 57 / 100 (how it’s computed)

Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.

Local Church

Diocese of Ogdensburg

The Most Reverend Terry R. LaValley, Bishop of Ogdensburg

Formal address: “Your Excellency”

Source: rcdony.org, rcdony.org, verified Oct. 7, 2026.

Diocese determined from the county, using the diocese’s county list (Wikipedia). Confirm with the diocese.

About this school’s data

Questions families ask

Is Clarkson University a Catholic college?
No. Clarkson University is not a Catholic college. Catholic School Compass rates the Catholic life on its campus instead. Catholic students are served by Newman Club and Campus Ministry, St. Mary's Potsdam.
What is Clarkson University’s Catholic Life Score?
81 out of 100 (grade B). It measures Catholic life on campus: campus ministry, priests, Mass and confession, student groups, and nearby parishes, together with academics.
Where is Mass celebrated at Clarkson University?
Mass is listed at St. Patrick's, Colton, St. Mary's and Potsdam. Days and times are on this page; please confirm with the parish or campus ministry before you go.
Is Clarkson University Compass Recommended?
Yes. Clarkson University meets the Compass Recommended standard for Catholic life on campus.

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