RPI vs. Brown

Deciding between Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Brown University? 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.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Brown University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • RPI Troy, NY
  • Brown Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • RPI Small City
  • Brown Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • RPI 7,040
  • Brown 11,956
  • Type
  • RPI Private 4 Year
  • Brown Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • RPI #130
  • Brown #11
  • Religious Affiliation
  • RPI -
  • Brown -
  • Status
  • RPI Non-profit
  • Brown Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • RPI
  • Brown

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • RPI $64,081
  • Brown $71,412
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • RPI $64,081
  • Brown $71,412
  • Room & Board
  • RPI $18,120
  • Brown $17,444
  • Average Net Price
  • RPI $38,887
  • Brown $26,256
  • Average Grant Aid
  • RPI $43,517
  • Brown $61,392
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • RPI 95%
  • Brown 52%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • RPI 17,175
  • Brown 48,904
  • Admitted
  • RPI 10,901
  • Brown 2,638
  • Acceptance Rate
  • RPI 63.5%
  • Brown 5.4%
  • Enrolled
  • RPI 12.1%
  • Brown 65.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • RPI 1440
  • Brown 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • RPI 32
  • Brown 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • RPI 3.88
  • Brown 3.94
  • Typical High School Grades
  • RPI A
  • Brown A
  • Admissions Standards
  • RPI Exceptional
  • Brown Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • RPI Low
  • Brown Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • RPI 30/34
  • Brown 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • RPI 1375/1510
  • Brown 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • RPI Test optional
  • Brown Required
  • Application Deadline
  • RPI Jan 15, 2027
  • Brown Jan 5, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • RPI 14:1
  • Brown 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • RPI
    • Engineering (53%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Engineering Technology (5%)
    • Architecture (5%)
  • Brown
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
    • General Studies (6%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • RPI 84%
  • Brown 95%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • RPI $82,500
  • Brown $87,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • RPI 92%
  • Brown 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • RPI $27,500
  • Brown $15,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • RPI $284
  • Brown $155

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • RPI 69%
  • Brown 48%
  • % Women
  • RPI 31%
  • Brown 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • RPI High
  • Brown Very High
  • HBCU
  • RPI No
  • Brown No
  • % White
  • RPI 59%
  • Brown 43%
  • % Asian
  • RPI 10%
  • Brown 13%
  • % Black
  • RPI 3%
  • Brown 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • RPI 8%
  • Brown 11%
  • % Native American
  • RPI 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • RPI 0%
  • Brown 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • RPI 7%
  • Brown 6%
  • % International
  • RPI 11%
  • Brown 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • RPI 2%
  • Brown 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • RPI 37%
  • Brown 3%
  • % Out-of-State
  • RPI 58%
  • Brown 79%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Brown University is larger than RPI based on total student enrollment (11,956 students vs. 7,040 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is located in Troy, NY (Small City setting); Brown University is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Brown University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 14:1; Brown University 6:1.

RPI vs. Brown Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RPI or Brown? 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 Brown University than RPI ($26,256 vs. $38,887).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Brown University are 3.7% lower than at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($17,444 vs. $18,120).
  • Brown University is 11.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than RPI (about $7,331 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $64,081.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 11.4% higher at Brown than at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (about $7,331 more per year; $71,412.00 vs. $64,081.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than at Brown University (95% vs. 52%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Brown University students is 41.1% larger than aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students ($61,392 vs. $43,517).

RPI vs. Brown Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, RPI or Brown? 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 Brown and RPI.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Brown University (1550) is 110 points higher than at RPI (1440).
  • Incoming Brown 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: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1375/1510; Brown University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 30/34; Brown University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: RPI - Test optional; Brown - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: RPI Jan 15, 2027; Brown Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Brown students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at RPI (3.88).
  • RPI has a higher acceptance rate (63.5%) than Brown (5.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.1% at RPI vs. 65.2% at Brown.

RPI vs. Brown Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for RPI and Brown? 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).

  • Brown University's six-year graduation rate (95%) is higher than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's (84%).
  • Graduates from Brown University earn a median of about $5,100 more per year than RPI graduates about ten years after starting college ($87,600 vs. $82,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Brown University graduates have a $12,500 lower median loan debt than RPI graduates ($15,000 vs. $27,500).
  • Among borrowers, Brown graduates have an estimated $129 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RPI graduates ($155 vs. $284).
  • More RPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Brown students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 89%)

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.