Bentley vs. RPI

Should I go to Bentley University or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Bentley or RPI is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Bentley University vs. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute comparison
Bentley University Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute College 3 College 4
Bentley University Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
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Overview

 Bentley RPI
Location Waltham, MA Troy, NY
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 5,165 6,968
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #113 #110
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bentley.edu rpi.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Bentley RPI
Tuition (In State) $56,500 $58,600
Tuition (Out of State) $56,500 $58,600
Room & Board $18,660 $16,980
Avg Net Price $44,233 $39,127
Avg Grant Aid $30,733 $38,636
% Receiving Grant Aid 81% 90%

Admission

 Bentley RPI
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,662 16,863
Admitted 5,592 10,878
Acceptance Rate 57.9% 64.5%
Enrolled % 20.4% 18.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.75 3.88
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 28/32 30/34
SAT Range 1258/1420 1360/1520
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

 Bentley RPI
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (83%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (3%)
  • Mathematics (1%)
  • General Studies (1%)
  • Engineering (53%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
  • Business (8%)
  • Engineering Technology (5%)
  • Architecture (5%)

Outcomes

 Bentley RPI
Graduation Rate 88% 84%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $87,200 $82,500
Making Student Loan Payments 92% 92%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,500 $27,500
Median Loan Payment $274 $284

Diversity

 Bentley RPI
% Men 59% 69%
% Women 41% 31%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 62% 59%
% Black 3% 3%
% Hispanic 7% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 7%
% International 14% 11%
% Unknown Race 3% 2%

Students

 Bentley RPI
% In-State 41% 36%
% Out-of-State 44% 58%

Campus

 Bentley RPI
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is larger than than Bentley based on total student enrollment (6,968 students vs. 5,165 students)

Bentley vs. RPI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bentley or RPI?

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is 3.7% more expensive to attend than Bentley for in-state tuition ($58,600.00 vs. $56,500.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 3.7% higher at RPI than Bentley University ($58,600.00 vs. $56,500.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than Bentley ($39,127 vs. $44,233)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are 9.9% lower than costs at Bentley University ($16,980 vs. $18,660)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than Bentley University (90% vs. 81%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students is 25.7% larger than aid received Bentley University ($38,636 vs. $30,733)

Bentley vs. RPI Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bentley or RPI? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between RPI or Bentley .

  • The average SAT score at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1368) is 124 points higher than at Bentley (1244)
  • Incoming RPI students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (30) than students at Bentley (28)
  • Accepted freshman RPI students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at Bentley (3.75)
  • RPI has a higher acceptance rate (64.5%) than Bentley (57.9%)

Bentley vs. RPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Bentley or RPI? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between RPI and Bentley.

  • The graduation rate at Bentley is higher than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (88% vs. 84%)
  • Graduates from Bentley University earn on average $4,700 more per year than RPI graduates after ten years. ($87,200 vs. $82,500)
  • Bentley University students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than RPI graduates. ($26,500 vs. $27,500)
  • Bentley graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than RPI graduates. ($274 vs. $284)
  • More RPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bentley students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 92%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/