RPI vs. RIT

Deciding between Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Rochester Institute of Technology? 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
Rochester Institute of Technology

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • RPI Troy, NY
  • RIT Rochester, NY
  • Setting
  • RPI Small City
  • RIT Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • RPI 7,040
  • RIT 17,098
  • Type
  • RPI Private 4 Year
  • RIT Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • RPI #130
  • RIT #175
  • Religious Affiliation
  • RPI -
  • RIT -
  • Status
  • RPI Non-profit
  • RIT Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • RPI
  • RIT

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • RPI $64,081
  • RIT $59,274
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • RPI $64,081
  • RIT $59,274
  • Room & Board
  • RPI $18,120
  • RIT $16,142
  • Average Net Price
  • RPI $38,887
  • RIT $39,534
  • Average Grant Aid
  • RPI $43,517
  • RIT $35,077
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • RPI 95%
  • RIT 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • RPI 17,175
  • RIT 27,911
  • Admitted
  • RPI 10,901
  • RIT 18,682
  • Acceptance Rate
  • RPI 63.5%
  • RIT 66.9%
  • Enrolled
  • RPI 12.1%
  • RIT 16.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • RPI 1440
  • RIT 1380
  • Typical ACT score
  • RPI 32
  • RIT 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • RPI 3.88
  • RIT 3.7
  • Typical High School Grades
  • RPI A
  • RIT A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • RPI Exceptional
  • RIT Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • RPI Low
  • RIT Low
  • ACT Range
  • RPI 30/34
  • RIT 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • RPI 1375/1510
  • RIT 1300/1460
  • Submit Test Scores
  • RPI Test optional
  • RIT Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • RPI Jan 15, 2027
  • RIT Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

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

  • Outcomes

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

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • RPI 69%
  • RIT 64%
  • % Women
  • RPI 31%
  • RIT 36%
  • Racial Diversity
  • RPI High
  • RIT Medium
  • HBCU
  • RPI No
  • RIT No
  • % White
  • RPI 59%
  • RIT 66%
  • % Asian
  • RPI 10%
  • RIT 8%
  • % Black
  • RPI 3%
  • RIT 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • RPI 8%
  • RIT 7%
  • % Native American
  • RPI 0%
  • RIT 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • RPI 0%
  • RIT 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • RPI 7%
  • RIT 3%
  • % International
  • RPI 11%
  • RIT 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • RPI 2%
  • RIT 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • RPI 37%
  • RIT 44%
  • % Out-of-State
  • RPI 58%
  • RIT 51%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY with Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rochester Institute of Technology is larger than RPI based on total student enrollment (17,098 students vs. 7,040 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is located in Troy, NY (Small City setting); Rochester Institute of Technology is in Rochester, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rochester Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 14:1; Rochester Institute of Technology 13:1.

RPI vs. RIT Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RPI or RIT ? 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 RIT ($38,887 vs. $39,534).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rochester Institute of Technology are 10.9% lower than at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($16,142 vs. $18,120).
  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is 8.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than RIT (about $4,807 more per year; $64,081.00 vs. $59,274.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 8.1% higher at RPI than at Rochester Institute of Technology (about $4,807 more per year; $64,081.00 vs. $59,274.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rochester Institute of Technology than at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (98% vs. 95%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students is 24.1% larger than aid received by Rochester Institute of Technology students ($43,517 vs. $35,077).

RPI vs. RIT Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1440) is 60 points higher than at RIT (1380).
  • Incoming RPI students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 31 at RIT ).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1375/1510; Rochester Institute of Technology 1300/1460.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 30/34; Rochester Institute of Technology 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: RPI - Test optional; RIT - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: RPI Jan 15, 2027; RIT Jan 15, 2027.
  • 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 (66.9%) than RPI (63.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.1% at RPI vs. 16.3% at RIT .

RPI vs. RIT Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for RPI and RIT ? 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).

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's six-year graduation rate (84%) is higher than Rochester Institute of Technology's (64%).
  • Graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn a median of about $17,600 more per year than RIT graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,500 vs. $64,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute graduates have a $500 lower median loan debt than RIT graduates ($27,500 vs. $28,000).
  • Among borrowers, RPI graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.