Founded in 1887, Clark was one of the first all-graduate institutions in the United States. Today the University is a highly-ranked, student-centered institution educating approximately 2,350 undergraduate and 1,150 graduate students to be imaginative and contributing citizens of the world and to advance the frontiers of knowledge and understanding through rigorous scholarship and creative effort. This commitment to scholarship and inquiry reflects the University's commitment to "challenge convention and change our world" and to address issues of critical importance to society. It is also reflected by Clark's many national and international distinctions, including innovation, community engagement and impact, as a top green campus, and for having a distinguished geography and international development program. Clark has also been included in the groundbreaking Colleges that Change Lives guide since it was first published in 1996.
Clark is located in Worcester, Massachusetts, a dynamic, diverse city "on the rise". The second largest city in New England, Worcester is home to 11 institutions of higher learning and is increasingly recognized for its growing healthcare and biotechnology communities, its thriving cultural scene, and as a vibrant food hub.
Hefei University of Technology (HFUT), a national key university in Hefei, Anhui Province, China, with over 40,000 students, collaborates with Clark University on an undergraduate program in International Economics and Trade, established in 2015. Clark faculty teaching in this program are offered free accommodation: a suite near campus (10-minute walk) with breakfast or a 30-minute drive (with free shuttles) to a teacher's apartment with a kitchen. Hefei, a "vibrant city of innovation," ranked 36th in the 2024 Global Innovation Index's Science and Technology Cluster Ranking. The city has convenient transportation, including Hefeinan Railway Station, a major high-speed rail hub in East China, offering travel to cities like Nanjing (50 minutes), Shanghai (2 hours), and Beijing (3.5 hours). Hefei Xinqiao International Airport, serving domestic and international flights, is a 40-minute drive from the campus. Anhui Province features scenic spots like Mountain Huangshan and the ancient villages of Xidi and Hongcun, all UNESCO World Heritage sites. Anhui is also known for Anhui cuisine, one of China's eight major cuisines.