RPI vs. UVM

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

 RPI UVM
Location Troy, NY Burlington, VT
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 7,024 14,320
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #124 #205
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website rpi.edu uvm.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 RPI UVM
Tuition (In State) $60,360 $16,280
Tuition (Out of State) $60,360 $41,280
Room & Board $17,530 $13,354
Avg Net Price $35,940 $22,062
Avg Grant Aid $43,994 $19,093
% Receiving Grant Aid 96% 100%

Admission

 RPI UVM
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 16,283 28,236
Admitted 9,517 16,947
Acceptance Rate 58.4% 60%
Enrolled % 16.3% 17.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.88 3.75
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Very High
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 30/34 29/32
SAT Range 1330/1500 1250/1420
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 15, 2026

Academics

 RPI UVM
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (53%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
  • Business (8%)
  • Engineering Technology (5%)
  • Architecture (5%)
  • Social Sciences (17%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (8%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Psychology (7%)

Outcomes

 RPI UVM
Graduation Rate 84% 72%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $82,500 $53,500
Making Student Loan Payments 92% 83%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,500 $22,300
Median Loan Payment $284 $230

Diversity

 RPI UVM
% Men 10% 6%
% Women 5% 9%
Racial Diversity High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 59% 82%
% Black 3% 1%
% Hispanic 8% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 7% 3%
% International 11% 4%
% Unknown Race 2% 3%

Students

 RPI UVM
% In-State 36% 18%
% Out-of-State 58% 79%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Vermont is larger than than RPI based on total student enrollment (14,320 students vs. 7,024 students)

RPI vs. UVM Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RPI or UVM?

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is 270.8% more expensive to attend than UVM for in-state tuition ($60,360.00 vs. $16,280.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 46.2% higher at RPI than University of Vermont ($60,360.00 vs. $41,280.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Vermont than RPI ($22,062 vs. $35,940)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Vermont are 31.3% lower than costs at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($13,354 vs. $17,530)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Vermont than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (100% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students is 130.4% larger than aid received University of Vermont ($43,994 vs. $19,093)

RPI vs. UVM Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1368) is 157 points higher than at UVM (1211)
  • Incoming RPI students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (30) than students at UVM (28)
  • Accepted freshman RPI students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at UVM (3.75)
  • UVM has a higher acceptance rate (60%) than RPI (58.4%)

RPI vs. UVM Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at RPI is higher than University of Vermont (84% vs. 72%)
  • Graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn on average $29,000 more per year than UVM graduates after ten years. ($82,500 vs. $53,500)
  • University of Vermont students graduate with a $5,200 lower median federal student loan debt than RPI graduates. ($22,300 vs. $27,500)
  • UVM graduates are paying $54 less per month on federal student loans than RPI graduates. ($230 vs. $284)
  • More RPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UVM students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 83%)

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