Rutgers vs. Clarkson

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

 Rutgers Clarkson
Location New Brunswick, NJ Potsdam, NY
Setting Small City Remote Town
Enrollment 50,617 3,603
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #113 #183
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website rutgers.edu clarkson.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Rutgers Clarkson
Tuition (In State) $13,674 $56,642
Tuition (Out of State) $32,436 $56,642
Room & Board $14,715 $17,016
Avg Net Price $19,052 $33,192
Avg Grant Aid $16,249 $43,097
% Receiving Grant Aid 52% 100%

Admission

 Rutgers Clarkson
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 43,347 7,347
Admitted 28,326 5,669
Acceptance Rate 65.3% 77.2%
Enrolled % 27.1% 10.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.3 3.8
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Very High
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 28/33 26/31
SAT Range 1270/1480 1198/1390
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, 2026

Academics

 Rutgers Clarkson
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Engineering (8%)
  • Engineering (48%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Engineering Technology (9%)
  • Communication (3%)

Outcomes

 Rutgers Clarkson
Graduation Rate 77% 72%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $66,200 $70,800
Making Student Loan Payments 68% 86%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,215 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $229 $279

Diversity

 Rutgers Clarkson
% Men 10% 17%
% Women 18% 13%
Racial Diversity Very High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 42% 84%
% Black 7% 2%
% Hispanic 13% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 7% 3%
% Unknown Race 2% 2%

Students

 Rutgers Clarkson
% In-State 84% 65%
% Out-of-State 8% 29%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than than Clarkson based on total student enrollment (50,617 students vs. 3,603 students)

Rutgers vs. Clarkson Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rutgers or Clarkson?

  • Clarkson University is 314.2% more expensive to attend than Rutgers for in-state tuition ($56,642.00 vs. $13,674.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 74.6% higher at Clarkson than Rutgers University New Brunswick ($56,642.00 vs. $32,436.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rutgers University New Brunswick than Clarkson ($19,052 vs. $33,192)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 15.6% lower than costs at Clarkson University ($14,715 vs. $17,016)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Clarkson University than Rutgers University New Brunswick (100% vs. 52%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Clarkson University students is 165.2% larger than aid received Rutgers University New Brunswick ($43,097 vs. $16,249)

Rutgers vs. Clarkson Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Rutgers University New Brunswick (1225) is 27 points higher than at Clarkson (1198)
  • Accepted freshman Clarkson students have a 0.5 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at Rutgers (3.3)
  • Clarkson has a higher acceptance rate (77.2%) than Rutgers (65.3%)

Rutgers vs. Clarkson Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Rutgers or Clarkson? 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 Clarkson and Rutgers.

  • The graduation rate at Rutgers is higher than Clarkson University (77% vs. 72%)
  • Graduates from Clarkson University earn on average $4,600 more per year than Rutgers graduates after ten years. ($70,800 vs. $66,200)
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick students graduate with a $4,785 lower median federal student loan debt than Clarkson graduates. ($22,215 vs. $27,000)
  • Rutgers graduates are paying $50 less per month on federal student loans than Clarkson graduates. ($229 vs. $279)
  • More Clarkson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 68%)

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