Colby College vs. RPI

Should I go to Colby College or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Colby College 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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Colby College vs. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute comparison
Colby College Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute College 3 College 4
Colby College Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
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Overview

 Colby College RPI
Location Waterville, ME Troy, NY
Setting Remote Town Small City
Enrollment 2,299 6,968
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #44 #110
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colby.edu rpi.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Colby College RPI
Tuition (In State) $60,840 $58,600
Tuition (Out of State) $60,840 $58,600
Room & Board $16,330 $16,980
Avg Net Price $16,951 $39,127
Avg Grant Aid $61,714 $38,636
% Receiving Grant Aid 41% 90%

Admission

 Colby College RPI
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 16,890 16,863
Admitted 1,286 10,878
Acceptance Rate 7.6% 64.5%
Enrolled % 52.3% 18.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.86 3.88
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Elite Exceptional
Applicant Competition Extreme Low
ACT Range 32/34 30/34
SAT Range 1430/1540 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

 Colby College RPI
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • General Studies (13%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Physical Sciences (7%)
  • Engineering (53%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
  • Business (8%)
  • Engineering Technology (5%)
  • Architecture (5%)

Outcomes

 Colby College RPI
Graduation Rate 91% 84%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $73,400 $82,500
Making Student Loan Payments 88% 92%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,345 $27,500
Median Loan Payment $200 $284

Diversity

 Colby College RPI
% Men 48% 69%
% Women 52% 31%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 62% 59%
% Black 3% 3%
% Hispanic 6% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 7%
% International 11% 11%
% Unknown Race 7% 2%

Students

 Colby College RPI
% In-State 7% 36%
% Out-of-State 79% 58%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is larger than than Colby College based on total student enrollment (6,968 students vs. 2,299 students)

Colby College vs. RPI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Colby College or RPI?

  • Colby College is 3.8% more expensive to attend than RPI for in-state tuition ($60,840.00 vs. $58,600.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 3.8% higher at Colby College than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($60,840.00 vs. $58,600.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Colby College than RPI ($16,951 vs. $39,127)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colby College are 4% lower than costs at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($16,330 vs. $16,980)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than Colby College (90% vs. 41%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colby College students is 59.7% larger than aid received Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($61,714 vs. $38,636)

Colby College vs. RPI Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1368) is 5 points higher than at Colby College (1363)
  • Incoming Colby College students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (31) than students at RPI (30)
  • Accepted freshman RPI students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at Colby College (3.86)
  • RPI has a higher acceptance rate (64.5%) than Colby College (7.6%)

Colby College vs. RPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Colby College 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 Colby College.

  • The graduation rate at Colby College is higher than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (91% vs. 84%)
  • Graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn on average $9,100 more per year than Colby College graduates after ten years. ($82,500 vs. $73,400)
  • Colby College students graduate with a $8,155 lower median federal student loan debt than RPI graduates. ($19,345 vs. $27,500)
  • Colby College graduates are paying $84 less per month on federal student loans than RPI graduates. ($200 vs. $284)
  • More RPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Colby College students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 88%)

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