AU vs. RPI

Deciding between American University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute? 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.

American University
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • AU Washington, DC
  • RPI Troy, NY
  • Setting
  • AU Large City
  • RPI Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • AU 12,321
  • RPI 7,040
  • Type
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • RPI Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • AU #94
  • RPI #130
  • Religious Affiliation
  • AU United Methodist
  • RPI -
  • Status
  • AU Non-profit
  • RPI Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • AU
  • RPI

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • AU $58,771
  • RPI $64,081
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • AU $58,771
  • RPI $64,081
  • Room & Board
  • AU $17,982
  • RPI $18,120
  • Average Net Price
  • AU $39,676
  • RPI $38,887
  • Average Grant Aid
  • AU $36,349
  • RPI $43,517
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • AU 67%
  • RPI 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • AU 17,173
  • RPI 17,175
  • Admitted
  • AU 10,640
  • RPI 10,901
  • Acceptance Rate
  • AU 62%
  • RPI 63.5%
  • Enrolled
  • AU 15.6%
  • RPI 12.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • AU 1370
  • RPI 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • AU 30
  • RPI 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • AU 3.7
  • RPI 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • AU A-
  • RPI A
  • Admissions Standards
  • AU Very High
  • RPI Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • AU Low
  • RPI Low
  • ACT Range
  • AU 29/32
  • RPI 30/34
  • SAT Range
  • AU 1280/1460
  • RPI 1375/1510
  • Submit Test Scores
  • AU Test optional
  • RPI Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • AU Jan 15, 2027
  • RPI Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • AU 10:1
  • RPI 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • AU
    • Social Sciences (43%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
    • Psychology (3%)
  • RPI
    • Engineering (53%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Engineering Technology (5%)
    • Architecture (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • AU 77%
  • RPI 84%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • AU $64,800
  • RPI $82,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • AU 80%
  • RPI 92%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • AU $24,250
  • RPI $27,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • AU $250
  • RPI $284

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • AU 37%
  • RPI 69%
  • % Women
  • AU 63%
  • RPI 31%
  • Racial Diversity
  • AU High
  • RPI High
  • HBCU
  • AU No
  • RPI No
  • % White
  • AU 58%
  • RPI 59%
  • % Asian
  • AU 7%
  • RPI 10%
  • % Black
  • AU 7%
  • RPI 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • AU 12%
  • RPI 8%
  • % Native American
  • AU 0%
  • RPI 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • AU 0%
  • RPI 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • AU 5%
  • RPI 7%
  • % International
  • AU 7%
  • RPI 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • AU 4%
  • RPI 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • AU 3%
  • RPI 37%
  • % Out-of-State
  • AU 94%
  • RPI 58%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare American University in Washington, DC with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

American University is larger than RPI based on total student enrollment (12,321 students vs. 7,040 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • American University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is in Troy, NY (Small City setting).
  • American University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: American University 10:1; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 14:1.

AU vs. RPI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or RPI? 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 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than AU ($38,887 vs. $39,676).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American University are 0.8% lower than at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($17,982 vs. $18,120).
  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is 9% more expensive for in-state tuition than AU (about $5,310 more per year; $64,081.00 vs. $58,771.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 9% higher at RPI than at American University (about $5,310 more per year; $64,081.00 vs. $58,771.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than at American University (95% vs. 67%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students is 19.7% larger than aid received by American University students ($43,517 vs. $36,349).

AU vs. RPI Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AU or RPI? 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 RPI and AU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1440) is 70 points higher than at AU (1370).
  • Incoming RPI students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 30 at AU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 1280/1460; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1375/1510.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American University 29/32; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 30/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AU - Test optional; RPI - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: AU Jan 15, 2027; RPI Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman RPI students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at AU (3.7).
  • RPI has a higher acceptance rate (63.5%) than AU (62%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.6% at AU vs. 12.1% at RPI.

AU vs. RPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AU and RPI? 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).

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's six-year graduation rate (84%) is higher than American University's (77%).
  • Graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn a median of about $17,700 more per year than AU graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,500 vs. $64,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, American University graduates have a $3,250 lower median loan debt than RPI graduates ($24,250 vs. $27,500).
  • Among borrowers, AU graduates have an estimated $34 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RPI graduates ($250 vs. $284).
  • More RPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AU students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 80%)

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.