Harvard vs. RPI

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

 Harvard RPI
Location Cambridge, MA Troy, NY
Setting Midsize City Small City
Enrollment 30,631 6,968
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #4 #110
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website harvard.edu rpi.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Harvard RPI
Tuition (In State) $52,659 $58,600
Tuition (Out of State) $52,659 $58,600
Room & Board $19,502 $16,980
Avg Net Price $19,491 $39,127
Avg Grant Aid $61,801 $38,636
% Receiving Grant Aid 56% 90%

Admission

 Harvard RPI
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 61,221 16,863
Admitted 1,984 10,878
Acceptance Rate 3.2% 64.5%
Enrolled % 83% 18.4%
Avg High School GPA 4.0 3.88
Typical High School Grades A/A+ A-
Admissions Standards Elite Exceptional
Applicant Competition Extreme Low
ACT Range 34/36 30/34
SAT Range 1490/1580 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 Jan 1, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

 Harvard RPI
Student to Faculty Ratio 7:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (32%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • History (9%)
  • Mathematics (6%)
  • Engineering (53%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
  • Business (8%)
  • Engineering Technology (5%)
  • Architecture (5%)

Outcomes

 Harvard RPI
Graduation Rate 97% 84%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $136,700 $82,500
Making Student Loan Payments 70% 92%
Median Student Loan Debt $6,500 $27,500
Median Loan Payment $67 $284

Diversity

 Harvard RPI
% Men 46% 69%
% Women 54% 31%
Racial Diversity Very High High
HBCU No No
% White 44% 59%
% Black 6% 3%
% Hispanic 10% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 7%
% International 11% 11%
% Unknown Race 3% 2%

Students

 Harvard RPI
% In-State 15% 36%
% Out-of-State 69% 58%

Campus

 Harvard RPI
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Harvard University is larger than than RPI based on total student enrollment (30,631 students vs. 6,968 students)

Harvard vs. RPI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard or RPI?

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is 11.3% more expensive to attend than Harvard for in-state tuition ($58,600.00 vs. $52,659.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 11.3% higher at RPI than Harvard University ($58,600.00 vs. $52,659.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Harvard University than RPI ($19,491 vs. $39,127)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are 14.9% lower than costs at Harvard University ($16,980 vs. $19,502)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than Harvard University (90% vs. 56%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 60% larger than aid received Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($61,801 vs. $38,636)

Harvard vs. RPI Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Harvard University (1497) is 129 points higher than at RPI (1368)
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (34) than students at RPI (30)
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at RPI (3.88)
  • RPI has a higher acceptance rate (64.5%) than Harvard (3.2%)

Harvard vs. RPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Harvard 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 Harvard.

  • The graduation rate at Harvard is higher than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (97% vs. 84%)
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn on average $54,200 more per year than RPI graduates after ten years. ($136,700 vs. $82,500)
  • Harvard University students graduate with a $21,000 lower median federal student loan debt than RPI graduates. ($6,500 vs. $27,500)
  • Harvard graduates are paying $217 less per month on federal student loans than RPI graduates. ($67 vs. $284)
  • More RPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 70%)

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