RPI vs. Syracuse

Deciding between Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Syracuse University? 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
Syracuse University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • RPI Troy, NY
  • Syracuse Syracuse, NY
  • Setting
  • RPI Small City
  • Syracuse Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • RPI 7,040
  • Syracuse 22,589
  • Type
  • RPI Private 4 Year
  • Syracuse Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • RPI #130
  • Syracuse #158
  • Religious Affiliation
  • RPI -
  • Syracuse -
  • Status
  • RPI Non-profit
  • Syracuse Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • RPI
  • Syracuse

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • RPI $64,081
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • RPI $64,081
  • Syracuse $65,528
  • Room & Board
  • RPI $18,120
  • Syracuse $19,188
  • Average Net Price
  • RPI $38,887
  • Syracuse $48,215
  • Average Grant Aid
  • RPI $43,517
  • Syracuse $36,417
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • RPI 95%
  • Syracuse 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • RPI 17,175
  • Syracuse 44,480
  • Admitted
  • RPI 10,901
  • Syracuse 20,427
  • Acceptance Rate
  • RPI 63.5%
  • Syracuse 45.9%
  • Enrolled
  • RPI 12.1%
  • Syracuse 18.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • RPI 1440
  • Syracuse 1360
  • Typical ACT score
  • RPI 32
  • Syracuse 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • RPI 3.88
  • Syracuse 3.69
  • Typical High School Grades
  • RPI A
  • Syracuse A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • RPI Exceptional
  • Syracuse Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • RPI Low
  • Syracuse Low
  • ACT Range
  • RPI 30/34
  • Syracuse 29/32
  • SAT Range
  • RPI 1375/1510
  • Syracuse 1270/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • RPI Test optional
  • Syracuse Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • RPI Jan 15, 2027
  • Syracuse Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • RPI 14:1
  • Syracuse 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • RPI
    • Engineering (53%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Engineering Technology (5%)
    • Architecture (5%)
  • Syracuse
    • Business (18%)
    • Communication (17%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • RPI 84%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • RPI $82,500
  • Syracuse $65,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • RPI 92%
  • Syracuse 80%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • RPI $27,500
  • Syracuse $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • RPI $284
  • Syracuse $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • RPI 69%
  • Syracuse 44%
  • % Women
  • RPI 31%
  • Syracuse 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • RPI High
  • Syracuse High
  • HBCU
  • RPI No
  • Syracuse No
  • % White
  • RPI 59%
  • Syracuse 55%
  • % Asian
  • RPI 10%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Black
  • RPI 3%
  • Syracuse 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • RPI 8%
  • Syracuse 11%
  • % Native American
  • RPI 0%
  • Syracuse 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • RPI 0%
  • Syracuse 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • RPI 7%
  • Syracuse 3%
  • % International
  • RPI 11%
  • Syracuse 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • RPI 2%
  • Syracuse 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • RPI 37%
  • Syracuse 31%
  • % Out-of-State
  • RPI 58%
  • Syracuse 63%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Syracuse University is larger than RPI based on total student enrollment (22,589 students vs. 7,040 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is located in Troy, NY (Small City setting); Syracuse University is in Syracuse, NY (Midsize City setting).
  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Syracuse University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 14:1; Syracuse University 15:1.

RPI vs. Syracuse Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RPI or Syracuse? 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 Syracuse ($38,887 vs. $48,215).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are 5.6% lower than at Syracuse University ($18,120 vs. $19,188).
  • Syracuse University is 2.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than RPI (about $1,447 more per year; $65,528.00 vs. $64,081.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.3% higher at Syracuse than at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (about $1,447 more per year; $65,528.00 vs. $64,081.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than at Syracuse University (95% vs. 76%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students is 19.5% larger than aid received by Syracuse University students ($43,517 vs. $36,417).

RPI vs. Syracuse Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1440) is 80 points higher than at Syracuse (1360).
  • Incoming RPI students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 30 at Syracuse).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1375/1510; Syracuse University 1270/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 30/34; Syracuse University 29/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: RPI - Test optional; Syracuse - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: RPI Jan 15, 2027; Syracuse Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman RPI students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at Syracuse (3.69).
  • RPI has a higher acceptance rate (63.5%) than Syracuse (45.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.1% at RPI vs. 18.8% at Syracuse.

RPI vs. Syracuse Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for RPI and Syracuse? 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 Syracuse University's (80%).
  • Graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn a median of about $16,600 more per year than Syracuse graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,500 vs. $65,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Syracuse University graduates have a $500 lower median loan debt than RPI graduates ($27,000 vs. $27,500).
  • Among borrowers, Syracuse 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 Syracuse 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.