Clarkson vs. RPI

Should I go to Clarkson University or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Clarkson or RPI is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

RIT Stevens Binghamton University Northeastern St Lawrence University U of R Lehigh MIT WPI Case Western Cornell SUNY Stony Brook
Clarkson University vs. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute comparison
Clarkson University Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute College 3 College 4
Clarkson University Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 Clarkson RPI
Location Potsdam, NY Troy, NY
Setting Remote Town Small City
Enrollment 3,719 6,968
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #220 #110
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website clarkson.edu rpi.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Clarkson RPI
Tuition (In State) $54,960 $58,600
Tuition (Out of State) $54,960 $58,600
Room & Board $16,744 $16,980
Avg Net Price $32,450 $39,127
Avg Grant Aid $41,285 $38,636
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 90%

Admission

 Clarkson RPI
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,594 16,863
Admitted 5,171 10,878
Acceptance Rate 78.4% 64.5%
Enrolled % 11.5% 18.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.8 3.88
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Difficult Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 25/30 30/34
SAT Range 1190/1370 1360/1520
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

 Clarkson RPI
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (48%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Engineering Technology (9%)
  • Communication (3%)
  • Engineering (53%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
  • Business (8%)
  • Engineering Technology (5%)
  • Architecture (5%)

Outcomes

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

Diversity

 Clarkson RPI
% Men 64% 69%
% Women 36% 31%
Racial Diversity Very Low High
HBCU No No
% White 84% 59%
% Black 2% 3%
% Hispanic 4% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 7%
% International 3% 11%
% Unknown Race 2% 2%

Students

 Clarkson RPI
% In-State 65% 36%
% Out-of-State 31% 58%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is larger than than Clarkson based on total student enrollment (6,968 students vs. 3,719 students)

Clarkson vs. RPI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Clarkson or RPI?

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is 6.6% more expensive to attend than Clarkson for in-state tuition ($58,600.00 vs. $54,960.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 6.6% higher at RPI than Clarkson University ($58,600.00 vs. $54,960.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Clarkson University than RPI ($32,450 vs. $39,127)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clarkson University are 1.4% lower than costs at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($16,744 vs. $16,980)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Clarkson University than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (100% vs. 90%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Clarkson University students is 6.9% larger than aid received Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($41,285 vs. $38,636)

Clarkson vs. RPI Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Clarkson or RPI? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between RPI or Clarkson .

  • The average SAT score at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1368) is 170 points higher than at Clarkson (1198)
  • Incoming RPI students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (30) than students at Clarkson (27)
  • 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 (78.4%) than RPI (64.5%)

Clarkson vs. RPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Clarkson or RPI? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between RPI and Clarkson.

  • The graduation rate at RPI is higher than Clarkson University (84% vs. 72%)
  • Graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn on average $11,700 more per year than Clarkson graduates after ten years. ($82,500 vs. $70,800)
  • Clarkson University students graduate with a $500 lower median federal student loan debt than RPI graduates. ($27,000 vs. $27,500)
  • Clarkson graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans 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/