Staten Island vs. RIT

Comparable Facts

Compare College of Staten Island CUNY in Staten Island, NY with Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rochester Institute of Technology is larger than Staten Island based on total student enrollment (17,098 students vs. 11,033 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of Staten Island CUNY is located in Staten Island, NY (Large City setting); Rochester Institute of Technology is in Rochester, NY (Large Suburban setting).
• College of Staten Island CUNY is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Rochester Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of Staten Island CUNY 17:1; Rochester Institute of Technology 13:1.

Staten Island vs. RIT Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Staten Island or RIT ? 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 College of Staten Island CUNY than RIT ($6,525 vs. $39,534).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rochester Institute of Technology are 23.7% lower than at College of Staten Island CUNY ($16,142 vs. $21,155).
• Rochester Institute of Technology is 691.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Staten Island (about $51,784 more per year; $59,274.00 vs. $7,490.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 283.9% higher at RIT than at College of Staten Island CUNY (about $43,834 more per year; $59,274.00 vs. $15,440.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rochester Institute of Technology than at College of Staten Island CUNY (98% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Rochester Institute of Technology students is 311.4% larger than aid received by College of Staten Island CUNY students ($35,077 vs. $8,526).

Staten Island vs. RIT Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Staten Island or RIT ? 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 RIT and Staten Island.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rochester Institute of Technology (1380) is 310 points higher than at Staten Island (1070).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: College of Staten Island CUNY 890/1250; Rochester Institute of Technology 1300/1460.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsRochester Institute of Technology 29/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Staten Island - Test optional; RIT - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: RIT Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman RIT students have a 0.7 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Staten Island (3.0).
• Staten Island has a higher acceptance rate (92.3%) than RIT (66.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17% at Staten Island vs. 16.3% at RIT .

Staten Island vs. RIT Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Staten Island and RIT ? 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).

• Rochester Institute of Technology's six-year graduation rate (64%) is higher than College of Staten Island CUNY's (48%).
• Graduates from Rochester Institute of Technology earn a median of about $19,800 more per year than Staten Island graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,900 vs. $45,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of Staten Island CUNY graduates have a $14,013 lower median loan debt than RIT graduates ($13,987 vs. $28,000).
• Among borrowers, Staten Island graduates have an estimated $145 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RIT graduates ($144 vs. $289).
• More RIT graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Staten Island students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 49%)

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.