Harvard vs. RPI

Deciding between Harvard 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.

Harvard University
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • RPI Troy, NY
  • Setting
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • RPI Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Harvard 30,259
  • RPI 7,040
  • Type
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • RPI Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Harvard #4
  • RPI #130
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Harvard -
  • RPI -
  • Status
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • RPI Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Harvard
  • RPI

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • RPI $64,081
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • RPI $64,081
  • Room & Board
  • Harvard $21,190
  • RPI $18,120
  • Average Net Price
  • Harvard $17,525
  • RPI $38,887
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Harvard $68,015
  • RPI $43,517
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Harvard 56%
  • RPI 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Harvard 54,008
  • RPI 17,175
  • Admitted
  • Harvard 1,970
  • RPI 10,901
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • RPI 63.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • RPI 12.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Harvard 1550
  • RPI 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • Harvard 35
  • RPI 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Harvard 4.0
  • RPI 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Harvard A/A+
  • RPI A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Harvard Elite
  • RPI Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Harvard Extreme
  • RPI Low
  • ACT Range
  • Harvard 34/36
  • RPI 30/34
  • SAT Range
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • RPI 1375/1510
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Harvard Required
  • RPI Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • RPI Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Harvard 7:1
  • RPI 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • RPI
    • Engineering (53%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Engineering Technology (5%)
    • Architecture (5%)

  • Outcomes

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

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Harvard 46%
  • RPI 69%
  • % Women
  • Harvard 54%
  • RPI 31%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Harvard Very High
  • RPI High
  • HBCU
  • Harvard No
  • RPI No
  • % White
  • Harvard 44%
  • RPI 59%
  • % Asian
  • Harvard 19%
  • RPI 10%
  • % Black
  • Harvard 6%
  • RPI 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Harvard 10%
  • RPI 8%
  • % Native American
  • Harvard 0%
  • RPI 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Harvard 0%
  • RPI 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Harvard 6%
  • RPI 7%
  • % International
  • Harvard 11%
  • RPI 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Harvard 3%
  • RPI 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Harvard 14%
  • RPI 37%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Harvard 68%
  • RPI 58%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Harvard University is larger than RPI based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 7,040 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Harvard University is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is in Troy, NY (Small City setting).
  • Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Harvard University 7:1; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 14:1.

Harvard vs. RPI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard 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 Harvard University than RPI ($17,525 vs. $38,887).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are 14.5% lower than at Harvard University ($18,120 vs. $21,190).
  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is 3.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harvard (about $2,405 more per year; $64,081.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.9% higher at RPI than at Harvard University (about $2,405 more per year; $64,081.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than at Harvard University (95% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 56.3% larger than aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students ($68,015 vs. $43,517).

Harvard vs. RPI Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Harvard 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 Harvard.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 110 points higher than at RPI (1440).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 32 at RPI).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 1510/1580; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1375/1510.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 34/36; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 30/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Harvard - Required; RPI - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027; RPI Jan 15, 2027.
  • 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 (63.5%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 83.6% at Harvard vs. 12.1% at RPI.

Harvard vs. RPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harvard 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).

  • Harvard University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's (84%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $54,200 more per year than RPI graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $82,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $21,000 lower median loan debt than RPI graduates ($6,500 vs. $27,500).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $217 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.