Amherst vs. RPI

Deciding between Amherst College 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.

Amherst College
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Amherst Amherst, MA
  • RPI Troy, NY
  • Setting
  • Amherst Town Fringe
  • RPI Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Amherst 1,914
  • RPI 7,040
  • Type
  • Amherst Private 4 Year
  • RPI Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Amherst #13
  • RPI #130
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Amherst -
  • RPI -
  • Status
  • Amherst Non-profit
  • RPI Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Amherst
  • RPI

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Amherst $70,480
  • RPI $64,081
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Amherst $70,480
  • RPI $64,081
  • Room & Board
  • Amherst $18,390
  • RPI $18,120
  • Average Net Price
  • Amherst $19,049
  • RPI $38,887
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Amherst $68,591
  • RPI $43,517
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Amherst 59%
  • RPI 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Amherst 13,743
  • RPI 17,175
  • Admitted
  • Amherst 1,238
  • RPI 10,901
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Amherst 9%
  • RPI 63.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Amherst 38.8%
  • RPI 12.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Amherst 1540
  • RPI 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • Amherst 34
  • RPI 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Amherst 3.91
  • RPI 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Amherst A
  • RPI A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Amherst Elite
  • RPI Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Amherst Extreme
  • RPI Low
  • ACT Range
  • Amherst 33/35
  • RPI 30/34
  • SAT Range
  • Amherst 1490/1580
  • RPI 1375/1510
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Amherst Test optional
  • RPI Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Amherst Jan 2, 2027
  • RPI Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Amherst 6:1
  • RPI 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Amherst
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • RPI
    • Engineering (53%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Engineering Technology (5%)
    • Architecture (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Amherst 96%
  • RPI 84%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Amherst $82,000
  • RPI $82,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Amherst 83%
  • RPI 92%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Amherst $12,975
  • RPI $27,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Amherst $134
  • RPI $284

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Amherst 45%
  • RPI 69%
  • % Women
  • Amherst 55%
  • RPI 31%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Amherst Very High
  • RPI High
  • HBCU
  • Amherst No
  • RPI No
  • % White
  • Amherst 42%
  • RPI 59%
  • % Asian
  • Amherst 14%
  • RPI 10%
  • % Black
  • Amherst 12%
  • RPI 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Amherst 13%
  • RPI 8%
  • % Native American
  • Amherst 0%
  • RPI 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Amherst 0%
  • RPI 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Amherst 5%
  • RPI 7%
  • % International
  • Amherst 10%
  • RPI 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Amherst 4%
  • RPI 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Amherst 13%
  • RPI 37%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Amherst 70%
  • RPI 58%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Amherst College in Amherst, MA with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is larger than Amherst based on total student enrollment (7,040 students vs. 1,914 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Amherst College is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is in Troy, NY (Small City setting).
  • Amherst College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Amherst College 6:1; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 14:1.

Amherst vs. RPI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Amherst 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 Amherst College than RPI ($19,049 vs. $38,887).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are 1.5% lower than at Amherst College ($18,120 vs. $18,390).
  • Amherst College is 10% more expensive for in-state tuition than RPI (about $6,399 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $64,081.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 10% higher at Amherst than at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (about $6,399 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $64,081.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than at Amherst College (95% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Amherst College students is 57.6% larger than aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students ($68,591 vs. $43,517).

Amherst vs. RPI Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Amherst 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 Amherst.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Amherst College (1540) is 100 points higher than at RPI (1440).
  • Incoming Amherst students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 32 at RPI).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 1490/1580; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1375/1510.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Amherst College 33/35; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 30/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Amherst - Test optional; RPI - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Amherst Jan 2, 2027; RPI Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Amherst students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at RPI (3.88).
  • RPI has a higher acceptance rate (63.5%) than Amherst (9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 38.8% at Amherst vs. 12.1% at RPI.

Amherst vs. RPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Amherst 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).

  • Amherst College's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's (84%).
  • Graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn a median of about $500 more per year than Amherst graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,500 vs. $82,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Amherst College graduates have a $14,525 lower median loan debt than RPI graduates ($12,975 vs. $27,500).
  • Among borrowers, Amherst graduates have an estimated $150 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RPI graduates ($134 vs. $284).
  • More RPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Amherst students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 83%)

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.