Emerson vs. RPI

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

 Emerson RPI
Location Boston, MA Troy, NY
Setting Large City Small City
Enrollment 5,891 6,968
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #235 #110
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website emerson.edu rpi.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Emerson RPI
Tuition (In State) $52,288 $58,600
Tuition (Out of State) $52,288 $58,600
Room & Board $19,528 $16,980
Avg Net Price $51,432 $39,127
Avg Grant Aid $24,360 $38,636
% Receiving Grant Aid 78% 90%

Admission

 Emerson RPI
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 12,109 16,863
Admitted 5,176 10,878
Acceptance Rate 42.7% 64.5%
Enrolled % 19.4% 18.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.73 3.88
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 30/32 30/34
SAT Range 1250/1430 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 Feb 20, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

 Emerson RPI
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Communication (33%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (29%)
  • English and Literature (19%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Health Professions (2%)
  • Engineering (53%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
  • Business (8%)
  • Engineering Technology (5%)
  • Architecture (5%)

Outcomes

 Emerson RPI
Graduation Rate 81% 84%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $49,200 $82,500
Making Student Loan Payments 80% 92%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,500 $27,500
Median Loan Payment $242 $284

Diversity

 Emerson RPI
% Men 28% 69%
% Women 72% 31%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 67% 59%
% Black 3% 3%
% Hispanic 11% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 7%
% International 7% 11%
% Unknown Race 3% 2%

Students

 Emerson RPI
% In-State 14% 36%
% Out-of-State 69% 58%

Campus

 Emerson RPI
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No 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 Emerson based on total student enrollment (6,968 students vs. 5,891 students)

Emerson vs. RPI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Emerson or RPI?

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is 12.1% more expensive to attend than Emerson for in-state tuition ($58,600.00 vs. $52,288.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 12.1% higher at RPI than Emerson College ($58,600.00 vs. $52,288.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than Emerson ($39,127 vs. $51,432)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are 15% lower than costs at Emerson College ($16,980 vs. $19,528)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than Emerson College (90% vs. 78%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students is 58.6% larger than aid received Emerson College ($38,636 vs. $24,360)

Emerson vs. RPI Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1368) is 157 points higher than at Emerson (1211)
  • Incoming RPI students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (30) than students at Emerson (27)
  • Accepted freshman RPI students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at Emerson (3.73)
  • RPI has a higher acceptance rate (64.5%) than Emerson (42.7%)

Emerson vs. RPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Emerson 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 Emerson.

  • The graduation rate at RPI is higher than Emerson College (84% vs. 81%)
  • Graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn on average $33,300 more per year than Emerson graduates after ten years. ($82,500 vs. $49,200)
  • Emerson College students graduate with a $4,000 lower median federal student loan debt than RPI graduates. ($23,500 vs. $27,500)
  • Emerson graduates are paying $42 less per month on federal student loans than RPI graduates. ($242 vs. $284)
  • More RPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Emerson students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 80%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/