RPI vs. USMMA

Deciding between Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and United States Merchant Marine Academy? 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
United States Merchant Marine Academy

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • RPI Troy, NY
  • USMMA Kings Point, NY
  • Setting
  • RPI Small City
  • USMMA Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • RPI 7,040
  • USMMA 976
  • Type
  • RPI Private 4 Year
  • USMMA Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • RPI #130
  • USMMA
  • Religious Affiliation
  • RPI -
  • USMMA -
  • Status
  • RPI Non-profit
  • USMMA Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • RPI
  • USMMA

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • RPI $64,081
  • USMMA $895
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • RPI $64,081
  • USMMA $895
  • Room & Board
  • RPI $18,120
  • USMMA $0
  • Average Net Price
  • RPI $38,887
  • USMMA $4,101
  • Average Grant Aid
  • RPI $43,517
  • USMMA $5,067
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • RPI 95%
  • USMMA 10%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • RPI 17,175
  • USMMA 1,367
  • Admitted
  • RPI 10,901
  • USMMA 468
  • Acceptance Rate
  • RPI 63.5%
  • USMMA 34.2%
  • Enrolled
  • RPI 12.1%
  • USMMA 64.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • RPI 1440
  • USMMA 1210
  • Typical ACT score
  • RPI 32
  • USMMA 25
  • Average High School GPA
  • RPI 3.88
  • USMMA 3.6
  • Typical High School Grades
  • RPI A
  • USMMA A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • RPI Exceptional
  • USMMA Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • RPI Low
  • USMMA High
  • ACT Range
  • RPI 30/34
  • USMMA 22/29
  • SAT Range
  • RPI 1375/1510
  • USMMA 1110/1300
  • Submit Test Scores
  • RPI Test optional
  • USMMA Required
  • Application Deadline
  • RPI Jan 15, 2027
  • USMMA Mar 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • RPI 14:1
  • USMMA 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • RPI
    • Engineering (53%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Engineering Technology (5%)
    • Architecture (5%)
  • USMMA

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • RPI 84%
  • USMMA -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • RPI $82,500
  • USMMA $92,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • RPI 92%
  • USMMA -
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • RPI $27,500
  • USMMA $6,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • RPI $284
  • USMMA $67

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • RPI 69%
  • USMMA 82%
  • % Women
  • RPI 31%
  • USMMA 18%
  • Racial Diversity
  • RPI High
  • USMMA Low
  • HBCU
  • RPI No
  • USMMA No
  • % White
  • RPI 59%
  • USMMA 75%
  • % Asian
  • RPI 10%
  • USMMA 7%
  • % Black
  • RPI 3%
  • USMMA 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • RPI 8%
  • USMMA 10%
  • % Native American
  • RPI 0%
  • USMMA 2%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • RPI 0%
  • USMMA 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • RPI 7%
  • USMMA 0%
  • % International
  • RPI 11%
  • USMMA 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • RPI 2%
  • USMMA 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • RPI 37%
  • USMMA 7%
  • % Out-of-State
  • RPI 58%
  • USMMA 93%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY with United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is larger than USMMA based on total student enrollment (7,040 students vs. 976 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is located in Troy, NY (Small City setting); United States Merchant Marine Academy is in Kings Point, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. United States Merchant Marine Academy is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 14:1; United States Merchant Marine Academy 13:1.

RPI vs. USMMA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RPI or USMMA? 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 United States Merchant Marine Academy than RPI ($4,101 vs. $38,887).
  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is 7,059.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than USMMA (about $63,186 more per year; $64,081.00 vs. $895.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7,059.9% higher at RPI than at United States Merchant Marine Academy (about $63,186 more per year; $64,081.00 vs. $895.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than at United States Merchant Marine Academy (95% vs. 10%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students is 758.8% larger than aid received by United States Merchant Marine Academy students ($43,517 vs. $5,067).

RPI vs. USMMA Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, RPI or USMMA? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between USMMA and RPI.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1440) is 230 points higher than at USMMA (1210).
  • Incoming RPI students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (32 vs. 25 at USMMA).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1375/1510; United States Merchant Marine Academy 1110/1300.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 30/34; United States Merchant Marine Academy 22/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: RPI - Test optional; USMMA - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: RPI Jan 15, 2027; USMMA Mar 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman RPI students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at USMMA (3.6).
  • RPI has a higher acceptance rate (63.5%) than USMMA (34.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.1% at RPI vs. 64.1% at USMMA.

RPI vs. USMMA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for RPI and USMMA? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's six-year graduation rate is 84%. Comparable graduation rate data is not available for USMMA.
  • Graduates from United States Merchant Marine Academy earn a median of about $9,900 more per year than RPI graduates about ten years after starting college ($92,400 vs. $82,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, United States Merchant Marine Academy graduates have a $21,000 lower median loan debt than RPI graduates ($6,500 vs. $27,500).
  • Among borrowers, USMMA graduates have an estimated $217 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RPI graduates ($67 vs. $284).

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.