Clarkson University vs SUNY Poly
Clarkson University and SUNY Polytechnic Institute, two esteemed institutions of higher learning in New York, offer distinct educational experiences. Clarkson, a private research university, boasts a lower acceptance rate (68%) compared to SUNY Poly's 75%. Clarkson's student body is smaller, with an undergraduate population of around 3,000, while SUNY Poly's is larger, with over 6,000 undergraduates. Both universities offer a diverse range of undergraduate programs, with popular majors at Clarkson including Engineering, Business, and Health Sciences, and popular majors at SUNY Poly including Engineering, Computer Science, and Nursing. Clarkson's graduation rate is slightly higher at 79% compared to SUNY Poly's 72%. To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table below, highlighting key differences between these two excellent universities.
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![]() Clarkson University |
![]() SUNY Polytechnic Institute |
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Overview |
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Location | Potsdam, New York | Utica, New York |
Campus setting | Town: Remote | Suburb: Midsize |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 80.0% | 75.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 74.6% | 77.3% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$50
Graduate:
$50
|
Undergraduate:
$50
Graduate:
$60
|
SAT range | 1180 - 1380 | 1040 - 1400 |
ACT range | 25 - 32 | 23 - 31 |
Students submitting SAT score | 51.0% | 29.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 11.0% | 5.0% |
Total number of applicants | 7,011 | 2,686 |
Total number of admissions given out | 5,229 | 2,075 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 740 | 307 |
Yield rate | 14.2% | 14.8% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $74,716 |
In state:
$27,040
Out of state:
$37,800
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Average net price | $31,413 | $10,245 |
Tuition | $53,100 |
In state:
$7,070
Out of state:
$17,830
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Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$8,726
Meal plan:
$7,518
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Room/dormitory:
$8,444
Meal plan:
$4,960
|
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
100.0%
Average amount $38,981 |
87.0%
Average amount $9,128 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
71.0%
Average amount $5,323 |
56.0%
Average amount $4,971 |
Students taking out private loans |
16.0%
Average amount $16,547 |
7.0%
Average amount $8,955 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
2,852
Men 69.3% Women 30.7% |
2,037
Men 67.3% Women 32.7% |
Graduate students |
1,101
Men 55.4% Women 44.6% |
813
Men 40.1% Women 59.9% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Low
|
Out-of-state students | 34.8% | 2.0% |
International students | 8.6% | 4.8% |
Campus local/setting | Town: Remote | Suburb: Midsize |
Dormitory capacity | 2,482 | 1,076 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | New York Mississippi Connecticut Vermont New Hampshire | New York Alabama Connecticut Florida Mississippi |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 13:1 | 13:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Middle States Commission on Higher Education | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 75.6% | 65.4% |
Dropout rate | 7.1% | 7.2% |
Transferred out | 17.1% | 26.8% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
Engineering-Related Fields (Master's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (Bachelor's Degrees)
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
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