Fordham vs. RPI

Deciding between Fordham 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.

Fordham University
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Fordham Bronx, NY
  • RPI Troy, NY
  • Setting
  • Fordham Large City
  • RPI Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Fordham 16,150
  • RPI 7,040
  • Type
  • Fordham Private 4 Year
  • RPI Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Fordham #133
  • RPI #130
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Fordham Roman Catholic
  • RPI -
  • Status
  • Fordham Non-profit
  • RPI Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Fordham
  • RPI

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Fordham $64,915
  • RPI $64,081
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Fordham $64,915
  • RPI $64,081
  • Room & Board
  • Fordham $24,090
  • RPI $18,120
  • Average Net Price
  • Fordham $48,190
  • RPI $38,887
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Fordham $35,988
  • RPI $43,517
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Fordham 95%
  • RPI 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Fordham 43,364
  • RPI 17,175
  • Admitted
  • Fordham 25,719
  • RPI 10,901
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Fordham 59.3%
  • RPI 63.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Fordham 9.7%
  • RPI 12.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Fordham 1400
  • RPI 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • Fordham 31
  • RPI 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Fordham 3.67
  • RPI 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Fordham A-
  • RPI A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Fordham Exceptional
  • RPI Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Fordham Low
  • RPI Low
  • ACT Range
  • Fordham 30/33
  • RPI 30/34
  • SAT Range
  • Fordham 1320/1480
  • RPI 1375/1510
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Fordham Test optional
  • RPI Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Fordham Jan 1, 2027
  • RPI Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Fordham 14:1
  • RPI 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Fordham
    • Business (26%)
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Communication (13%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
  • RPI
    • Engineering (53%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Engineering Technology (5%)
    • Architecture (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Fordham 78%
  • RPI 84%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Fordham $64,200
  • RPI $82,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Fordham 77%
  • RPI 92%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Fordham $26,000
  • RPI $27,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Fordham $268
  • RPI $284

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Fordham 39%
  • RPI 69%
  • % Women
  • Fordham 61%
  • RPI 31%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Fordham High
  • RPI High
  • HBCU
  • Fordham No
  • RPI No
  • % White
  • Fordham 59%
  • RPI 59%
  • % Asian
  • Fordham 10%
  • RPI 10%
  • % Black
  • Fordham 4%
  • RPI 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Fordham 14%
  • RPI 8%
  • % Native American
  • Fordham 0%
  • RPI 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Fordham 0%
  • RPI 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Fordham 3%
  • RPI 7%
  • % International
  • Fordham 7%
  • RPI 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Fordham 2%
  • RPI 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Fordham 38%
  • RPI 37%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Fordham 51%
  • RPI 58%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Fordham University is larger than RPI based on total student enrollment (16,150 students vs. 7,040 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Fordham vs. RPI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fordham 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 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than Fordham ($38,887 vs. $48,190).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are 24.8% lower than at Fordham University ($18,120 vs. $24,090).
  • Fordham University is 1.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than RPI (about $834 more per year; $64,915.00 vs. $64,081.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.3% higher at Fordham than at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (about $834 more per year; $64,915.00 vs. $64,081.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Fordham University as at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (95% vs. 95%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students is 20.9% larger than aid received by Fordham University students ($43,517 vs. $35,988).

Fordham vs. RPI Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Fordham 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 Fordham.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1440) is 40 points higher than at Fordham (1400).
  • Incoming RPI students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 31 at Fordham).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Fordham University 1320/1480; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1375/1510.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Fordham University 30/33; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 30/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Fordham - Test optional; RPI - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Fordham Jan 1, 2027; RPI Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman RPI students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at Fordham (3.67).
  • RPI has a higher acceptance rate (63.5%) than Fordham (59.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.7% at Fordham vs. 12.1% at RPI.

Fordham vs. RPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Fordham 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 Fordham University's (78%).
  • Graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn a median of about $18,300 more per year than Fordham graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,500 vs. $64,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Fordham University graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than RPI graduates ($26,000 vs. $27,500).
  • Among borrowers, Fordham graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RPI graduates ($268 vs. $284).
  • More RPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fordham students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 77%)

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.