RPI vs. Drexel

Should I go to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute or Drexel University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if RPI or Drexel is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute vs. Drexel University comparison
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Drexel University College 3 College 4
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Drexel University
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Overview

 RPI Drexel
Location Troy, NY Philadelphia, PA
Setting Small City Large City
Enrollment 6,968 22,344
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #110 #124
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website rpi.edu drexel.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 RPI Drexel
Tuition (In State) $58,600 $56,595
Tuition (Out of State) $58,600 $56,595
Room & Board $16,980 $16,980
Avg Net Price $39,127 $39,267
Avg Grant Aid $38,636 $33,861
% Receiving Grant Aid 90% 100%

Admission

 RPI Drexel
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 16,863 37,040
Admitted 10,878 29,487
Acceptance Rate 64.5% 79.6%
Enrolled % 18.4% 10%
Avg High School GPA 3.88 3.67
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Very High
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 30/34 27/32
SAT Range 1360/1520 1230/1430
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

 RPI Drexel
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (53%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
  • Business (8%)
  • Engineering Technology (5%)
  • Architecture (5%)
  • Health Professions (22%)
  • Business (21%)
  • Engineering (18%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)

Outcomes

 RPI Drexel
Graduation Rate 84% 68%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $82,500 $77,400
Making Student Loan Payments 92% 77%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,500 $26,243
Median Loan Payment $284 $271

Diversity

 RPI Drexel
% Men 69% 46%
% Women 31% 54%
Racial Diversity High High
HBCU No No
% White 59% 54%
% Black 3% 7%
% Hispanic 8% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 7% 3%
% International 11% 13%
% Unknown Race 2% 2%

Students

 RPI Drexel
% In-State 36% 44%
% Out-of-State 58% 47%

Campus

 RPI Drexel
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Drexel University is larger than than RPI based on total student enrollment (22,344 students vs. 6,968 students)

RPI vs. Drexel Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RPI or Drexel?

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is 3.5% more expensive to attend than Drexel for in-state tuition ($58,600.00 vs. $56,595.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 3.5% higher at RPI than Drexel University ($58,600.00 vs. $56,595.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than Drexel ($39,127 vs. $39,267)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Drexel University are 0% lower than costs at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($16,980 vs. $16,980)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Drexel University than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (100% vs. 90%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students is 14.1% larger than aid received Drexel University ($38,636 vs. $33,861)

RPI vs. Drexel Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, RPI or Drexel? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Drexel or RPI .

  • The average SAT score at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1368) is 154 points higher than at Drexel (1214)
  • Incoming RPI students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (30) than students at Drexel (28)
  • Accepted freshman RPI students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at Drexel (3.67)
  • Drexel has a higher acceptance rate (79.6%) than RPI (64.5%)

RPI vs. Drexel Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, RPI or Drexel? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Drexel and RPI.

  • The graduation rate at RPI is higher than Drexel University (84% vs. 68%)
  • Graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn on average $5,100 more per year than Drexel graduates after ten years. ($82,500 vs. $77,400)
  • Drexel University students graduate with a $1,257 lower median federal student loan debt than RPI graduates. ($26,243 vs. $27,500)
  • Drexel graduates are paying $13 less per month on federal student loans than RPI graduates. ($271 vs. $284)
  • More RPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Drexel 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/