RPI vs. U of R

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

RPI U of R
Location Troy, NY Rochester, NY
Setting Small City Midsize City
Enrollment 7,024 12,160
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #124 #56
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website rpi.edu rochester.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

RPI U of R
Tuition (In State) $60,360 $63,150
Tuition (Out of State) $60,360 $63,150
Room & Board $17,530 $18,924
Avg Net Price $35,940 $40,900
Avg Grant Aid $43,994 $41,700
% Receiving Grant Aid 96% 74%

Admission

RPI U of R
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 16,283 21,680
Admitted 9,517 7,773
Acceptance Rate 58.4% 35.9%
Enrolled % 16.3% 19.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.88 3.75
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Elite
Applicant Competition Low High
ACT Range 30/34 31/34
SAT Range 1330/1500 1400/1540
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, 2026 Jan 5, 2026

Academics

RPI U of R
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (53%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
  • Business (8%)
  • Engineering Technology (5%)
  • Architecture (5%)
  • Social Sciences (20%)
  • Biology (13%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)

Outcomes

RPI U of R
Graduation Rate 84% 83%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $82,500 $71,000
Making Student Loan Payments 92% 79%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,500 $24,500
Median Loan Payment $284 $253

Diversity

RPI U of R
% Men 10% 21%
% Women 5% 24%
Racial Diversity High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 59% 48%
% Black 3% 5%
% Hispanic 8% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 7% 3%
% International 11% 18%
% Unknown Race 2% 7%

Students

RPI U of R
% In-State 36% 25%
% Out-of-State 58% 44%

Campus

RPI U of R
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

  • University of Rochester is larger than than RPI based on total student enrollment (12,160 students vs. 7,024 students)

RPI vs. U of R Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RPI or U of R?

  • University of Rochester is 4.6% more expensive to attend than RPI for in-state tuition ($63,150.00 vs. $60,360.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 4.6% higher at U of R than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($63,150.00 vs. $60,360.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than U of R ($35,940 vs. $40,900)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are 8% lower than costs at University of Rochester ($17,530 vs. $18,924)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than University of Rochester (96% vs. 74%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students is 5.5% larger than aid received University of Rochester ($43,994 vs. $41,700)

RPI vs. U of R Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman RPI students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at U of R (3.75)
  • RPI has a higher acceptance rate (58.4%) than U of R (35.9%)

RPI vs. U of R Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, RPI or U of R? 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 U of R and RPI.

  • The graduation rate at RPI is higher than University of Rochester (84% vs. 83%)
  • Graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn on average $11,500 more per year than U of R graduates after ten years. ($82,500 vs. $71,000)
  • University of Rochester students graduate with a $3,000 lower median federal student loan debt than RPI graduates. ($24,500 vs. $27,500)
  • U of R graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans than RPI graduates. ($253 vs. $284)
  • More RPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former U of R students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 79%)

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