Clarkson vs. SUNY Poly

Should I go to Clarkson University or SUNY Polytechnic Institute? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Clarkson or SUNY Poly 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.
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Clarkson University vs. SUNY Polytechnic Institute comparison
Clarkson University SUNY Polytechnic Institute College 3 College 4
Clarkson University SUNY Polytechnic Institute
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Overview

 Clarkson SUNY Poly
Location Potsdam, NY Utica, NY
Setting Remote Town Rural Fringe
Enrollment 3,719 2,842
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #220 #257
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website clarkson.edu sunyit.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Clarkson SUNY Poly
Tuition (In State) $54,960 $7,070
Tuition (Out of State) $54,960 $17,830
Room & Board $16,744 $14,008
Avg Net Price $32,450 $13,799
Avg Grant Aid $41,285 $9,497
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 89%

Admission

 Clarkson SUNY Poly
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,594 2,919
Admitted 5,171 2,384
Acceptance Rate 78.4% 81.7%
Enrolled % 11.5% 16%
Avg High School GPA 3.8 3.7
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Difficult Very High
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 25/30 23/31
SAT Range 1190/1370 1040/1400
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 Aug 1, 2025

Academics

 Clarkson SUNY Poly
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (48%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Engineering Technology (9%)
  • Communication (3%)
  • Business (24%)
  • Engineering Technology (20%)
  • Health Professions (20%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (13%)
  • Psychology (10%)

Outcomes

 Clarkson SUNY Poly
Graduation Rate 72% 47%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $70,800 $53,200
Making Student Loan Payments 86% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $16,585
Median Loan Payment $279 $171

Diversity

 Clarkson SUNY Poly
% Men 64% 59%
% Women 36% 41%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 84% 79%
% Black 2% 6%
% Hispanic 4% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 0%

Students

 Clarkson SUNY Poly
% In-State 65% 95%
% Out-of-State 31% 3%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Clarkson University is larger than than SUNY Poly based on total student enrollment (3,719 students vs. 2,842 students)

Clarkson vs. SUNY Poly Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Clarkson or SUNY Poly?

  • Clarkson University is 677.4% more expensive to attend than SUNY Poly for in-state tuition ($54,960.00 vs. $7,070.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 208.2% higher at Clarkson than SUNY Polytechnic Institute ($54,960.00 vs. $17,830.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at SUNY Polytechnic Institute than Clarkson ($13,799 vs. $32,450)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at SUNY Polytechnic Institute are 19.5% lower than costs at Clarkson University ($14,008 vs. $16,744)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Clarkson University than SUNY Polytechnic Institute (100% vs. 89%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Clarkson University students is 334.7% larger than aid received SUNY Polytechnic Institute ($41,285 vs. $9,497)

Clarkson vs. SUNY Poly Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Clarkson University (1198) is 57 points higher than at SUNY Poly (1141)
  • Incoming Clarkson students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at SUNY Poly (26)
  • Accepted freshman Clarkson students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at SUNY Poly (3.7)
  • SUNY Poly has a higher acceptance rate (81.7%) than Clarkson (78.4%)

Clarkson vs. SUNY Poly Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Clarkson or SUNY Poly? 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 SUNY Poly and Clarkson.

  • The graduation rate at Clarkson is higher than SUNY Polytechnic Institute (72% vs. 47%)
  • Graduates from Clarkson University earn on average $17,600 more per year than SUNY Poly graduates after ten years. ($70,800 vs. $53,200)
  • SUNY Polytechnic Institute students graduate with a $10,415 lower median federal student loan debt than Clarkson graduates. ($16,585 vs. $27,000)
  • SUNY Poly graduates are paying $108 less per month on federal student loans than Clarkson graduates. ($171 vs. $279)
  • More Clarkson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SUNY Poly students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 63%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/