Clark University

What Clark University does

Clark University is a private, secular research and teaching institution founded in 1887 and headquartered in Worcester, Massachusetts, serving approximately 2,000+ undergraduate and graduate students from more than 80 countries. It operates four primary academic units — the School of Business, the School of Professional Studies, the School of Climate, Environment, and Society, and the Becker School of Design and Technology — alongside traditional arts and sciences departments, offering over 82 majors, minors, and concentrations, plus a 4+1 Accelerated Master's pathway. The university differentiates through a 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio, 100% experiential learning participation, and a scholar-teacher faculty model that embeds students directly in funded research.

The institution's technology footprint is anchored by the Center for Geospatial Analytics (CGA), founded in 2023 and currently co-developing the world's first geospatial AI foundation model with NASA IMPACT and IBM, built on the legacy of Clark Labs' TerrSet geospatial software (1980s). The CGA supports research spanning climate modeling, land-use change, conservation, and the new Executive Doctor of Geospatial Leadership program developed in partnership with the World Geospatial Industry Council. Clark's revenue model combines tuition and fees (undergraduate $63,210/year; graduate tuition varies by school from $3,420 to $5,695 per course plus a $20,000 total Online MBA), housing and dining ($8,580 and $5,780 annually), research grants (NASA, NSF, Gates Foundation), and philanthropic gifts (notably a $20 million donation from alumnus Ron Shaich in October 2025). The university faces structural headwinds, with a Board-approved strategic plan implementing a 25-30% faculty reduction while pivoting curriculum around climate, media arts/computing/design, and health/human behavior.

Name

Clark University

Legal name

Clark University

Website

https://clarku.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1887

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Clark University is a private research institution founded in 1887 in Worcester, Massachusetts, serving undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students across four academic schools with distinctive strengths in geospatial AI, climate studies, and game design.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Comprehensive Doctoral Research Universities (Multi-Disciplinary) (EDAHABAA)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Private research university
• Graduate degree programs
• Undergraduate liberal arts
• Professional development programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Worcester

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Undergraduate Tuition and Fees: Full-time undergraduate tuition is $62,070 per year plus $1,140 in student activity, program, health and wellness fees for a total of $63,210 annually. Additional fees include orientation ($400 fall/$250 spring) and 4+1 Accelerated Master's administrative fee of $1,250.
2. Graduate Tuition and Fees: Graduate tuition varies by school: Ph.D. is $31,035 per semester; School of Business courses are $5,280-$5,695 per course; School of Professional Studies courses are $3,420-$4,245 per course; School of Climate, Environment, and Society courses are $5,075 per course; Online MBA is $20,000 total tuition.
3. Philanthropic Donations: Clark receives major gifts to support strategic transformation including a $20 million gift from alumnus Ron Shaich to enhance academic programs, expand enrollment and financial aid, and support new endeavors such as the School of Climate, Environment, and Society.
4. Grants and Research Funding: Clark receives federal and foundation grants for research including NASA-funded climate research ($750,000 for Brazil Cerrado project), NSF grants ($1.5 million for Mexico water crisis), and Gates Foundation grants (GBP 3 million for Irrigated Earth Observation programme).
5. Housing and Dining: Room (standard double) is $8,580 per year and food (standard meal plan) is $5,780 per year.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Clark University is a private research university that sells undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and professional certificate education across multiple schools, including the School of Business, School of Professional Studies, School of Climate, Environment, and Society, and Becker School of Design and Technology. It also sells on-campus housing, dining, and a portfolio of workforce training and executive education programs, supported by a 9:1 faculty ratio and a 4+1 Accelerated Master's pathway.

