Colgate vs. RPI

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

 Colgate RPI
Location Hamilton, NY Troy, NY
Setting Distant Town Small City
Enrollment 3,141 6,968
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #27 #110
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colgate.edu rpi.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Colgate RPI
Tuition (In State) $63,904 $58,600
Tuition (Out of State) $63,904 $58,600
Room & Board $16,106 $16,980
Avg Net Price $27,074 $39,127
Avg Grant Aid $54,647 $38,636
% Receiving Grant Aid 41% 90%

Admission

 Colgate RPI
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 21,109 16,863
Admitted 2,624 10,878
Acceptance Rate 12.4% 64.5%
Enrolled % 30.9% 18.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.77 3.88
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Exceptional
Applicant Competition Very High Low
ACT Range 32/34 30/34
SAT Range 1410/1530 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

 Colgate RPI
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (33%)
  • English and Literature (11%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies (7%)
  • Engineering (53%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
  • Business (8%)
  • Engineering Technology (5%)
  • Architecture (5%)

Outcomes

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

Diversity

 Colgate RPI
% Men 44% 69%
% Women 56% 31%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 67% 59%
% Black 4% 3%
% Hispanic 9% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 7%
% International 9% 11%
% Unknown Race 4% 2%

Students

 Colgate RPI
% In-State 19% 36%
% Out-of-State 71% 58%

Campus

 Colgate RPI
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes 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 Colgate based on total student enrollment (6,968 students vs. 3,141 students)

Colgate vs. RPI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Colgate or RPI?

  • Colgate University is 9.1% more expensive to attend than RPI for in-state tuition ($63,904.00 vs. $58,600.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 9.1% higher at Colgate than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($63,904.00 vs. $58,600.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Colgate University than RPI ($27,074 vs. $39,127)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colgate University are 5.4% lower than costs at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($16,106 vs. $16,980)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than Colgate University (90% vs. 41%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colgate University students is 41.4% larger than aid received Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($54,647 vs. $38,636)

Colgate vs. RPI Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Colgate University (1374) is 6 points higher than at RPI (1368)
  • Incoming Colgate students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (32) than students at RPI (30)
  • 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 (64.5%) than Colgate (12.4%)

Colgate vs. RPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Colgate 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 Colgate.

  • The graduation rate at Colgate is higher than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (92% vs. 84%)
  • Graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn on average $7,200 more per year than Colgate graduates after ten years. ($82,500 vs. $75,300)
  • Colgate University students graduate with a $11,375 lower median federal student loan debt than RPI graduates. ($16,125 vs. $27,500)
  • Colgate graduates are paying $118 less per month on federal student loans 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/