Colgate vs. RPI

Deciding between Colgate 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.

Colgate University
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Colgate Hamilton, NY
  • RPI Troy, NY
  • Setting
  • Colgate Distant Town
  • RPI Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Colgate 3,211
  • RPI 7,040
  • Type
  • Colgate Private 4 Year
  • RPI Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Colgate #30
  • RPI #130
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Colgate -
  • RPI -
  • Status
  • Colgate Non-profit
  • RPI Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Colgate
  • RPI

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Colgate $70,306
  • RPI $64,081
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Colgate $70,306
  • RPI $64,081
  • Room & Board
  • Colgate $17,610
  • RPI $18,120
  • Average Net Price
  • Colgate $28,736
  • RPI $38,887
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Colgate $58,334
  • RPI $43,517
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Colgate 43%
  • RPI 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Colgate 20,682
  • RPI 17,175
  • Admitted
  • Colgate 2,871
  • RPI 10,901
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Colgate 13.9%
  • RPI 63.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Colgate 28.7%
  • RPI 12.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Colgate 1490
  • RPI 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • Colgate 33
  • RPI 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Colgate 3.77
  • RPI 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Colgate A-
  • RPI A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Colgate Exceptional
  • RPI Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Colgate Very High
  • RPI Low
  • ACT Range
  • Colgate 33/34
  • RPI 30/34
  • SAT Range
  • Colgate 1430/1540
  • RPI 1375/1510
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Colgate Test optional
  • RPI Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Colgate Jan 15, 2027
  • RPI Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Colgate 9:1
  • RPI 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Colgate
    • Social Sciences (33%)
    • English and Literature (11%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Philosophy and Religious Studies (7%)
  • RPI
    • Engineering (53%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Engineering Technology (5%)
    • Architecture (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Colgate 92%
  • RPI 84%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Colgate $75,300
  • RPI $82,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Colgate 86%
  • RPI 92%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Colgate $16,125
  • RPI $27,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Colgate $166
  • RPI $284

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Colgate 43%
  • RPI 69%
  • % Women
  • Colgate 57%
  • RPI 31%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Colgate Medium
  • RPI High
  • HBCU
  • Colgate No
  • RPI No
  • % White
  • Colgate 67%
  • RPI 59%
  • % Asian
  • Colgate 4%
  • RPI 10%
  • % Black
  • Colgate 4%
  • RPI 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Colgate 9%
  • RPI 8%
  • % Native American
  • Colgate 0%
  • RPI 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Colgate 0%
  • RPI 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Colgate 3%
  • RPI 7%
  • % International
  • Colgate 9%
  • RPI 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Colgate 4%
  • RPI 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Colgate 25%
  • RPI 37%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Colgate 66%
  • RPI 58%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Colgate University in Hamilton, NY 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 Colgate based on total student enrollment (7,040 students vs. 3,211 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Colgate University is located in Hamilton, NY (Distant Town setting); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is in Troy, NY (Small City setting).
  • Colgate University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Colgate University 9:1; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 14:1.

Colgate vs. RPI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Colgate 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 Colgate University than RPI ($28,736 vs. $38,887).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colgate University are 2.8% lower than at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($17,610 vs. $18,120).
  • Colgate University is 9.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than RPI (about $6,225 more per year; $70,306.00 vs. $64,081.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 9.7% higher at Colgate than at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (about $6,225 more per year; $70,306.00 vs. $64,081.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than at Colgate University (95% vs. 43%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colgate University students is 34% larger than aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students ($58,334 vs. $43,517).

Colgate vs. RPI Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Colgate 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 Colgate.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Colgate University (1490) is 50 points higher than at RPI (1440).
  • Incoming Colgate students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 32 at RPI).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Colgate University 1430/1540; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1375/1510.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Colgate University 33/34; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 30/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Colgate - Test optional; RPI - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Colgate Jan 15, 2027; RPI Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman RPI students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at Colgate (3.77).
  • RPI has a higher acceptance rate (63.5%) than Colgate (13.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.7% at Colgate vs. 12.1% at RPI.

Colgate vs. RPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Colgate 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).

  • Colgate University's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's (84%).
  • Graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn a median of about $7,200 more per year than Colgate graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,500 vs. $75,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Colgate University graduates have a $11,375 lower median loan debt than RPI graduates ($16,125 vs. $27,500).
  • Among borrowers, Colgate graduates have an estimated $118 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RPI graduates ($166 vs. $284).
  • More RPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Colgate students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 86%)

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.