IIT vs. RIT

Comparable Facts

Compare Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, IL 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 IIT based on total student enrollment (17,098 students vs. 8,834 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Illinois Institute of Technology is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Rochester Institute of Technology is in Rochester, NY (Large Suburban setting).
• Illinois Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rochester Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Illinois Institute of Technology 14:1; Rochester Institute of Technology 13:1.

IIT vs. RIT Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IIT 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 Illinois Institute of Technology than RIT ($24,796 vs. $39,534).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rochester Institute of Technology are 7% lower than at Illinois Institute of Technology ($16,142 vs. $17,356).
• Rochester Institute of Technology is 13.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than IIT (about $6,888 more per year; $59,274.00 vs. $52,386.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 13.1% higher at RIT than at Illinois Institute of Technology (about $6,888 more per year; $59,274.00 vs. $52,386.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Illinois Institute of Technology than at Rochester Institute of Technology (100% vs. 98%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois Institute of Technology students is 27% larger than aid received by Rochester Institute of Technology students ($44,547 vs. $35,077).

IIT vs. RIT Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, IIT 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 IIT.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rochester Institute of Technology (1380) is 70 points higher than at IIT (1310).
• Incoming RIT students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 29 at IIT).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Institute of Technology 1180/1440; Rochester Institute of Technology 1300/1460.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Illinois Institute of Technology 26/32; Rochester Institute of Technology 29/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IIT - Test optional; RIT - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: IIT Mar 1, 2027; RIT Jan 15, 2027.
• 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 (66.9%) than IIT (54.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 7.7% at IIT vs. 16.3% at RIT .

IIT vs. RIT Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IIT 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).

• The graduation rate at IIT is the same as at Rochester Institute of Technology (64% vs. 64%).
• Graduates from Illinois Institute of Technology earn a median of about $14,400 more per year than RIT graduates about ten years after starting college ($79,300 vs. $64,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Illinois Institute of Technology graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than RIT graduates ($27,000 vs. $28,000).
• Among borrowers, IIT graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.