Princeton vs. RPI

Deciding between Princeton University 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.

Princeton University
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Princeton Princeton, NJ
  • RPI Troy, NY
  • Setting
  • Princeton Large Suburban
  • RPI Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Princeton 9,137
  • RPI 7,040
  • Type
  • Princeton Private 4 Year
  • RPI Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Princeton #1
  • RPI #130
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Princeton -
  • RPI -
  • Status
  • Princeton Non-profit
  • RPI Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Princeton
  • RPI

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Princeton $62,688
  • RPI $64,081
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Princeton $62,688
  • RPI $64,081
  • Room & Board
  • Princeton $20,250
  • RPI $18,120
  • Average Net Price
  • Princeton $15,313
  • RPI $38,887
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Princeton $68,727
  • RPI $43,517
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Princeton 67%
  • RPI 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Princeton 40,468
  • RPI 17,175
  • Admitted
  • Princeton 1,868
  • RPI 10,901
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Princeton 4.6%
  • RPI 63.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Princeton 75.5%
  • RPI 12.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Princeton 1550
  • RPI 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • Princeton 34
  • RPI 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Princeton 3.93
  • RPI 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Princeton A
  • RPI A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Princeton Elite
  • RPI Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Princeton Extreme
  • RPI Low
  • ACT Range
  • Princeton 34/35
  • RPI 30/34
  • SAT Range
  • Princeton 1510/1580
  • RPI 1375/1510
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Princeton Test optional
  • RPI Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Princeton Jan 1, 2027
  • RPI Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Princeton 5:1
  • RPI 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Princeton
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • History (7%)
    • Human Services (7%)
  • RPI
    • Engineering (53%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Engineering Technology (5%)
    • Architecture (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Princeton 96%
  • RPI 84%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Princeton $113,900
  • RPI $82,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Princeton 83%
  • RPI 92%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Princeton $7,500
  • RPI $27,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Princeton $77
  • RPI $284

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Princeton 52%
  • RPI 69%
  • % Women
  • Princeton 48%
  • RPI 31%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Princeton Very High
  • RPI High
  • HBCU
  • Princeton No
  • RPI No
  • % White
  • Princeton 45%
  • RPI 59%
  • % Asian
  • Princeton 22%
  • RPI 10%
  • % Black
  • Princeton 8%
  • RPI 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Princeton 9%
  • RPI 8%
  • % Native American
  • Princeton 0%
  • RPI 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Princeton 0%
  • RPI 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Princeton 4%
  • RPI 7%
  • % International
  • Princeton 11%
  • RPI 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Princeton 2%
  • RPI 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Princeton 14%
  • RPI 37%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Princeton 74%
  • RPI 58%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Princeton University in Princeton, NJ with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Princeton University is larger than RPI based on total student enrollment (9,137 students vs. 7,040 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Princeton University is located in Princeton, NJ (Large Suburban setting); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is in Troy, NY (Small City setting).
  • Princeton University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Princeton University 5:1; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 14:1.

Princeton vs. RPI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Princeton 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 Princeton University than RPI ($15,313 vs. $38,887).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are 10.5% lower than at Princeton University ($18,120 vs. $20,250).
  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is 2.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Princeton (about $1,393 more per year; $64,081.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.2% higher at RPI than at Princeton University (about $1,393 more per year; $64,081.00 vs. $62,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than at Princeton University (95% vs. 67%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Princeton University students is 57.9% larger than aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students ($68,727 vs. $43,517).

Princeton vs. RPI Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Princeton 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 Princeton.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Princeton University (1550) is 110 points higher than at RPI (1440).
  • Incoming Princeton students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 32 at RPI).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Princeton University 1510/1580; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1375/1510.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Princeton University 34/35; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 30/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Princeton - Test optional; RPI - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Princeton Jan 1, 2027; RPI Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Princeton students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.93) than students at RPI (3.88).
  • RPI has a higher acceptance rate (63.5%) than Princeton (4.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 75.5% at Princeton vs. 12.1% at RPI.

Princeton vs. RPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Princeton 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).

  • Princeton University's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's (84%).
  • Graduates from Princeton University earn a median of about $31,400 more per year than RPI graduates about ten years after starting college ($113,900 vs. $82,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Princeton University graduates have a $20,000 lower median loan debt than RPI graduates ($7,500 vs. $27,500).
  • Among borrowers, Princeton graduates have an estimated $207 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RPI graduates ($77 vs. $284).
  • More RPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Princeton students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 83%)

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.