Bentley vs. RPI

Deciding between Bentley 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.

Bentley University
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Bentley Waltham, MA
  • RPI Troy, NY
  • Setting
  • Bentley Small City
  • RPI Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Bentley 5,333
  • RPI 7,040
  • Type
  • Bentley Private 4 Year
  • RPI Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Bentley #107
  • RPI #130
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Bentley -
  • RPI -
  • Status
  • Bentley Non-profit
  • RPI Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Bentley
  • RPI

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Bentley $61,000
  • RPI $64,081
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Bentley $61,000
  • RPI $64,081
  • Room & Board
  • Bentley $20,140
  • RPI $18,120
  • Average Net Price
  • Bentley $45,802
  • RPI $38,887
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Bentley $33,673
  • RPI $43,517
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Bentley 88%
  • RPI 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Bentley 11,012
  • RPI 17,175
  • Admitted
  • Bentley 4,961
  • RPI 10,901
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Bentley 45.1%
  • RPI 63.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Bentley 21.3%
  • RPI 12.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Bentley 1360
  • RPI 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • Bentley 29
  • RPI 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Bentley 3.75
  • RPI 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Bentley A-
  • RPI A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Bentley Very High
  • RPI Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Bentley Low
  • RPI Low
  • ACT Range
  • Bentley 28/31
  • RPI 30/34
  • SAT Range
  • Bentley 1280/1430
  • RPI 1375/1510
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Bentley Test optional
  • RPI Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Bentley Jan 15, 2027
  • RPI Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Bentley 12:1
  • RPI 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Bentley
    • Business (83%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (3%)
    • Mathematics (1%)
    • General Studies (1%)
  • RPI
    • Engineering (53%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Engineering Technology (5%)
    • Architecture (5%)

  • Outcomes

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

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Bentley 59%
  • RPI 69%
  • % Women
  • Bentley 41%
  • RPI 31%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Bentley Medium
  • RPI High
  • HBCU
  • Bentley No
  • RPI No
  • % White
  • Bentley 62%
  • RPI 59%
  • % Asian
  • Bentley 8%
  • RPI 10%
  • % Black
  • Bentley 3%
  • RPI 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Bentley 7%
  • RPI 8%
  • % Native American
  • Bentley 0%
  • RPI 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Bentley 0%
  • RPI 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Bentley 2%
  • RPI 7%
  • % International
  • Bentley 14%
  • RPI 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Bentley 3%
  • RPI 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Bentley 39%
  • RPI 37%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Bentley 44%
  • RPI 58%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Bentley University in Waltham, 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 Bentley based on total student enrollment (7,040 students vs. 5,333 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Bentley University is located in Waltham, MA (Small City setting); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is in Troy, NY (Small City setting).
  • Bentley University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Bentley University 12:1; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 14:1.

Bentley vs. RPI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bentley 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 Bentley ($38,887 vs. $45,802).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are 10% lower than at Bentley University ($18,120 vs. $20,140).
  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is 5.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Bentley (about $3,081 more per year; $64,081.00 vs. $61,000.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5.1% higher at RPI than at Bentley University (about $3,081 more per year; $64,081.00 vs. $61,000.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than at Bentley University (95% vs. 88%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students is 29.2% larger than aid received by Bentley University students ($43,517 vs. $33,673).

Bentley vs. RPI Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bentley 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 Bentley.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1440) is 80 points higher than at Bentley (1360).
  • Incoming RPI students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 29 at Bentley).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bentley University 1280/1430; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1375/1510.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bentley University 28/31; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 30/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bentley - Test optional; RPI - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Bentley Jan 15, 2027; RPI Jan 15, 2027.
  • 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 (63.5%) than Bentley (45.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.3% at Bentley vs. 12.1% at RPI.

Bentley vs. RPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bentley 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).

  • Bentley University's six-year graduation rate (88%) is higher than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's (84%).
  • Graduates from Bentley University earn a median of about $4,700 more per year than RPI graduates about ten years after starting college ($87,200 vs. $82,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Bentley University graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than RPI graduates ($26,500 vs. $27,500).
  • Among borrowers, Bentley graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.