RPI vs. SMU

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

 RPI SMU
Location Troy, NY Dallas, TX
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 6,968 12,053
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #110 #67
Religious Affiliation - United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website rpi.edu smu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 RPI SMU
Tuition (In State) $58,600 $55,012
Tuition (Out of State) $58,600 $55,012
Room & Board $16,980 $17,750
Avg Net Price $39,127 $45,094
Avg Grant Aid $38,636 $35,344
% Receiving Grant Aid 90% 73%

Admission

 RPI SMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 16,863 16,150
Admitted 10,878 8,439
Acceptance Rate 64.5% 52.3%
Enrolled % 18.4% 19.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.88 3.68
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 30/34 31/34
SAT Range 1360/1520 1370/1510
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 SMU
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (53%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
  • Business (8%)
  • Engineering Technology (5%)
  • Architecture (5%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Communication (11%)
  • Engineering (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)

Outcomes

 RPI SMU
Graduation Rate 84% 75%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $82,500 $73,000
Making Student Loan Payments 92% 76%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,500 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $284 $222

Diversity

 RPI SMU
% Men 69% 50%
% Women 31% 50%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 59% 65%
% Black 3% 5%
% Hispanic 8% 11%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 7% 4%
% International 11% 8%
% Unknown Race 2% 0%

Students

 RPI SMU
% In-State 36% 38%
% Out-of-State 58% 58%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Southern Methodist University is larger than than RPI based on total student enrollment (12,053 students vs. 6,968 students)

RPI vs. SMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RPI or SMU?

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is 6.5% more expensive to attend than SMU for in-state tuition ($58,600.00 vs. $55,012.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 6.5% higher at RPI than Southern Methodist University ($58,600.00 vs. $55,012.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than SMU ($39,127 vs. $45,094)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are 4.5% lower than costs at Southern Methodist University ($16,980 vs. $17,750)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than Southern Methodist University (90% vs. 73%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students is 9.3% larger than aid received Southern Methodist University ($38,636 vs. $35,344)

RPI vs. SMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1368) is 38 points higher than at SMU (1330)
  • Incoming RPI students have at the same average ACT score (30) as students at SMU (30)
  • Accepted freshman RPI students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at SMU (3.68)
  • RPI has a higher acceptance rate (64.5%) than SMU (52.3%)

RPI vs. SMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at RPI is higher than Southern Methodist University (84% vs. 75%)
  • Graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn on average $9,500 more per year than SMU graduates after ten years. ($82,500 vs. $73,000)
  • Southern Methodist University students graduate with a $6,000 lower median federal student loan debt than RPI graduates. ($21,500 vs. $27,500)
  • SMU graduates are paying $62 less per month on federal student loans than RPI graduates. ($222 vs. $284)
  • More RPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SMU students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 76%)

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