Rutgers vs. RPI

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

 Rutgers RPI
Location New Brunswick, NJ Troy, NY
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 50,617 7,024
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #113 #124
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website rutgers.edu rpi.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Rutgers RPI
Tuition (In State) $13,674 $60,360
Tuition (Out of State) $32,436 $60,360
Room & Board $14,715 $17,530
Avg Net Price $19,052 $35,940
Avg Grant Aid $16,249 $43,994
% Receiving Grant Aid 52% 96%

Admission

 Rutgers RPI
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 43,347 16,283
Admitted 28,326 9,517
Acceptance Rate 65.3% 58.4%
Enrolled % 27.1% 16.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.3 3.88
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 28/33 30/34
SAT Range 1270/1480 1330/1500
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

Academics

 Rutgers RPI
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Engineering (8%)
  • Engineering (53%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
  • Business (8%)
  • Engineering Technology (5%)
  • Architecture (5%)

Outcomes

 Rutgers RPI
Graduation Rate 77% 84%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $66,200 $82,500
Making Student Loan Payments 68% 92%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,215 $27,500
Median Loan Payment $229 $284

Diversity

 Rutgers RPI
% Men 10% 10%
% Women 18% 5%
Racial Diversity Very High High
HBCU No No
% White 42% 59%
% Black 7% 3%
% Hispanic 13% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 7%
% International 7% 11%
% Unknown Race 2% 2%

Students

 Rutgers RPI
% In-State 84% 36%
% Out-of-State 8% 58%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than than RPI based on total student enrollment (50,617 students vs. 7,024 students)

Rutgers vs. RPI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rutgers or RPI?

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is 341.4% more expensive to attend than Rutgers for in-state tuition ($60,360.00 vs. $13,674.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 86.1% higher at RPI than Rutgers University New Brunswick ($60,360.00 vs. $32,436.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rutgers University New Brunswick than RPI ($19,052 vs. $35,940)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 19.1% lower than costs at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($14,715 vs. $17,530)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than Rutgers University New Brunswick (96% vs. 52%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students is 170.7% larger than aid received Rutgers University New Brunswick ($43,994 vs. $16,249)

Rutgers vs. RPI Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1368) is 143 points higher than at Rutgers (1225)
  • Accepted freshman RPI students have a 0.58 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at Rutgers (3.3)
  • Rutgers has a higher acceptance rate (65.3%) than RPI (58.4%)

Rutgers vs. RPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at RPI is higher than Rutgers University New Brunswick (84% vs. 77%)
  • Graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn on average $16,300 more per year than Rutgers graduates after ten years. ($82,500 vs. $66,200)
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick students graduate with a $5,285 lower median federal student loan debt than RPI graduates. ($22,215 vs. $27,500)
  • Rutgers graduates are paying $55 less per month on federal student loans than RPI graduates. ($229 vs. $284)
  • More RPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 68%)

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