Barnard vs. RPI

Deciding between Barnard 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.

Barnard College
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Barnard New York, NY
  • RPI Troy, NY
  • Setting
  • Barnard Large City
  • RPI Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Barnard 3,487
  • RPI 7,040
  • Type
  • Barnard Private 4 Year
  • RPI Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Barnard #35
  • RPI #130
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Barnard -
  • RPI -
  • Status
  • Barnard Non-profit
  • RPI Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Barnard
  • RPI

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Barnard $69,888
  • RPI $64,081
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Barnard $69,888
  • RPI $64,081
  • Room & Board
  • Barnard $21,714
  • RPI $18,120
  • Average Net Price
  • Barnard $26,407
  • RPI $38,887
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Barnard $63,131
  • RPI $43,517
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Barnard 33%
  • RPI 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Barnard 11,836
  • RPI 17,175
  • Admitted
  • Barnard 1,046
  • RPI 10,901
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Barnard 8.8%
  • RPI 63.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Barnard 68.6%
  • RPI 12.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Barnard 1520
  • RPI 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • Barnard 33
  • RPI 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Barnard 3.85
  • RPI 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Barnard A
  • RPI A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Barnard Elite
  • RPI Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Barnard Extreme
  • RPI Low
  • ACT Range
  • Barnard 32/34
  • RPI 30/34
  • SAT Range
  • Barnard 1470/1560
  • RPI 1375/1510
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Barnard Test optional
  • RPI Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Barnard Jan 4, 2027
  • RPI Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Barnard 10:1
  • RPI 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Barnard
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)
  • RPI
    • Engineering (53%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Engineering Technology (5%)
    • Architecture (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Barnard 92%
  • RPI 84%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Barnard $66,900
  • RPI $82,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Barnard 89%
  • RPI 92%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Barnard $17,847
  • RPI $27,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Barnard $184
  • RPI $284

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Barnard 2%
  • RPI 69%
  • % Women
  • Barnard 98%
  • RPI 31%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Barnard High
  • RPI High
  • HBCU
  • Barnard No
  • RPI No
  • % White
  • Barnard 53%
  • RPI 59%
  • % Asian
  • Barnard 14%
  • RPI 10%
  • % Black
  • Barnard 7%
  • RPI 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Barnard 12%
  • RPI 8%
  • % Native American
  • Barnard 0%
  • RPI 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Barnard 0%
  • RPI 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Barnard 6%
  • RPI 7%
  • % International
  • Barnard 8%
  • RPI 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Barnard 0%
  • RPI 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Barnard 20%
  • RPI 37%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Barnard 62%
  • RPI 58%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Barnard College in New York, NY 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 Barnard based on total student enrollment (7,040 students vs. 3,487 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Barnard vs. RPI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Barnard 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 Barnard College than RPI ($26,407 vs. $38,887).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are 16.6% lower than at Barnard College ($18,120 vs. $21,714).
  • Barnard College is 9.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than RPI (about $5,807 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $64,081.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 9.1% higher at Barnard than at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (about $5,807 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $64,081.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than at Barnard College (95% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Barnard College students is 45.1% larger than aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students ($63,131 vs. $43,517).

Barnard vs. RPI Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Barnard 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 Barnard.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Barnard College (1520) is 80 points higher than at RPI (1440).
  • Incoming Barnard students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 32 at RPI).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Barnard College 1470/1560; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1375/1510.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Barnard College 32/34; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 30/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Barnard - Test optional; RPI - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Barnard Jan 4, 2027; RPI Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman RPI students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at Barnard (3.85).
  • RPI has a higher acceptance rate (63.5%) than Barnard (8.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 68.6% at Barnard vs. 12.1% at RPI.

Barnard vs. RPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Barnard 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).

  • Barnard College's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's (84%).
  • Graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn a median of about $15,600 more per year than Barnard graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,500 vs. $66,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Barnard College graduates have a $9,653 lower median loan debt than RPI graduates ($17,847 vs. $27,500).
  • Among borrowers, Barnard graduates have an estimated $100 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RPI graduates ($184 vs. $284).
  • More RPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Barnard students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 89%)

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.