RPI vs. Providence

Deciding between Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Providence College? 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
Providence College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • RPI Troy, NY
  • Providence Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • RPI Small City
  • Providence Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • RPI 7,040
  • Providence 4,666
  • Type
  • RPI Private 4 Year
  • Providence Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • RPI #130
  • Providence #125
  • Religious Affiliation
  • RPI -
  • Providence Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • RPI Non-profit
  • Providence Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • RPI
  • Providence

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • RPI $64,081
  • Providence $63,550
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • RPI $64,081
  • Providence $63,550
  • Room & Board
  • RPI $18,120
  • Providence $17,840
  • Average Net Price
  • RPI $38,887
  • Providence $48,618
  • Average Grant Aid
  • RPI $43,517
  • Providence $31,873
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • RPI 95%
  • Providence 83%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • RPI 17,175
  • Providence 12,521
  • Admitted
  • RPI 10,901
  • Providence 6,372
  • Acceptance Rate
  • RPI 63.5%
  • Providence 50.9%
  • Enrolled
  • RPI 12.1%
  • Providence 19.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • RPI 1440
  • Providence 1320
  • Typical ACT score
  • RPI 32
  • Providence 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • RPI 3.88
  • Providence 3.47
  • Typical High School Grades
  • RPI A
  • Providence B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • RPI Exceptional
  • Providence Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • RPI Low
  • Providence Low
  • ACT Range
  • RPI 30/34
  • Providence 29/32
  • SAT Range
  • RPI 1375/1510
  • Providence 1250/1390
  • Submit Test Scores
  • RPI Test optional
  • Providence Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • RPI Jan 15, 2027
  • Providence Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • RPI 14:1
  • Providence 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • RPI
    • Engineering (53%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Engineering Technology (5%)
    • Architecture (5%)
  • Providence
    • Business (33%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Biology (6%)
    • English and Literature (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • RPI 84%
  • Providence 85%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • RPI $82,500
  • Providence $68,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • RPI 92%
  • Providence 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • RPI $27,500
  • Providence $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • RPI $284
  • Providence $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • RPI 69%
  • Providence 45%
  • % Women
  • RPI 31%
  • Providence 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • RPI High
  • Providence Low
  • HBCU
  • RPI No
  • Providence No
  • % White
  • RPI 59%
  • Providence 77%
  • % Asian
  • RPI 10%
  • Providence 1%
  • % Black
  • RPI 3%
  • Providence 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • RPI 8%
  • Providence 9%
  • % Native American
  • RPI 0%
  • Providence 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • RPI 0%
  • Providence 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • RPI 7%
  • Providence 2%
  • % International
  • RPI 11%
  • Providence 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • RPI 2%
  • Providence 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • RPI 37%
  • Providence 9%
  • % Out-of-State
  • RPI 58%
  • Providence 90%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is larger than Providence based on total student enrollment (7,040 students vs. 4,666 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is located in Troy, NY (Small City setting); Providence College is in Providence, RI (Midsize City setting).
  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Providence College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 14:1; Providence College 11:1.

RPI vs. Providence Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RPI or Providence? 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 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than Providence ($38,887 vs. $48,618).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Providence College are 1.5% lower than at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($17,840 vs. $18,120).
  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is 0.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Providence (about $531 more per year; $64,081.00 vs. $63,550.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.8% higher at RPI than at Providence College (about $531 more per year; $64,081.00 vs. $63,550.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than at Providence College (95% vs. 83%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students is 36.5% larger than aid received by Providence College students ($43,517 vs. $31,873).

RPI vs. Providence Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1440) is 120 points higher than at Providence (1320).
  • Incoming RPI students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 30 at Providence).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1375/1510; Providence College 1250/1390.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 30/34; Providence College 29/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: RPI - Test optional; Providence - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: RPI Jan 15, 2027; Providence Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman RPI students have a 0.41 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at Providence (3.47).
  • RPI has a higher acceptance rate (63.5%) than Providence (50.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.1% at RPI vs. 19.2% at Providence.

RPI vs. Providence Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for RPI and Providence? 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).

  • Providence 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 $14,500 more per year than Providence graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,500 vs. $68,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Providence College graduates have a $500 lower median loan debt than RPI graduates ($27,000 vs. $27,500).
  • Among borrowers, Providence graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RPI graduates ($279 vs. $284).
  • More RPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Providence students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 80%)

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.