Cornell vs. RPI

Deciding between Cornell 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.

Cornell University
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Cornell Ithaca, NY
  • RPI Troy, NY
  • Setting
  • Cornell Small City
  • RPI Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Cornell 26,793
  • RPI 7,040
  • Type
  • Cornell Private 4 Year
  • RPI Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Cornell #19
  • RPI #130
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Cornell -
  • RPI -
  • Status
  • Cornell Non-profit
  • RPI Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Cornell
  • RPI

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Cornell $69,314
  • RPI $64,081
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Cornell $69,314
  • RPI $64,081
  • Room & Board
  • Cornell $19,428
  • RPI $18,120
  • Average Net Price
  • Cornell $26,361
  • RPI $38,887
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Cornell $61,779
  • RPI $43,517
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Cornell 48%
  • RPI 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Cornell 62,993
  • RPI 17,175
  • Admitted
  • Cornell 5,516
  • RPI 10,901
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Cornell 8.8%
  • RPI 63.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Cornell 63.9%
  • RPI 12.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cornell 1540
  • RPI 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cornell 34
  • RPI 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Cornell 3.9
  • RPI 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Cornell A
  • RPI A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Cornell Elite
  • RPI Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Cornell Extreme
  • RPI Low
  • ACT Range
  • Cornell 33/35
  • RPI 30/34
  • SAT Range
  • Cornell 1500/1570
  • RPI 1375/1510
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Cornell Required
  • RPI Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Cornell Jan 2, 2027
  • RPI Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Cornell 9:1
  • RPI 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Cornell
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Agriculture (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
  • RPI
    • Engineering (53%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Engineering Technology (5%)
    • Architecture (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Cornell 93%
  • RPI 84%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Cornell $98,400
  • RPI $82,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Cornell 87%
  • RPI 92%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Cornell $12,000
  • RPI $27,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Cornell $124
  • RPI $284

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Cornell 47%
  • RPI 69%
  • % Women
  • Cornell 53%
  • RPI 31%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Cornell Very High
  • RPI High
  • HBCU
  • Cornell No
  • RPI No
  • % White
  • Cornell 41%
  • RPI 59%
  • % Asian
  • Cornell 18%
  • RPI 10%
  • % Black
  • Cornell 6%
  • RPI 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Cornell 12%
  • RPI 8%
  • % Native American
  • Cornell 0%
  • RPI 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Cornell 0%
  • RPI 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Cornell 4%
  • RPI 7%
  • % International
  • Cornell 10%
  • RPI 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Cornell 8%
  • RPI 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Cornell 32%
  • RPI 37%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Cornell 55%
  • RPI 58%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Cornell University in Ithaca, NY with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Cornell University is larger than RPI based on total student enrollment (26,793 students vs. 7,040 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Cornell vs. RPI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cornell 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 Cornell University than RPI ($26,361 vs. $38,887).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are 6.7% lower than at Cornell University ($18,120 vs. $19,428).
  • Cornell University is 8.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than RPI (about $5,233 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $64,081.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 8.2% higher at Cornell than at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (about $5,233 more per year; $69,314.00 vs. $64,081.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than at Cornell University (95% vs. 48%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cornell University students is 42% larger than aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students ($61,779 vs. $43,517).

Cornell vs. RPI Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cornell 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 Cornell.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Cornell University (1540) is 100 points higher than at RPI (1440).
  • Incoming Cornell students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 32 at RPI).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cornell University 1500/1570; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1375/1510.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cornell University 33/35; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 30/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cornell - Required; RPI - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cornell Jan 2, 2027; RPI Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Cornell students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at RPI (3.88).
  • RPI has a higher acceptance rate (63.5%) than Cornell (8.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 63.9% at Cornell vs. 12.1% at RPI.

Cornell vs. RPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cornell 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).

  • Cornell University's six-year graduation rate (93%) is higher than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's (84%).
  • Graduates from Cornell University earn a median of about $15,900 more per year than RPI graduates about ten years after starting college ($98,400 vs. $82,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cornell University graduates have a $15,500 lower median loan debt than RPI graduates ($12,000 vs. $27,500).
  • Among borrowers, Cornell graduates have an estimated $160 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RPI graduates ($124 vs. $284).
  • More RPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cornell students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 87%)

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.