IIT vs. RIT

Should I go to Illinois Institute of Technology or Rochester Institute of Technology? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if IIT or RIT 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.
Add a college to compare up to four schools

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

RPI UIC Clarkson UB Binghamton University Stevens Syracuse Drexel MSOE U of R MIT NJIT
Illinois Institute of Technology vs. Rochester Institute of Technology comparison
Illinois Institute of Technology Rochester Institute of Technology College 3 College 4
Illinois Institute of Technology Rochester Institute of Technology
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 IIT RIT
Location Chicago, IL Rochester, NY
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 8,563 16,863
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #270 #182
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website iit.edu rit.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 IIT RIT
Tuition (In State) $49,643 $56,136
Tuition (Out of State) $49,643 $56,136
Room & Board $16,528 $15,516
Avg Net Price $25,001 $39,753
Avg Grant Aid $43,437 $31,931
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 99%

Admission

 IIT RIT
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,912 24,269
Admitted 4,939 17,328
Acceptance Rate 55.4% 71.4%
Enrolled % 10.8% 17.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.84 3.7
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 25/31 29/33
SAT Range 1180/1410 1280/1460
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 Mar 1, 2026 Jan 15, 2026

Academics

 IIT RIT
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (50%)
  • Architecture (20%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (8%)
  • Business (7%)
  • Biology (4%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (16%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (14%)
  • Engineering (13%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Engineering Technology (11%)

Outcomes

 IIT RIT
Graduation Rate 64% 64%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $79,300 $64,900
Making Student Loan Payments 81% 75%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $28,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $289

Diversity

 IIT RIT
% Men 37% 10%
% Women 24% 7%
Racial Diversity Very High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 33% 66%
% Black 6% 5%
% Hispanic 16% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 26% 6%
% Unknown Race 4% 5%

Students

 IIT RIT
% In-State 60% 45%
% Out-of-State 29% 52%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Rochester Institute of Technology is larger than than IIT based on total student enrollment (16,863 students vs. 8,563 students)

IIT vs. RIT Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IIT or RIT ?

  • Rochester Institute of Technology is 13.1% more expensive to attend than IIT for in-state tuition ($56,136.00 vs. $49,643.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 13.1% higher at RIT than Illinois Institute of Technology ($56,136.00 vs. $49,643.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Illinois Institute of Technology than RIT ($25,001 vs. $39,753)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rochester Institute of Technology are 6.5% lower than costs at Illinois Institute of Technology ($15,516 vs. $16,528)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Illinois Institute of Technology than Rochester Institute of Technology (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois Institute of Technology students is 36% larger than aid received Rochester Institute of Technology ($43,437 vs. $31,931)

IIT vs. RIT Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Illinois Institute of Technology (1251) is the same at RIT (1251)
  • Incoming RIT students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at IIT (28)
  • Accepted freshman IIT students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at RIT (3.7)
  • RIT has a higher acceptance rate (71.4%) than IIT (55.4%)

IIT vs. RIT Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, IIT or RIT ? 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 RIT and IIT.

  • The graduation rate at IIT is the same as at Rochester Institute of Technology (64% vs. 64%)
  • Graduates from Illinois Institute of Technology earn on average $14,400 more per year than RIT graduates after ten years. ($79,300 vs. $64,900)
  • Illinois Institute of Technology students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than RIT graduates. ($27,000 vs. $28,000)
  • IIT graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than RIT graduates. ($279 vs. $289)
  • More IIT graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RIT students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 75%)

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