Hobart William Smith Colleges vs. RPI

Comparable Facts

Compare Hobart William Smith Colleges in Geneva, NY with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is larger than Hobart William Smith Colleges based on total student enrollment (7,040 students vs. 1,841 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Hobart William Smith Colleges is located in Geneva, NY (Distant Town setting); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is in Troy, NY (Small City setting).
• Hobart William Smith Colleges is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Hobart William Smith Colleges 11:1; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 14:1.

Hobart William Smith Colleges vs. RPI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Hobart William Smith Colleges 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 Hobart William Smith Colleges than RPI ($34,170 vs. $38,887).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Hobart William Smith Colleges are 1.9% lower than at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($17,768 vs. $18,120).
• Hobart William Smith Colleges is 1.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than RPI (about $1,036 more per year; $65,117.00 vs. $64,081.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.6% higher at Hobart William Smith Colleges than at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (about $1,036 more per year; $65,117.00 vs. $64,081.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Hobart William Smith Colleges than at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (100% vs. 95%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Hobart William Smith Colleges students is 11.3% larger than aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students ($48,432 vs. $43,517).

Hobart William Smith Colleges vs. RPI Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Hobart William Smith Colleges 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 Hobart William Smith Colleges.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1440) is 150 points higher than at Hobart William Smith Colleges (1290).
• Incoming RPI students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 30 at Hobart William Smith Colleges).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Hobart William Smith Colleges 1190/1385; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1375/1510.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Hobart William Smith Colleges 28/32; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 30/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Hobart William Smith Colleges - Test optional; RPI - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Hobart William Smith Colleges Feb 1, 2027; RPI Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman RPI students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at Hobart William Smith Colleges (3.55).
• Hobart William Smith Colleges has a higher acceptance rate (64%) than RPI (63.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.6% at Hobart William Smith Colleges vs. 12.1% at RPI.

Hobart William Smith Colleges vs. RPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Hobart William Smith Colleges 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 Hobart William Smith Colleges's (75%).
• Graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn a median of about $22,300 more per year than Hobart William Smith Colleges graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,500 vs. $60,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Hobart William Smith Colleges graduates have a $500 lower median loan debt than RPI graduates ($27,000 vs. $27,500).
• Among borrowers, Hobart William Smith Colleges graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RPI graduates ($279 vs. $284).
• More RPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hobart William Smith Colleges students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 84%)

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.