RPI vs. Vassar

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

 RPI Vassar
Location Troy, NY Poughkeepsie, NY
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 6,968 2,459
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #110 #47
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website rpi.edu vassar.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 RPI Vassar
Tuition (In State) $58,600 $63,840
Tuition (Out of State) $58,600 $63,840
Room & Board $16,980 $16,560
Avg Net Price $39,127 $30,603
Avg Grant Aid $38,636 $50,193
% Receiving Grant Aid 90% 57%

Admission

 RPI Vassar
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 16,863 11,412
Admitted 10,878 2,129
Acceptance Rate 64.5% 18.7%
Enrolled % 18.4% 32%
Avg High School GPA 3.88 3.86
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Elite
Applicant Competition Low Very High
ACT Range 30/34 32/34
SAT Range 1360/1520 1430/1535
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, 2025 Jan 1, 2025

Academics

 RPI Vassar
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 7:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (53%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
  • Business (8%)
  • Engineering Technology (5%)
  • Architecture (5%)
  • Social Sciences (25%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
  • English and Literature (10%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Foreign Languages (8%)

Outcomes

 RPI Vassar
Graduation Rate 84% 91%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $82,500 $58,400
Making Student Loan Payments 92% 92%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,500 $15,780
Median Loan Payment $284 $163

Diversity

 RPI Vassar
% Men 69% 38%
% Women 31% 62%
Racial Diversity High High
HBCU No No
% White 59% 59%
% Black 3% 5%
% Hispanic 8% 11%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 7% 6%
% International 11% 7%
% Unknown Race 2% 0%

Students

 RPI Vassar
% In-State 36% 24%
% Out-of-State 58% 69%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is larger than than Vassar based on total student enrollment (6,968 students vs. 2,459 students)

RPI vs. Vassar Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RPI or Vassar?

  • Vassar College is 8.9% more expensive to attend than RPI for in-state tuition ($63,840.00 vs. $58,600.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 8.9% higher at Vassar than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($63,840.00 vs. $58,600.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Vassar College than RPI ($30,603 vs. $39,127)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Vassar College are 2.5% lower than costs at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($16,560 vs. $16,980)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than Vassar College (90% vs. 57%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Vassar College students is 29.9% larger than aid received Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($50,193 vs. $38,636)

RPI vs. Vassar Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Vassar College (1405) is 37 points higher than at RPI (1368)
  • Incoming Vassar students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (32) than students at RPI (30)
  • Accepted freshman RPI students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at Vassar (3.86)
  • RPI has a higher acceptance rate (64.5%) than Vassar (18.7%)

RPI vs. Vassar Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Vassar is higher than Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (91% vs. 84%)
  • Graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn on average $24,100 more per year than Vassar graduates after ten years. ($82,500 vs. $58,400)
  • Vassar College students graduate with a $11,720 lower median federal student loan debt than RPI graduates. ($15,780 vs. $27,500)
  • Vassar graduates are paying $121 less per month on federal student loans than RPI graduates. ($163 vs. $284)
  • More Vassar graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RPI students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 92%)

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