MIT vs. RPI

Deciding between Massachusetts Institute of Technology 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.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • MIT Cambridge, MA
  • RPI Troy, NY
  • Setting
  • MIT Midsize City
  • RPI Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • MIT 11,886
  • RPI 7,040
  • Type
  • MIT Private 4 Year
  • RPI Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • MIT #8
  • RPI #130
  • Religious Affiliation
  • MIT -
  • RPI -
  • Status
  • MIT Non-profit
  • RPI Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • MIT
  • RPI

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • MIT $62,396
  • RPI $64,081
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • MIT $62,396
  • RPI $64,081
  • Room & Board
  • MIT $20,280
  • RPI $18,120
  • Average Net Price
  • MIT $20,996
  • RPI $38,887
  • Average Grant Aid
  • MIT $61,734
  • RPI $43,517
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • MIT 59%
  • RPI 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • MIT 28,232
  • RPI 17,175
  • Admitted
  • MIT 1,284
  • RPI 10,901
  • Acceptance Rate
  • MIT 4.5%
  • RPI 63.5%
  • Enrolled
  • MIT 85.8%
  • RPI 12.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • MIT 1550
  • RPI 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • MIT 35
  • RPI 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • MIT 3.96
  • RPI 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • MIT A
  • RPI A
  • Admissions Standards
  • MIT Elite
  • RPI Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • MIT Extreme
  • RPI Low
  • ACT Range
  • MIT 34/36
  • RPI 30/34
  • SAT Range
  • MIT 1520/1580
  • RPI 1375/1510
  • Submit Test Scores
  • MIT Required
  • RPI Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • MIT Jan 1, 2027
  • RPI Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • MIT 3:1
  • RPI 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • MIT
    • Engineering (41%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (13%)
    • Physical Sciences (10%)
    • Mathematics (8%)
    • Biology (8%)
  • RPI
    • Engineering (53%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Engineering Technology (5%)
    • Architecture (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • MIT 93%
  • RPI 84%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • MIT $142,100
  • RPI $82,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • MIT 92%
  • RPI 92%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • MIT $17,316
  • RPI $27,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • MIT $179
  • RPI $284

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • MIT 56%
  • RPI 69%
  • % Women
  • MIT 44%
  • RPI 31%
  • Racial Diversity
  • MIT Very High
  • RPI High
  • HBCU
  • MIT No
  • RPI No
  • % White
  • MIT 37%
  • RPI 59%
  • % Asian
  • MIT 25%
  • RPI 10%
  • % Black
  • MIT 6%
  • RPI 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • MIT 15%
  • RPI 8%
  • % Native American
  • MIT 0%
  • RPI 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • MIT 0%
  • RPI 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • MIT 6%
  • RPI 7%
  • % International
  • MIT 10%
  • RPI 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • MIT 2%
  • RPI 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • MIT 8%
  • RPI 37%
  • % Out-of-State
  • MIT 80%
  • RPI 58%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Massachusetts Institute of Technology is larger than RPI based on total student enrollment (11,886 students vs. 7,040 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is in Troy, NY (Small City setting).
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 3:1; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 14:1.

MIT vs. RPI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MIT 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 Massachusetts Institute of Technology than RPI ($20,996 vs. $38,887).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are 10.7% lower than at Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($18,120 vs. $20,280).
  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is 2.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than MIT (about $1,685 more per year; $64,081.00 vs. $62,396.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.7% higher at RPI than at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (about $1,685 more per year; $64,081.00 vs. $62,396.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (95% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Massachusetts Institute of Technology students is 41.9% larger than aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students ($61,734 vs. $43,517).

MIT vs. RPI Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MIT 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 MIT.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1550) is 110 points higher than at RPI (1440).
  • Incoming MIT 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: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1520/1580; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1375/1510.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 34/36; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 30/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MIT - Required; RPI - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: MIT Jan 1, 2027; RPI Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman MIT students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at RPI (3.88).
  • RPI has a higher acceptance rate (63.5%) than MIT (4.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 85.8% at MIT vs. 12.1% at RPI.

MIT vs. RPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MIT 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).

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology's six-year graduation rate (93%) is higher than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's (84%).
  • Graduates from Massachusetts Institute of Technology earn a median of about $59,600 more per year than RPI graduates about ten years after starting college ($142,100 vs. $82,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduates have a $10,184 lower median loan debt than RPI graduates ($17,316 vs. $27,500).
  • Among borrowers, MIT graduates have an estimated $105 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RPI graduates ($179 vs. $284).
  • More RPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MIT students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 92%)

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.