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You’re motivated to push your academic limits. You’re creative about solving problems with new ideas. You’re passionate about changing the world. You may be a Clarkie in the making.

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Are you ready to join our Clark community? We welcome you to apply. Take the first step toward your future at Clark by submitting the appropriate application below.

First Year Common App       Transfer App

Who We Look For

  • You are curious about the world, and your place in it.
  • You seek learning experiences outside the traditional classroom.
  • You care about making a difference in the community, locally and globally.
  • You have challenged yourself academically in high school.
  • You have a strong A/B average, or can demonstrate steady improvement in your grades.
  • You want to be involved in your college community.

The Application Process

Find out how to apply Early Decision I, Early Decision II, Early Action, Regular Decision, or as a transfer student. All five options are open to both U.S. and international students. Also, check out more detailed information for international applicants.

Early Decision I/II and Early Action  (Fall start term only)
Regular Decision  (Fall and Spring start terms)
Transfer  (Fall and Spring start terms)
International  (Fall and Spring start terms)

Things to Know Before Applying

Clark is test-optional for U.S.  students.  Submit your scores only if you think they’re a good reflection of your potential success at Clark. If you don’t submit scores, we will weigh more heavily your high school course selection, grades, recommendations, writing skills, and nonacademic pursuits. Please note that we now accept self-reported scores for the SAT and ACT. Simply email a screenshot of your scores to admissions@clarku.edu.

We want to see that you have challenged yourself during high school, ideally taking at least four solid academic courses each year. We recommend four years of English, three years of math, three years of science, two years of history/social science, two years of foreign language, and other electives that interest you.

Beyond your academic record, we seek to better understand you through essays, interviews, letters of recommendation, and any other information that will help us construct a more complete picture of YOU.

Clark requires two letters of recommendation: One from your guidance counselor and another from one of your academic subject teachers. If your guidance counselor doesn’t write letters of recommendation, contact our office. Letters from coaches or music, art, or business teachers don’t fulfill the academic subject teacher requirement. You may submit other letters of recommendation, but quality is far more important than quantity.

Supplementary Materials: Although not required, you are welcome to share supplementary materials including artwork, portfolios, capstone projects, or other examples of your learning, creativity, and other skills. If you are unsure of whether or how to submit something, please email your admission counselor and they will provide guidance.

Optional Materials for Early Decision and Early Action Applicants: This year, students applying to Clark University through the Early Decision and Early Action rounds have the option of submitting performance assessments as part of their application packet. If submitted, performance assessment artifacts such as collections of student work, lab reports, or extended research papers will be used alongside other materials such as transcripts, essays, and letters of recommendation. Applicants may submit performance assessment artifacts when they apply through the Common Application. Clark University is making this opportunity possible as a partner in the 2019 Reimagining College Access Pilot. For more information, please visit this page.

If English is not your native language, you will need to submit an official official TOEFL, Duolingo, or IELTS score report. We do not have minimum scores for any test. We will consider your English proficiency holistically, based on your scores, transcript, essay, and letters of recommendation.

We strongly encourage all applicants to sit for an interview. This is especially important for applicants who do not speak English as a native language. Test scores only tell us so much; we want to give you the opportunity to tell your own story. Your options for an interview are:

If we determine you are academically qualified to attend Clark, but could use additional language support, we will refer you to our English for Academic Success Program. Depending on your level of English proficiency, you would spend between one and four semesters in this program before joining the undergraduate degree program. You would not need to take the TOEFL or IELTS again after finishing the program.

If you have any questions, email your admissions counselor. If you are seeking a waiver of this requirement, be sure to include information about any other scores you have, such as SAT, ACT, A Level, IB, or PTE.

Learn more

We encourage you to have an interview. You can schedule one as part of a visit to campus. If you are unable to visit campus, contact your admissions counselor about having an interview over Skype with a current Clark student.

Once you’ve started your application, we’ll email you information about how to log in to our applicant portal, and where you can check on the status of your materials, see what’s missing, and receive updates. At peak periods around the deadlines, status updates on the portal are not immediate; please allow for processing time. If you have questions about the status of your application, call 800-462-5275 or email our office.

Paying for Your Education

Clark gates

85% of Clark students receive aid

Your admission application is all you need to be considered for most of our merit scholarships. To be considered for need-based aid, fill out the CSS Profile. U.S. students should also submit the FAFSA for federal financial aid.

Learn More

Contact Information

Undergraduate Admissions

Undergraduate Admissions Office
Office Hours
  • 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday - Friday Selected Saturdays in the fall and spring