RIT vs. Pitt

Deciding between Rochester Institute of Technology and University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus? 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.

Rochester Institute of Technology
University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • RIT Rochester, NY
  • Pitt Pittsburgh, PA
  • Setting
  • RIT Large Suburban
  • Pitt Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • RIT 17,098
  • Pitt 35,724
  • Type
  • RIT Private 4 Year
  • Pitt Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • RIT #175
  • Pitt #138
  • Religious Affiliation
  • RIT -
  • Pitt -
  • Status
  • RIT Non-profit
  • Pitt Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • RIT
  • Pitt

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • RIT $59,274
  • Pitt $21,926
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • RIT $59,274
  • Pitt $41,430
  • Room & Board
  • RIT $16,142
  • Pitt $13,620
  • Average Net Price
  • RIT $39,534
  • Pitt $25,223
  • Average Grant Aid
  • RIT $35,077
  • Pitt $16,494
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • RIT 98%
  • Pitt 53%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • RIT 27,911
  • Pitt 60,898
  • Admitted
  • RIT 18,682
  • Pitt 35,372
  • Acceptance Rate
  • RIT 66.9%
  • Pitt 58.1%
  • Enrolled
  • RIT 16.3%
  • Pitt 13%
  • Typical SAT score
  • RIT 1380
  • Pitt 1370
  • Typical ACT score
  • RIT 31
  • Pitt 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • RIT 3.7
  • Pitt 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • RIT A-
  • Pitt A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • RIT Very High
  • Pitt Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • RIT Low
  • Pitt Low
  • ACT Range
  • RIT 29/33
  • Pitt 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • RIT 1300/1460
  • Pitt 1280/1460
  • Submit Test Scores
  • RIT Test optional
  • Pitt Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • RIT Jan 15, 2027
  • Pitt

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • RIT 13:1
  • Pitt 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • RIT
    • Visual and Performing Arts (16%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (14%)
    • Engineering (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Engineering Technology (11%)
  • Pitt
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • RIT 64%
  • Pitt 79%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • RIT $64,900
  • Pitt $58,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • RIT 75%
  • Pitt 75%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • RIT $28,000
  • Pitt $26,909
  • Median Loan Payment
  • RIT $289
  • Pitt $278

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • RIT 64%
  • Pitt 42%
  • % Women
  • RIT 36%
  • Pitt 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • RIT Medium
  • Pitt Low
  • HBCU
  • RIT No
  • Pitt No
  • % White
  • RIT 66%
  • Pitt 74%
  • % Asian
  • RIT 8%
  • Pitt 9%
  • % Black
  • RIT 5%
  • Pitt 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • RIT 7%
  • Pitt 3%
  • % Native American
  • RIT 0%
  • Pitt 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • RIT 0%
  • Pitt 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • RIT 3%
  • Pitt 3%
  • % International
  • RIT 6%
  • Pitt 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • RIT 5%
  • Pitt 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • RIT 44%
  • Pitt 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • RIT 51%
  • Pitt 33%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY with University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus in Pittsburgh, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is larger than RIT based on total student enrollment (35,724 students vs. 17,098 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rochester Institute of Technology is located in Rochester, NY (Large Suburban setting); University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is in Pittsburgh, PA (Large City setting).
  • Rochester Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rochester Institute of Technology 13:1; University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 13:1.

RIT vs. Pitt Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, RIT or Pitt? 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 Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus than RIT ($25,223 vs. $39,534).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus are 15.6% lower than at Rochester Institute of Technology ($13,620 vs. $16,142).
  • Rochester Institute of Technology is 170.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pitt (about $37,348 more per year; $59,274.00 vs. $21,926.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 43.1% higher at RIT than at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus (about $17,844 more per year; $59,274.00 vs. $41,430.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rochester Institute of Technology than at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus (98% vs. 53%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rochester Institute of Technology students is 112.7% larger than aid received by University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus students ($35,077 vs. $16,494).

RIT vs. Pitt Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, RIT or Pitt? 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 Pitt and RIT .

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rochester Institute of Technology (1380) is 10 points higher than at Pitt (1370).
  • Incoming RIT students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 31) as students at Pitt (31).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rochester Institute of Technology 1300/1460; University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 1280/1460.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rochester Institute of Technology 29/33; University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: RIT - Test optional; Pitt - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: RIT Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Pitt students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.79) than students at RIT (3.7).
  • RIT has a higher acceptance rate (66.9%) than Pitt (58.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.3% at RIT vs. 13% at Pitt.

RIT vs. Pitt Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for RIT and Pitt? 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 Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus's six-year graduation rate (79%) is higher than Rochester Institute of Technology's (64%).
  • Graduates from Rochester Institute of Technology earn a median of about $6,900 more per year than Pitt graduates about ten years after starting college ($64,900 vs. $58,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus graduates have a $1,091 lower median loan debt than RIT graduates ($26,909 vs. $28,000).
  • Among borrowers, Pitt graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RIT graduates ($278 vs. $289).
  • More Pitt graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RIT students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 75%)

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.