Clarkson vs. RPI

Deciding between Clarkson University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Clarkson University
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Clarkson Potsdam, NY
  • RPI Troy, NY
  • Setting
  • Clarkson Remote Town
  • RPI Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Clarkson 3,348
  • RPI 7,040
  • Type
  • Clarkson Private 4 Year
  • RPI Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Clarkson #189
  • RPI #130
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Clarkson -
  • RPI -
  • Status
  • Clarkson Non-profit
  • RPI Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Clarkson
  • RPI

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Clarkson $59,398
  • RPI $64,081
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Clarkson $59,398
  • RPI $64,081
  • Room & Board
  • Clarkson $18,252
  • RPI $18,120
  • Average Net Price
  • Clarkson $32,406
  • RPI $38,887
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Clarkson $46,528
  • RPI $43,517
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Clarkson 100%
  • RPI 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Clarkson 6,661
  • RPI 17,175
  • Admitted
  • Clarkson 5,153
  • RPI 10,901
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Clarkson 77.4%
  • RPI 63.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Clarkson 9.5%
  • RPI 12.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Clarkson 1300
  • RPI 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • Clarkson 28
  • RPI 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Clarkson 3.8
  • RPI 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Clarkson A-
  • RPI A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Clarkson Very High
  • RPI Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Clarkson
  • RPI Low
  • ACT Range
  • Clarkson 25/32
  • RPI 30/34
  • SAT Range
  • Clarkson 1200/1390
  • RPI 1375/1510
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Clarkson Test optional
  • RPI Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Clarkson Jan 15, 2027
  • RPI Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Clarkson 13:1
  • RPI 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Clarkson
    • Engineering (48%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Engineering Technology (9%)
    • Communication (3%)
  • RPI
    • Engineering (53%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Engineering Technology (5%)
    • Architecture (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Clarkson 72%
  • RPI 84%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Clarkson $70,800
  • RPI $82,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Clarkson 86%
  • RPI 92%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Clarkson $27,000
  • RPI $27,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Clarkson $279
  • RPI $284

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Clarkson 66%
  • RPI 69%
  • % Women
  • Clarkson 34%
  • RPI 31%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Clarkson Very Low
  • RPI High
  • HBCU
  • Clarkson No
  • RPI No
  • % White
  • Clarkson 84%
  • RPI 59%
  • % Asian
  • Clarkson 3%
  • RPI 10%
  • % Black
  • Clarkson 2%
  • RPI 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Clarkson 4%
  • RPI 8%
  • % Native American
  • Clarkson 0%
  • RPI 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Clarkson 0%
  • RPI 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Clarkson 2%
  • RPI 7%
  • % International
  • Clarkson 3%
  • RPI 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Clarkson 2%
  • RPI 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Clarkson 67%
  • RPI 37%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Clarkson 25%
  • RPI 58%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Clarkson Yes
  • RPI Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Clarkson No
  • RPI Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • Clarkson Yes
  • RPI Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Clarkson No
  • RPI No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Clarkson No
  • RPI No

Comparable Facts

Compare Clarkson University in Potsdam, NY with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is larger than Clarkson based on total student enrollment (7,040 students vs. 3,348 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Clarkson University is located in Potsdam, NY (Remote Town setting); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is in Troy, NY (Small City setting).
  • Clarkson University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Clarkson University 13:1; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 14:1.

Clarkson vs. RPI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Clarkson or RPI? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Clarkson University than RPI ($32,406 vs. $38,887).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are 0.7% lower than at Clarkson University ($18,120 vs. $18,252).
  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is 7.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Clarkson (about $4,683 more per year; $64,081.00 vs. $59,398.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7.9% higher at RPI than at Clarkson University (about $4,683 more per year; $64,081.00 vs. $59,398.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Clarkson University than at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (100% vs. 95%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Clarkson University students is 6.9% larger than aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students ($46,528 vs. $43,517).

Clarkson vs. RPI Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Clarkson or RPI? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between RPI and Clarkson.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1440) is 140 points higher than at Clarkson (1300).
  • Incoming RPI students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 28 at Clarkson).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Clarkson University 1200/1390; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1375/1510.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Clarkson University 25/32; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 30/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Clarkson - Test optional; RPI - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Clarkson Jan 15, 2027; RPI Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman RPI students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at Clarkson (3.8).
  • Clarkson has a higher acceptance rate (77.4%) than RPI (63.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.5% at Clarkson vs. 12.1% at RPI.

Clarkson vs. RPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Clarkson and RPI? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's six-year graduation rate (84%) is higher than Clarkson University's (72%).
  • Graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn a median of about $11,700 more per year than Clarkson graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,500 vs. $70,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Clarkson University graduates have a $500 lower median loan debt than RPI graduates ($27,000 vs. $27,500).
  • Among borrowers, Clarkson graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RPI graduates ($279 vs. $284).
  • More RPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Clarkson students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 86%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.