RPI vs. RIT

Should I go to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute or Rochester Institute of Technology? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if RPI or RIT 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.
Add a college to compare up to four schools

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

Stevens Clarkson Binghamton University UB Northeastern U of R Lehigh MIT WPI Case Western Syracuse Cornell
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute vs. Rochester Institute of Technology comparison
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Rochester Institute of Technology College 3 College 4
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Rochester Institute of Technology
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 RPI RIT
Location Troy, NY Rochester, NY
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 7,024 16,863
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #124 #182
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website rpi.edu rit.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 RPI RIT
Tuition (In State) $60,360 $56,136
Tuition (Out of State) $60,360 $56,136
Room & Board $17,530 $15,516
Avg Net Price $35,940 $39,753
Avg Grant Aid $43,994 $31,931
% Receiving Grant Aid 96% 99%

Admission

 RPI RIT
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 16,283 24,269
Admitted 9,517 17,328
Acceptance Rate 58.4% 71.4%
Enrolled % 16.3% 17.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.88 3.7
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 30/34 29/33
SAT Range 1330/1500 1280/1460
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, 2026 Jan 15, 2026

Academics

 RPI RIT
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (53%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
  • Business (8%)
  • Engineering Technology (5%)
  • Architecture (5%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (16%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (14%)
  • Engineering (13%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Engineering Technology (11%)

Outcomes

 RPI RIT
Graduation Rate 84% 64%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $82,500 $64,900
Making Student Loan Payments 92% 75%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,500 $28,000
Median Loan Payment $284 $289

Diversity

 RPI RIT
% Men 10% 10%
% Women 5% 7%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 59% 66%
% Black 3% 5%
% Hispanic 8% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 7% 3%
% International 11% 6%
% Unknown Race 2% 5%

Students

 RPI RIT
% In-State 36% 45%
% Out-of-State 58% 52%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Rochester Institute of Technology is larger than than RPI based on total student enrollment (16,863 students vs. 7,024 students)

RPI vs. RIT Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RPI or RIT ?

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is 7.5% more expensive to attend than RIT for in-state tuition ($60,360.00 vs. $56,136.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 7.5% higher at RPI than Rochester Institute of Technology ($60,360.00 vs. $56,136.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than RIT ($35,940 vs. $39,753)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rochester Institute of Technology are 13% lower than costs at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($15,516 vs. $17,530)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Rochester Institute of Technology than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (99% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students is 37.8% larger than aid received Rochester Institute of Technology ($43,994 vs. $31,931)

RPI vs. RIT Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1368) is 117 points higher than at RIT (1251)
  • Incoming RPI students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (30) than students at RIT (29)
  • Accepted freshman RPI students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at RIT (3.7)
  • RIT has a higher acceptance rate (71.4%) than RPI (58.4%)

RPI vs. RIT Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, RPI or RIT ? 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 RIT and RPI.

  • The graduation rate at RPI is higher than Rochester Institute of Technology (84% vs. 64%)
  • Graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn on average $17,600 more per year than RIT graduates after ten years. ($82,500 vs. $64,900)
  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students graduate with a $500 lower median federal student loan debt than RIT graduates. ($27,500 vs. $28,000)
  • RPI graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than RIT graduates. ($284 vs. $289)
  • More RPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RIT students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 75%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/