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BU Villanova Northeastern RIT Stevens Tufts Babson Colgate Brandeis University Binghamton University Holy Cross NYU| Boston College | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
BC | RPI | ||
| Location | Chestnut Hill, MA | Troy, NY | ||
| Setting | Small City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 15,287 | 6,968 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #45 | #110 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Roman Catholic | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | bc.edu | rpi.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
BC | RPI | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $62,950 | $58,600 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $62,950 | $58,600 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,120 | $16,980 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $30,559 | $39,127 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $49,992 | $38,636 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 40% | 90% |
Admission |
BC | RPI | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 40,494 | 16,863 | ||
| Admitted | 6,748 | 10,878 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 16.7% | 64.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 34.6% | 18.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.86 | 3.88 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Elite | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Very High | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 33/35 | 30/34 | ||
| SAT Range | 1435/1540 | 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 1, 2025 | Jan 15, 2025 |
Academics |
BC | RPI | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
BC | RPI | ||
| Graduation Rate | 91% | 84% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $90,900 | $82,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 90% | 92% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $19,000 | $27,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $196 | $284 |
Diversity |
BC | RPI | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 45% | 69% | ||
| % Women | 55% | 31% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 62% | 59% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 10% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 7% | ||
| % International | 6% | 11% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 6% | 2% |
Students |
BC | RPI | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 21% | 36% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 71% | 58% | ||
Campus |
BC | RPI | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | Yes | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Boston College is larger than than RPI based on total student enrollment (15,287 students vs. 6,968 students)
BC vs. RPI Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, BC or RPI?
- Boston College is 7.4% more expensive to attend than RPI for in-state tuition ($62,950.00 vs. $58,600.00)
- Out of state tuition is 7.4% higher at BC than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($62,950.00 vs. $58,600.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Boston College than RPI ($30,559 vs. $39,127)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Boston College are 5.3% lower than costs at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($16,120 vs. $16,980)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than Boston College (90% vs. 40%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Boston College students is 29.4% larger than aid received Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($49,992 vs. $38,636)
BC vs. RPI Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, BC or RPI? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between RPI or BC .
- The average SAT score at Boston College (1380) is 12 points higher than at RPI (1368)
- Incoming BC students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (32) than students at RPI (30)
- Accepted freshman RPI students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at BC (3.86)
- RPI has a higher acceptance rate (64.5%) than BC (16.7%)
BC vs. RPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, BC 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 BC.
- The graduation rate at BC is higher than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (91% vs. 84%)
- Graduates from Boston College earn on average $8,400 more per year than RPI graduates after ten years. ($90,900 vs. $82,500)
- Boston College students graduate with a $8,500 lower median federal student loan debt than RPI graduates. ($19,000 vs. $27,500)
- BC graduates are paying $88 less per month on federal student loans than RPI graduates. ($196 vs. $284)
- More RPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BC students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 90%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/