RPI vs. UVM

Deciding between Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and University of Vermont? 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 Vermont

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • RPI Troy, NY
  • UVM Burlington, VT
  • Setting
  • RPI Small City
  • UVM Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • RPI 7,040
  • UVM 14,476
  • Type
  • RPI Private 4 Year
  • UVM Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • RPI #130
  • UVM #205
  • Religious Affiliation
  • RPI -
  • UVM -
  • Status
  • RPI Non-profit
  • UVM Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • RPI
  • UVM

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • RPI $64,081
  • UVM $19,058
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • RPI $64,081
  • UVM $45,502
  • Room & Board
  • RPI $18,120
  • UVM $13,776
  • Average Net Price
  • RPI $38,887
  • UVM $20,084
  • Average Grant Aid
  • RPI $43,517
  • UVM $19,897
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • RPI 95%
  • UVM 93%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • RPI 17,175
  • UVM 27,138
  • Admitted
  • RPI 10,901
  • UVM 17,722
  • Acceptance Rate
  • RPI 63.5%
  • UVM 65.3%
  • Enrolled
  • RPI 12.1%
  • UVM 15.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • RPI 1440
  • UVM 1370
  • Typical ACT score
  • RPI 32
  • UVM 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • RPI 3.88
  • UVM 3.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • RPI A
  • UVM A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • RPI Exceptional
  • UVM Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • RPI Low
  • UVM Low
  • ACT Range
  • RPI 30/34
  • UVM 30/32
  • SAT Range
  • RPI 1375/1510
  • UVM 1290/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • RPI Test optional
  • UVM Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • RPI Jan 15, 2027
  • UVM Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

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

  • Outcomes

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

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • RPI 69%
  • UVM 37%
  • % Women
  • RPI 31%
  • UVM 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • RPI High
  • UVM Very Low
  • HBCU
  • RPI No
  • UVM No
  • % White
  • RPI 59%
  • UVM 82%
  • % Asian
  • RPI 10%
  • UVM 3%
  • % Black
  • RPI 3%
  • UVM 1%
  • % Hispanic
  • RPI 8%
  • UVM 4%
  • % Native American
  • RPI 0%
  • UVM 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • RPI 0%
  • UVM 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • RPI 7%
  • UVM 3%
  • % International
  • RPI 11%
  • UVM 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • RPI 2%
  • UVM 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • RPI 37%
  • UVM 20%
  • % Out-of-State
  • RPI 58%
  • UVM 78%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Vermont is larger than RPI based on total student enrollment (14,476 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 Vermont is in Burlington, VT (Small City setting).
  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Vermont is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 14:1; University of Vermont 17:1.

RPI vs. UVM Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RPI or UVM? 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 Vermont than RPI ($20,084 vs. $38,887).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Vermont are 24% lower than at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($13,776 vs. $18,120).
  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is 236.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than UVM (about $45,023 more per year; $64,081.00 vs. $19,058.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 40.8% higher at RPI than at University of Vermont (about $18,579 more per year; $64,081.00 vs. $45,502.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than at University of Vermont (95% vs. 93%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students is 118.7% larger than aid received by University of Vermont students ($43,517 vs. $19,897).

RPI vs. UVM Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1440) is 70 points higher than at UVM (1370).
  • Incoming RPI students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 31 at UVM).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1375/1510; University of Vermont 1290/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 30/34; University of Vermont 30/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: RPI - Test optional; UVM - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: RPI Jan 15, 2027; UVM Jan 15, 2027.
  • 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 (65.3%) than RPI (63.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.1% at RPI vs. 15.8% at UVM.

RPI vs. UVM Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for RPI and UVM? 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 University of Vermont's (72%).
  • Graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn a median of about $29,000 more per year than UVM graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,500 vs. $53,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Vermont graduates have a $5,200 lower median loan debt than RPI graduates ($22,300 vs. $27,500).
  • Among borrowers, UVM graduates have an estimated $54 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.