IIT vs. Clarkson

Deciding between Illinois Institute of Technology and Clarkson University? 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.

Illinois Institute of Technology
Clarkson University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • IIT Chicago, IL
  • Clarkson Potsdam, NY
  • Setting
  • IIT Large City
  • Clarkson Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • IIT 8,834
  • Clarkson 3,348
  • Type
  • IIT Private 4 Year
  • Clarkson Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IIT #236
  • Clarkson #189
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IIT -
  • Clarkson -
  • Status
  • IIT Non-profit
  • Clarkson Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IIT
  • Clarkson

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IIT $52,386
  • Clarkson $59,398
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IIT $52,386
  • Clarkson $59,398
  • Room & Board
  • IIT $17,356
  • Clarkson $18,252
  • Average Net Price
  • IIT $24,796
  • Clarkson $32,406
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IIT $44,547
  • Clarkson $46,528
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IIT 100%
  • Clarkson 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IIT 12,216
  • Clarkson 6,661
  • Admitted
  • IIT 6,710
  • Clarkson 5,153
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IIT 54.9%
  • Clarkson 77.4%
  • Enrolled
  • IIT 7.7%
  • Clarkson 9.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IIT 1310
  • Clarkson 1300
  • Typical ACT score
  • IIT 29
  • Clarkson 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • IIT 3.84
  • Clarkson 3.8
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IIT A-
  • Clarkson A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • IIT Very High
  • Clarkson Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • IIT Low
  • Clarkson
  • ACT Range
  • IIT 26/32
  • Clarkson 25/32
  • SAT Range
  • IIT 1180/1440
  • Clarkson 1200/1390
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IIT Test optional
  • Clarkson Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IIT Mar 1, 2027
  • Clarkson Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IIT 14:1
  • Clarkson 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IIT
    • Engineering (50%)
    • Architecture (20%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (8%)
    • Business (7%)
    • Biology (4%)
  • Clarkson
    • Engineering (48%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Engineering Technology (9%)
    • Communication (3%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IIT 64%
  • Clarkson 72%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IIT $79,300
  • Clarkson $70,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IIT 81%
  • Clarkson 86%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IIT $27,000
  • Clarkson $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IIT $279
  • Clarkson $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IIT 62%
  • Clarkson 66%
  • % Women
  • IIT 38%
  • Clarkson 34%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IIT Very High
  • Clarkson Very Low
  • HBCU
  • IIT No
  • Clarkson No
  • % White
  • IIT 33%
  • Clarkson 84%
  • % Asian
  • IIT 13%
  • Clarkson 3%
  • % Black
  • IIT 6%
  • Clarkson 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • IIT 16%
  • Clarkson 4%
  • % Native American
  • IIT 0%
  • Clarkson 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IIT 0%
  • Clarkson 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IIT 2%
  • Clarkson 2%
  • % International
  • IIT 26%
  • Clarkson 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IIT 4%
  • Clarkson 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IIT 67%
  • Clarkson 67%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IIT 24%
  • Clarkson 25%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, IL with Clarkson University in Potsdam, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Illinois Institute of Technology is larger than Clarkson based on total student enrollment (8,834 students vs. 3,348 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Illinois Institute of Technology is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Clarkson University is in Potsdam, NY (Remote Town setting).
  • Illinois Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Clarkson University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois Institute of Technology 14:1; Clarkson University 13:1.

IIT vs. Clarkson Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IIT or Clarkson? 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 Illinois Institute of Technology than Clarkson ($24,796 vs. $32,406).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois Institute of Technology are 4.9% lower than at Clarkson University ($17,356 vs. $18,252).
  • Clarkson University is 13.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than IIT (about $7,012 more per year; $59,398.00 vs. $52,386.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 13.4% higher at Clarkson than at Illinois Institute of Technology (about $7,012 more per year; $59,398.00 vs. $52,386.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Illinois Institute of Technology as at Clarkson University (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Clarkson University students is 4.4% larger than aid received by Illinois Institute of Technology students ($46,528 vs. $44,547).

IIT vs. Clarkson Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, IIT or Clarkson? 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 Clarkson and IIT.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Illinois Institute of Technology (1310) is 10 points higher than at Clarkson (1300).
  • Incoming IIT students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 28 at Clarkson).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Institute of Technology 1180/1440; Clarkson University 1200/1390.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Institute of Technology 26/32; Clarkson University 25/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IIT - Test optional; Clarkson - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: IIT Mar 1, 2027; Clarkson Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman IIT students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at Clarkson (3.8).
  • Clarkson has a higher acceptance rate (77.4%) than IIT (54.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 7.7% at IIT vs. 9.5% at Clarkson.

IIT vs. Clarkson Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IIT and Clarkson? 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).

  • Clarkson University's six-year graduation rate (72%) is higher than Illinois Institute of Technology's (64%).
  • Graduates from Illinois Institute of Technology earn a median of about $8,500 more per year than Clarkson graduates about ten years after starting college ($79,300 vs. $70,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Clarkson University and IIT graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers in the federal data, Clarkson University and IIT graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
  • More Clarkson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IIT students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 81%)

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.