Product overview

Clark University is a private research university offering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs across multiple academic schools. Its academic portfolio includes the School of Business (MBA, Finance, Marketing Analytics, Accounting Analytics), School of Professional Studies (IT, Data Analytics, Project Management, Healthcare Technology), School of Climate, Environment, and Society (Climate and Society, Environmental Science, Sustainability), and Becker School of Design and Technology (Game Design, Interactive Media MFA). The university offers a unique 4+1 Accelerated Master's pathway and has launched the world's first Executive Doctor of Geospatial Leadership degree. Clark's research infrastructure includes the Center for Geospatial Analytics pioneering geospatial AI foundation models. The institution provides STEM-designated graduate programs, online learning options, and professional development offerings through its schools and departments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Degree Programs Liberal arts and research-based bachelor's degree programs serving undergraduate students, with over 45 majors, minors, and concentrations, a 9:1 faculty ratio, and guaranteed internship or experiential learning participation.
• MBA Program Master of Business Administration degree within the School of Business serving early-career and experienced professionals, with a 57% acceptance rate and an Online MBA at $20,000 total tuition.
• Executive Doctor of Geospatial Leadership (DGEO) Executive doctoral degree targeting mid-career geospatial industry professionals with 7+ years of experience seeking leadership positions; integrates technical expertise including GeoAI with executive skills.
• 4+1 Accelerated Master's Degree Combined bachelor's and master's degree pathway for undergraduates, available in Accounting Analytics, Business Analytics, Computer Science, Finance, and other programs.
• School of Business Graduate Programs Suite of business master's degrees focused on social responsibility, sustainability, and ethical practice, including MBA, MSF, MSMK, MSAA, MSBA, MSA, and MSMA programs, with STEM-designated technology fee.
• School of Professional Studies Programs Continuing education and professional graduate programs for working professionals and recent graduates in Computer Science, IT, Data Analytics, Visual Arts, Communications, Public Administration, Project Management, and Sports/Esports Administration, with PMI-accredited Project Management M.S.
• School of Climate, Environment, and Society Programs Master's degrees in Climate and Society, Environmental Science and Policy, and Sustainability and Social Justice building on Clark's legacy of climate-related work across natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities.
• Becker School of Design and Technology Programs Academic programs in game design, interactive media, and visual arts, providing a real-world studio environment for careers in game design and interactive media; ranked top 5 Game Design and top 10 MFA by The Princeton Review.
• Geographic Information Science (GIS) Programs Master's-level GIS programs including M.S. in Geographic Information Science, a concentration in Geospatial Data Analytics, and a 4+1 accelerated master's pathway, using leading geospatial technologies.
• Center for Geospatial Analytics (CGA) Research Research center pioneering geospatial AI foundation models in partnership with NASA IMPACT and IBM, supporting customized AI models for mapping floods, droughts, and land-use changes across Africa, the Arctic, and beyond.
• On-Campus Housing and Dining Residential and dining services for Clark students, with multiple housing packages and standard meal plans serving undergraduates and graduate students.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99% of first-year students receive merit or need-based financial aid, with average package of $49,545 and 98% awarded as grants.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability10 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• World Geospatial Industry Council (WGIC)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2026Clark University collaborated with the World Geospatial Industry Council to launch the world's first Executive Doctor of Geospatial Leadership degree program. The WGIC represents more than 50 member organizations including Esri, Oracle, Amazon Web Services, TomTom, and Hexagon. The program addresses a leadership gap in the geospatial industry as the sector expands and experienced executives retire.
• Schizophrenia & Psychosis Action Alliance (S&PAA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 March 2026S&PAA partnered with Clark University's Becker School of Design & Technology to explore game-based solutions for addressing social isolation in schizophrenia. S&PAA team members conducted a live class session introducing students to multiplayer game design concepts to help rebuild social skills for people living with schizophrenia. Student teams will prototype and test solutions with findings presented at a S&PAA Solutions Series session in Fall 2026.
• NASA IMPACTflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerClark's Center for Geospatial Analytics partners with NASA IMPACT to develop the world's first geospatial AI foundation model, enabling researchers to build customized AI models for tasks such as mapping floods, droughts, and land-use changes.
• IBMflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerClark's Center for Geospatial Analytics partners with IBM to develop the world's first geospatial AI foundation model for climate research applications.
• Wildlife Conservation SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClark's Center for Geospatial Analytics collaborates with the Wildlife Conservation Society to support global conservation and climate research spanning Africa, the Arctic, and beyond.
• EsricoreTechnology or IntegrationClark's Center for Geospatial Analytics collaborates with Esri, a leading GIS software provider, as part of its geospatial analytics research ecosystem.
• Kraków School of BusinessminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorClark renewed its longstanding partnership with Kraków School of Business allowing students to enroll in a dual degree program, graduating with an MBA from Kraków and a communication degree from Clark.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/clarkuniversity
• YouTubeyoutube.com/clarkuniversity
• Facebookfacebook.com/89555183497
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/school
• Instagraminstagram.com/clarkuniversity
• TikToktiktok.com/@clarkuniversityworcester?

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Clark University