RPI vs. Penn

Deciding between Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and University of Pennsylvania? 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
University of Pennsylvania

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • RPI Troy, NY
  • Penn Philadelphia, PA
  • Setting
  • RPI Small City
  • Penn Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • RPI 7,040
  • Penn 29,109
  • Type
  • RPI Private 4 Year
  • Penn Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • RPI #130
  • Penn #23
  • Religious Affiliation
  • RPI -
  • Penn -
  • Status
  • RPI Non-profit
  • Penn Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • RPI
  • Penn

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • RPI $64,081
  • Penn $68,686
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • RPI $64,081
  • Penn $68,686
  • Room & Board
  • RPI $18,120
  • Penn $19,174
  • Average Net Price
  • RPI $38,887
  • Penn $23,570
  • Average Grant Aid
  • RPI $43,517
  • Penn $65,458
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • RPI 95%
  • Penn 51%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • RPI 17,175
  • Penn 65,226
  • Admitted
  • RPI 10,901
  • Penn 3,523
  • Acceptance Rate
  • RPI 63.5%
  • Penn 5.4%
  • Enrolled
  • RPI 12.1%
  • Penn 68%
  • Typical SAT score
  • RPI 1440
  • Penn 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • RPI 32
  • Penn 35
  • Average High School GPA
  • RPI 3.88
  • Penn 3.95
  • Typical High School Grades
  • RPI A
  • Penn A
  • Admissions Standards
  • RPI Exceptional
  • Penn Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • RPI Low
  • Penn Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • RPI 30/34
  • Penn 34/36
  • SAT Range
  • RPI 1375/1510
  • Penn 1510/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • RPI Test optional
  • Penn Required
  • Application Deadline
  • RPI Jan 15, 2027
  • Penn Jan 5, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • RPI 14:1
  • Penn 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • RPI
    • Engineering (53%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Engineering Technology (5%)
    • Architecture (5%)
  • Penn
    • Business (26%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
    • Health Professions (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • RPI 84%
  • Penn 96%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • RPI $82,500
  • Penn $123,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • RPI 92%
  • Penn 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • RPI $27,500
  • Penn $20,633
  • Median Loan Payment
  • RPI $284
  • Penn $213

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • RPI 69%
  • Penn 44%
  • % Women
  • RPI 31%
  • Penn 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • RPI High
  • Penn Very High
  • HBCU
  • RPI No
  • Penn No
  • % White
  • RPI 59%
  • Penn 45%
  • % Asian
  • RPI 10%
  • Penn 19%
  • % Black
  • RPI 3%
  • Penn 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • RPI 8%
  • Penn 10%
  • % Native American
  • RPI 0%
  • Penn 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • RPI 0%
  • Penn 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • RPI 7%
  • Penn 4%
  • % International
  • RPI 11%
  • Penn 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • RPI 2%
  • Penn 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • RPI 37%
  • Penn 15%
  • % Out-of-State
  • RPI 58%
  • Penn 70%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Pennsylvania is larger than RPI based on total student enrollment (29,109 students vs. 7,040 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is located in Troy, NY (Small City setting); University of Pennsylvania is in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting).
  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Pennsylvania is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 14:1; University of Pennsylvania 8:1.

RPI vs. Penn Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RPI or Penn? 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 University of Pennsylvania than RPI ($23,570 vs. $38,887).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are 5.5% lower than at University of Pennsylvania ($18,120 vs. $19,174).
  • University of Pennsylvania is 7.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than RPI (about $4,605 more per year; $68,686.00 vs. $64,081.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7.2% higher at Penn than at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (about $4,605 more per year; $68,686.00 vs. $64,081.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than at University of Pennsylvania (95% vs. 51%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Pennsylvania students is 50.4% larger than aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students ($65,458 vs. $43,517).

RPI vs. Penn Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Pennsylvania (1540) is 100 points higher than at RPI (1440).
  • Incoming Penn students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 32 at RPI).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1375/1510; University of Pennsylvania 1510/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 30/34; University of Pennsylvania 34/36.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: RPI - Test optional; Penn - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: RPI Jan 15, 2027; Penn Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Penn students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at RPI (3.88).
  • RPI has a higher acceptance rate (63.5%) than Penn (5.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.1% at RPI vs. 68% at Penn.

RPI vs. Penn Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for RPI and Penn? 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).

  • University of Pennsylvania's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's (84%).
  • Graduates from University of Pennsylvania earn a median of about $41,100 more per year than RPI graduates about ten years after starting college ($123,600 vs. $82,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Pennsylvania graduates have a $6,867 lower median loan debt than RPI graduates ($20,633 vs. $27,500).
  • Among borrowers, Penn graduates have an estimated $71 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RPI graduates ($213 vs. $284).
  • More RPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 84%)

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.