RPI vs. Skidmore College

Should I go to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute or Skidmore College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if RPI or Skidmore College 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. Skidmore College comparison
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Skidmore College College 3 College 4
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Skidmore College
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Overview

 RPI Skidmore College
Location Troy, NY Saratoga Springs, NY
Setting Small City Small Suburban
Enrollment 6,968 2,758
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #110 #51
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website rpi.edu skidmore.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 RPI Skidmore College
Tuition (In State) $58,600 $61,132
Tuition (Out of State) $58,600 $61,132
Room & Board $16,980 $16,632
Avg Net Price $39,127 $33,389
Avg Grant Aid $38,636 $45,748
% Receiving Grant Aid 90% 56%

Admission

 RPI Skidmore College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 16,863 13,183
Admitted 10,878 3,367
Acceptance Rate 64.5% 25.5%
Enrolled % 18.4% 23.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.88 3.75
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low High
ACT Range 30/34 30/33
SAT Range 1360/1520 1300/1460
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, 2025 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

 RPI Skidmore College
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 8:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (53%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
  • Business (8%)
  • Engineering Technology (5%)
  • Architecture (5%)
  • Social Sciences (19%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (16%)
  • Business (10%)
  • English and Literature (10%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

 RPI Skidmore College
Graduation Rate 84% 84%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $82,500 $54,400
Making Student Loan Payments 92% 88%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,500 $19,500
Median Loan Payment $284 $201

Diversity

 RPI Skidmore College
% Men 69% 41%
% Women 31% 59%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 59% 64%
% Black 3% 4%
% Hispanic 8% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 7% 4%
% International 11% 10%
% Unknown Race 2% 4%

Students

 RPI Skidmore College
% In-State 36% 29%
% Out-of-State 58% 61%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is larger than than Skidmore College based on total student enrollment (6,968 students vs. 2,758 students)

RPI vs. Skidmore College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RPI or Skidmore College?

  • Skidmore College is 4.3% more expensive to attend than RPI for in-state tuition ($61,132.00 vs. $58,600.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 4.3% higher at Skidmore College than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($61,132.00 vs. $58,600.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Skidmore College than RPI ($33,389 vs. $39,127)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Skidmore College are 2.1% lower than costs at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($16,632 vs. $16,980)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than Skidmore College (90% vs. 56%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Skidmore College students is 18.4% larger than aid received Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($45,748 vs. $38,636)

RPI vs. Skidmore College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1368) is 129 points higher than at Skidmore College (1239)
  • Incoming RPI students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (30) than students at Skidmore College (28)
  • Accepted freshman RPI students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at Skidmore College (3.75)
  • RPI has a higher acceptance rate (64.5%) than Skidmore College (25.5%)

RPI vs. Skidmore College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, RPI or Skidmore College? 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 Skidmore College and RPI.

  • The graduation rate at RPI is the same as at Skidmore College (84% vs. 84%)
  • Graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn on average $28,100 more per year than Skidmore College graduates after ten years. ($82,500 vs. $54,400)
  • Skidmore College students graduate with a $8,000 lower median federal student loan debt than RPI graduates. ($19,500 vs. $27,500)
  • Skidmore College graduates are paying $83 less per month on federal student loans than RPI graduates. ($201 vs. $284)
  • More RPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Skidmore College students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 88%)

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