MIT vs. Clarkson

Deciding between Massachusetts 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.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Clarkson University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • MIT Cambridge, MA
  • Clarkson Potsdam, NY
  • Setting
  • MIT Midsize City
  • Clarkson Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • MIT 11,886
  • Clarkson 3,348
  • Type
  • MIT Private 4 Year
  • Clarkson Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • MIT #8
  • Clarkson #189
  • Religious Affiliation
  • MIT -
  • Clarkson -
  • Status
  • MIT Non-profit
  • Clarkson Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • MIT
  • Clarkson

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • MIT $62,396
  • Clarkson $59,398
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • MIT $62,396
  • Clarkson $59,398
  • Room & Board
  • MIT $20,280
  • Clarkson $18,252
  • Average Net Price
  • MIT $20,996
  • Clarkson $32,406
  • Average Grant Aid
  • MIT $61,734
  • Clarkson $46,528
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • MIT 59%
  • Clarkson 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • MIT 28,232
  • Clarkson 6,661
  • Admitted
  • MIT 1,284
  • Clarkson 5,153
  • Acceptance Rate
  • MIT 4.5%
  • Clarkson 77.4%
  • Enrolled
  • MIT 85.8%
  • Clarkson 9.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • MIT 1550
  • Clarkson 1300
  • Typical ACT score
  • MIT 35
  • Clarkson 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • MIT 3.96
  • Clarkson 3.8
  • Typical High School Grades
  • MIT A
  • Clarkson A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • MIT Elite
  • Clarkson Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • MIT Extreme
  • Clarkson
  • ACT Range
  • MIT 34/36
  • Clarkson 25/32
  • SAT Range
  • MIT 1520/1580
  • Clarkson 1200/1390
  • Submit Test Scores
  • MIT Required
  • Clarkson Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • MIT Jan 1, 2027
  • Clarkson Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • MIT 3:1
  • Clarkson 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • MIT
    • Engineering (41%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (13%)
    • Physical Sciences (10%)
    • Mathematics (8%)
    • Biology (8%)
  • Clarkson
    • Engineering (48%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Engineering Technology (9%)
    • Communication (3%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • MIT 93%
  • Clarkson 72%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • MIT $142,100
  • Clarkson $70,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • MIT 92%
  • Clarkson 86%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • MIT $17,316
  • Clarkson $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • MIT $179
  • Clarkson $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • MIT 56%
  • Clarkson 66%
  • % Women
  • MIT 44%
  • Clarkson 34%
  • Racial Diversity
  • MIT Very High
  • Clarkson Very Low
  • HBCU
  • MIT No
  • Clarkson No
  • % White
  • MIT 37%
  • Clarkson 84%
  • % Asian
  • MIT 25%
  • Clarkson 3%
  • % Black
  • MIT 6%
  • Clarkson 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • MIT 15%
  • Clarkson 4%
  • % Native American
  • MIT 0%
  • Clarkson 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • MIT 0%
  • Clarkson 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • MIT 6%
  • Clarkson 2%
  • % International
  • MIT 10%
  • Clarkson 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • MIT 2%
  • Clarkson 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • MIT 8%
  • Clarkson 67%
  • % Out-of-State
  • MIT 80%
  • Clarkson 25%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Massachusetts Institute of Technology is larger than Clarkson based on total student enrollment (11,886 students vs. 3,348 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); Clarkson University is in Potsdam, NY (Remote Town setting).
  • Massachusetts 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: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 3:1; Clarkson University 13:1.

MIT vs. Clarkson Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MIT 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 Massachusetts Institute of Technology than Clarkson ($20,996 vs. $32,406).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clarkson University are 10% lower than at Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($18,252 vs. $20,280).
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology is 5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Clarkson (about $2,998 more per year; $62,396.00 vs. $59,398.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5% higher at MIT than at Clarkson University (about $2,998 more per year; $62,396.00 vs. $59,398.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Clarkson University than at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (100% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Massachusetts Institute of Technology students is 32.7% larger than aid received by Clarkson University students ($61,734 vs. $46,528).

MIT vs. Clarkson Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MIT 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 MIT.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1550) is 250 points higher than at Clarkson (1300).
  • Incoming MIT students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 28 at Clarkson).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1520/1580; Clarkson University 1200/1390.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 34/36; Clarkson University 25/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MIT - Required; Clarkson - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: MIT Jan 1, 2027; Clarkson Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman MIT students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at Clarkson (3.8).
  • Clarkson has a higher acceptance rate (77.4%) than MIT (4.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 85.8% at MIT vs. 9.5% at Clarkson.

MIT vs. Clarkson Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MIT 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).

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology's six-year graduation rate (93%) is higher than Clarkson University's (72%).
  • Graduates from Massachusetts Institute of Technology earn a median of about $71,300 more per year than Clarkson graduates about ten years after starting college ($142,100 vs. $70,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduates have a $9,684 lower median loan debt than Clarkson graduates ($17,316 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, MIT graduates have an estimated $100 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Clarkson graduates ($179 vs. $279).
  • More MIT 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.