Hunter vs. RPI

Deciding between CUNY Hunter College 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.

CUNY Hunter College
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Hunter New York, NY
  • RPI Troy, NY
  • Setting
  • Hunter Large City
  • RPI Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Hunter 22,538
  • RPI 7,040
  • Type
  • Hunter Public 4 Year
  • RPI Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Hunter #297
  • RPI #130
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Hunter -
  • RPI -
  • Status
  • Hunter Non-profit
  • RPI Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Hunter
  • RPI

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Hunter $7,382
  • RPI $64,081
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Hunter $15,332
  • RPI $64,081
  • Room & Board
  • Hunter $11,832
  • RPI $18,120
  • Average Net Price
  • Hunter $4,431
  • RPI $38,887
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Hunter $9,755
  • RPI $43,517
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Hunter 87%
  • RPI 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Hunter 32,271
  • RPI 17,175
  • Admitted
  • Hunter 17,362
  • RPI 10,901
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Hunter 53.8%
  • RPI 63.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Hunter 16.7%
  • RPI 12.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Hunter 1260
  • RPI 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • Hunter
  • RPI 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Hunter 3.7
  • RPI 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Hunter A-
  • RPI A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Hunter Very High
  • RPI Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Hunter Low
  • RPI Low
  • ACT Range
  • Hunter
  • RPI 30/34
  • SAT Range
  • Hunter 1100/1420
  • RPI 1375/1510
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Hunter Test optional
  • RPI Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Hunter
  • RPI Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Hunter 14:1
  • RPI 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Hunter
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Psychology (16%)
    • English and Literature (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
  • RPI
    • Engineering (53%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Engineering Technology (5%)
    • Architecture (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Hunter 46%
  • RPI 84%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Hunter $48,800
  • RPI $82,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Hunter 56%
  • RPI 92%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Hunter $11,548
  • RPI $27,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Hunter $119
  • RPI $284

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Hunter 33%
  • RPI 69%
  • % Women
  • Hunter 67%
  • RPI 31%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Hunter Very High
  • RPI High
  • HBCU
  • Hunter No
  • RPI No
  • % White
  • Hunter 27%
  • RPI 59%
  • % Asian
  • Hunter 26%
  • RPI 10%
  • % Black
  • Hunter 10%
  • RPI 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Hunter 29%
  • RPI 8%
  • % Native American
  • Hunter 0%
  • RPI 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Hunter 1%
  • RPI 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Hunter 2%
  • RPI 7%
  • % International
  • Hunter 6%
  • RPI 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Hunter 0%
  • RPI 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Hunter 82%
  • RPI 37%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Hunter 0%
  • RPI 58%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare CUNY Hunter College in New York, NY with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

CUNY Hunter College is larger than RPI based on total student enrollment (22,538 students vs. 7,040 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • CUNY Hunter College is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is in Troy, NY (Small City setting).
  • CUNY Hunter College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: CUNY Hunter College 14:1; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 14:1.

Hunter vs. RPI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Hunter 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 CUNY Hunter College than RPI ($4,431 vs. $38,887).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at CUNY Hunter College are 34.7% lower than at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($11,832 vs. $18,120).
  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is 768.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Hunter (about $56,699 more per year; $64,081.00 vs. $7,382.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 318% higher at RPI than at CUNY Hunter College (about $48,749 more per year; $64,081.00 vs. $15,332.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than at CUNY Hunter College (95% vs. 87%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students is 346.1% larger than aid received by CUNY Hunter College students ($43,517 vs. $9,755).

Hunter vs. RPI Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Hunter 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 Hunter.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1440) is 180 points higher than at Hunter (1260).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: CUNY Hunter College 1100/1420; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1375/1510.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsRensselaer Polytechnic Institute 30/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Hunter - Test optional; RPI - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: RPI Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman RPI students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at Hunter (3.7).
  • RPI has a higher acceptance rate (63.5%) than Hunter (53.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.7% at Hunter vs. 12.1% at RPI.

Hunter vs. RPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Hunter 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).

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's six-year graduation rate (84%) is higher than CUNY Hunter College's (46%).
  • Graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn a median of about $33,700 more per year than Hunter graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,500 vs. $48,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY Hunter College graduates have a $15,952 lower median loan debt than RPI graduates ($11,548 vs. $27,500).
  • Among borrowers, Hunter graduates have an estimated $165 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RPI graduates ($119 vs. $284).
  • More RPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hunter students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 56%)

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.