Barnard vs. RIT

Deciding between Barnard College and Rochester Institute of Technology? 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
Rochester Institute of Technology

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Barnard New York, NY
  • RIT Rochester, NY
  • Setting
  • Barnard Large City
  • RIT Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Barnard 3,487
  • RIT 17,098
  • Type
  • Barnard Private 4 Year
  • RIT Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Barnard #35
  • RIT #175
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Barnard -
  • RIT -
  • Status
  • Barnard Non-profit
  • RIT Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Barnard
  • RIT

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Barnard $69,888
  • RIT $59,274
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Barnard $69,888
  • RIT $59,274
  • Room & Board
  • Barnard $21,714
  • RIT $16,142
  • Average Net Price
  • Barnard $26,407
  • RIT $39,534
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Barnard $63,131
  • RIT $35,077
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Barnard 33%
  • RIT 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Barnard 11,836
  • RIT 27,911
  • Admitted
  • Barnard 1,046
  • RIT 18,682
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Barnard 8.8%
  • RIT 66.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Barnard 68.6%
  • RIT 16.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Barnard 1520
  • RIT 1380
  • Typical ACT score
  • Barnard 33
  • RIT 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Barnard 3.85
  • RIT 3.7
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Barnard A
  • RIT A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Barnard Elite
  • RIT Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Barnard Extreme
  • RIT Low
  • ACT Range
  • Barnard 32/34
  • RIT 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • Barnard 1470/1560
  • RIT 1300/1460
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Barnard Test optional
  • RIT Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Barnard Jan 4, 2027
  • RIT Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Barnard 10:1
  • RIT 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Barnard
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)
  • RIT
    • Visual and Performing Arts (16%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (14%)
    • Engineering (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Engineering Technology (11%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Barnard 92%
  • RIT 64%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Barnard $66,900
  • RIT $64,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Barnard 89%
  • RIT 75%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Barnard $17,847
  • RIT $28,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Barnard $184
  • RIT $289

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Barnard 2%
  • RIT 64%
  • % Women
  • Barnard 98%
  • RIT 36%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Barnard High
  • RIT Medium
  • HBCU
  • Barnard No
  • RIT No
  • % White
  • Barnard 53%
  • RIT 66%
  • % Asian
  • Barnard 14%
  • RIT 8%
  • % Black
  • Barnard 7%
  • RIT 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Barnard 12%
  • RIT 7%
  • % Native American
  • Barnard 0%
  • RIT 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Barnard 0%
  • RIT 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Barnard 6%
  • RIT 3%
  • % International
  • Barnard 8%
  • RIT 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Barnard 0%
  • RIT 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Barnard 20%
  • RIT 44%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Barnard 62%
  • RIT 51%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Barnard College in New York, NY with Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rochester Institute of Technology is larger than Barnard based on total student enrollment (17,098 students vs. 3,487 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Barnard College is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); Rochester Institute of Technology is in Rochester, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • Barnard College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rochester Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Barnard College 10:1; Rochester Institute of Technology 13:1.

Barnard vs. RIT Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Barnard or RIT ? 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 RIT ($26,407 vs. $39,534).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rochester Institute of Technology are 25.7% lower than at Barnard College ($16,142 vs. $21,714).
  • Barnard College is 17.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than RIT (about $10,614 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $59,274.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 17.9% higher at Barnard than at Rochester Institute of Technology (about $10,614 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $59,274.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rochester Institute of Technology than at Barnard College (98% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Barnard College students is 80% larger than aid received by Rochester Institute of Technology students ($63,131 vs. $35,077).

Barnard vs. RIT Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Barnard or RIT ? 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 RIT and Barnard.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Barnard College (1520) is 140 points higher than at RIT (1380).
  • Incoming Barnard students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 31 at RIT ).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Barnard College 1470/1560; Rochester Institute of Technology 1300/1460.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Barnard College 32/34; Rochester Institute of Technology 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Barnard - Test optional; RIT - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Barnard Jan 4, 2027; RIT Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Barnard students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.85) than students at RIT (3.7).
  • RIT has a higher acceptance rate (66.9%) than Barnard (8.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 68.6% at Barnard vs. 16.3% at RIT .

Barnard vs. RIT Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Barnard and RIT ? 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 Rochester Institute of Technology's (64%).
  • Graduates from Barnard College earn a median of about $2,000 more per year than RIT graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,900 vs. $64,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Barnard College graduates have a $10,153 lower median loan debt than RIT graduates ($17,847 vs. $28,000).
  • Among borrowers, Barnard graduates have an estimated $105 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RIT graduates ($184 vs. $289).
  • More Barnard graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RIT students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 75%)

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.