MHC vs. RPI

Deciding between Mount Holyoke College 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.

Mount Holyoke College
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • MHC South Hadley, MA
  • RPI Troy, NY
  • Setting
  • MHC Large Suburban
  • RPI Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • MHC 2,275
  • RPI 7,040
  • Type
  • MHC Private 4 Year
  • RPI Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • MHC #81
  • RPI #130
  • Religious Affiliation
  • MHC -
  • RPI -
  • Status
  • MHC Non-profit
  • RPI Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • MHC
  • RPI

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • MHC $67,018
  • RPI $64,081
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • MHC $67,018
  • RPI $64,081
  • Room & Board
  • MHC $19,684
  • RPI $18,120
  • Average Net Price
  • MHC $32,526
  • RPI $38,887
  • Average Grant Aid
  • MHC $52,418
  • RPI $43,517
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • MHC 77%
  • RPI 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • MHC 5,226
  • RPI 17,175
  • Admitted
  • MHC 1,883
  • RPI 10,901
  • Acceptance Rate
  • MHC 36%
  • RPI 63.5%
  • Enrolled
  • MHC 27.2%
  • RPI 12.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • MHC 1460
  • RPI 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • MHC 33
  • RPI 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • MHC 3.87
  • RPI 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • MHC A
  • RPI A
  • Admissions Standards
  • MHC Elite
  • RPI Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • MHC High
  • RPI Low
  • ACT Range
  • MHC 32/35
  • RPI 30/34
  • SAT Range
  • MHC 1380/1530
  • RPI 1375/1510
  • Submit Test Scores
  • MHC Test optional
  • RPI Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • MHC Jan 15, 2027
  • RPI Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • MHC 9:1
  • RPI 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • MHC
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • RPI
    • Engineering (53%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Engineering Technology (5%)
    • Architecture (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • MHC 85%
  • RPI 84%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • MHC $50,000
  • RPI $82,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • MHC 77%
  • RPI 92%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • MHC $21,206
  • RPI $27,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • MHC $219
  • RPI $284

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • MHC 1%
  • RPI 69%
  • % Women
  • MHC 99%
  • RPI 31%
  • Racial Diversity
  • MHC Very High
  • RPI High
  • HBCU
  • MHC No
  • RPI No
  • % White
  • MHC 45%
  • RPI 59%
  • % Asian
  • MHC 10%
  • RPI 10%
  • % Black
  • MHC 6%
  • RPI 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • MHC 8%
  • RPI 8%
  • % Native American
  • MHC 0%
  • RPI 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • MHC 0%
  • RPI 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • MHC 4%
  • RPI 7%
  • % International
  • MHC 26%
  • RPI 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • MHC 1%
  • RPI 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • MHC 19%
  • RPI 37%
  • % Out-of-State
  • MHC 63%
  • RPI 58%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA 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 MHC based on total student enrollment (7,040 students vs. 2,275 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Mount Holyoke College is located in South Hadley, MA (Large Suburban setting); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is in Troy, NY (Small City setting).
  • Mount Holyoke College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Mount Holyoke College 9:1; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 14:1.

MHC vs. RPI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MHC 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 Mount Holyoke College than RPI ($32,526 vs. $38,887).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are 7.9% lower than at Mount Holyoke College ($18,120 vs. $19,684).
  • Mount Holyoke College is 4.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than RPI (about $2,937 more per year; $67,018.00 vs. $64,081.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.6% higher at MHC than at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (about $2,937 more per year; $67,018.00 vs. $64,081.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than at Mount Holyoke College (95% vs. 77%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mount Holyoke College students is 20.5% larger than aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students ($52,418 vs. $43,517).

MHC vs. RPI Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MHC 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 MHC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Mount Holyoke College (1460) is 20 points higher than at RPI (1440).
  • Incoming MHC students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 32 at RPI).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mount Holyoke College 1380/1530; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1375/1510.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mount Holyoke College 32/35; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 30/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MHC - Test optional; RPI - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: MHC Jan 15, 2027; RPI Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman RPI students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at MHC (3.87).
  • RPI has a higher acceptance rate (63.5%) than MHC (36%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.2% at MHC vs. 12.1% at RPI.

MHC vs. RPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MHC 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).

  • Mount Holyoke College's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's (84%).
  • Graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn a median of about $32,500 more per year than MHC graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,500 vs. $50,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Mount Holyoke College graduates have a $6,294 lower median loan debt than RPI graduates ($21,206 vs. $27,500).
  • Among borrowers, MHC graduates have an estimated $65 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RPI graduates ($219 vs. $284).
  • More RPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MHC students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 77%)

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.