Howard vs. RIT

Comparable Facts

Compare Howard University in Washington, DC with Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rochester Institute of Technology is larger than Howard based on total student enrollment (17,098 students vs. 14,890 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Howard University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); Rochester Institute of Technology is in Rochester, NY (Large Suburban setting).
• Howard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rochester Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Howard University 13:1; Rochester Institute of Technology 13:1.

Howard vs. RIT Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Howard or RIT ? 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 Howard University than RIT ($33,368 vs. $39,534).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rochester Institute of Technology are 6.8% lower than at Howard University ($16,142 vs. $17,322).
• Rochester Institute of Technology is 65.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Howard (about $23,464 more per year; $59,274.00 vs. $35,810.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 65.5% higher at RIT than at Howard University (about $23,464 more per year; $59,274.00 vs. $35,810.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Howard University than at Rochester Institute of Technology (99% vs. 98%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Rochester Institute of Technology students is 65% larger than aid received by Howard University students ($35,077 vs. $21,262).

Howard vs. RIT Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Howard or RIT ? 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 RIT and Howard.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rochester Institute of Technology (1380) is 170 points higher than at Howard (1210).
• Incoming RIT students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 25 at Howard).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Howard University 1090/1320; Rochester Institute of Technology 1300/1460.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Howard University 22/28; Rochester Institute of Technology 29/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Howard - Test optional; RIT - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Howard Feb 15, 2027; RIT Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman RIT students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Howard (3.66).
• RIT has a higher acceptance rate (66.9%) than Howard (41.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.4% at Howard vs. 16.3% at RIT .

Howard vs. RIT Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Howard and RIT ? 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).

• Rochester Institute of Technology's six-year graduation rate (64%) is higher than Howard University's (63%).
• Graduates from Rochester Institute of Technology earn a median of about $13,100 more per year than Howard graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,900 vs. $51,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Howard University graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than RIT graduates ($27,000 vs. $28,000).
• Among borrowers, Howard graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RIT graduates ($279 vs. $289).
• More RIT graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Howard students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 33%)

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.