EC vs. RIT

Comparable Facts

Compare Elmira College in Elmira, 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 EC based on total student enrollment (17,098 students vs. 786 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Elmira College is located in Elmira, NY (Small City setting); Rochester Institute of Technology is in Rochester, NY (Large Suburban setting).
• Elmira College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rochester Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Elmira College 11:1; Rochester Institute of Technology 13:1.

EC vs. RIT Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, EC 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 Elmira College than RIT ($23,682 vs. $39,534).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Elmira College are 9.9% lower than at Rochester Institute of Technology ($14,550 vs. $16,142).
• Rochester Institute of Technology is 52.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than EC (about $20,298 more per year; $59,274.00 vs. $38,976.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 52.1% higher at RIT than at Elmira College (about $20,298 more per year; $59,274.00 vs. $38,976.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Elmira College than at Rochester Institute of Technology (100% vs. 98%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Rochester Institute of Technology students is 21.9% larger than aid received by Elmira College students ($35,077 vs. $28,780).

EC vs. RIT Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, EC 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 EC.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rochester Institute of Technology (1380) is 140 points higher than at EC (1240).
• Incoming RIT students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 27 at EC).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Elmira College 1090/1385; Rochester Institute of Technology 1300/1460.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Elmira College 26/29; Rochester Institute of Technology 29/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: EC - Test optional; RIT - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: RIT Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman RIT students have a 0.48 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at EC (3.22).
• EC has a higher acceptance rate (77%) than RIT (66.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at EC vs. 16.3% at RIT .

EC vs. RIT Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for EC 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 Elmira College's (60%).
• Graduates from Rochester Institute of Technology earn a median of about $18,900 more per year than EC graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,900 vs. $46,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Elmira College graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than RIT graduates ($27,000 vs. $28,000).
• Among borrowers, EC graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RIT graduates ($279 vs. $289).
• More RIT graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former EC students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 72%)

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.