Rutgers vs. RPI

Deciding between Rutgers University New Brunswick and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute? 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.

Rutgers University New Brunswick
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • RPI Troy, NY
  • Setting
  • Rutgers Small City
  • RPI Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • RPI 7,040
  • Type
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • RPI Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Rutgers #114
  • RPI #130
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Rutgers -
  • RPI -
  • Status
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • RPI Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Rutgers
  • RPI

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • RPI $64,081
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • RPI $64,081
  • Room & Board
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • RPI $18,120
  • Average Net Price
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • RPI $38,887
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • RPI $43,517
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Rutgers 50%
  • RPI 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • RPI 17,175
  • Admitted
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • RPI 10,901
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • RPI 63.5%
  • Enrolled
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • RPI 12.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Rutgers 1410
  • RPI 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • Rutgers 30
  • RPI 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • RPI 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Rutgers B+
  • RPI A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • RPI Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Rutgers Low
  • RPI Low
  • ACT Range
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • RPI 30/34
  • SAT Range
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • RPI 1375/1510
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Rutgers Test optional
  • RPI Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Rutgers
  • RPI Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

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

  • Outcomes

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

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Rutgers 46%
  • RPI 69%
  • % Women
  • Rutgers 54%
  • RPI 31%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Rutgers Very High
  • RPI High
  • HBCU
  • Rutgers No
  • RPI No
  • % White
  • Rutgers 42%
  • RPI 59%
  • % Asian
  • Rutgers 26%
  • RPI 10%
  • % Black
  • Rutgers 7%
  • RPI 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Rutgers 13%
  • RPI 8%
  • % Native American
  • Rutgers 0%
  • RPI 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Rutgers 0%
  • RPI 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Rutgers 3%
  • RPI 7%
  • % International
  • Rutgers 7%
  • RPI 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Rutgers 2%
  • RPI 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Rutgers 75%
  • RPI 37%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Rutgers 13%
  • RPI 58%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Rutgers University New Brunswick in New Brunswick, NJ with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than RPI based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 7,040 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is located in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting); Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is in Troy, NY (Small City setting).
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 14:1.

Rutgers vs. RPI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rutgers or RPI? 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick than RPI ($20,522 vs. $38,887).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 13.3% lower than at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ($15,714 vs. $18,120).
  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is 257.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rutgers (about $46,152 more per year; $64,081.00 vs. $17,929.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 71.2% higher at RPI than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (about $26,640 more per year; $64,081.00 vs. $37,441.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (95% vs. 50%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute students is 159.9% larger than aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students ($43,517 vs. $16,742).

Rutgers vs. RPI Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1440) is 30 points higher than at Rutgers (1410).
  • Incoming RPI students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 30 at Rutgers).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 1375/1510.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 30/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Rutgers - Test optional; RPI - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: RPI Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman RPI students have a 0.58 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
  • RPI has a higher acceptance rate (63.5%) than Rutgers (58.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.5% at Rutgers vs. 12.1% at RPI.

Rutgers vs. RPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rutgers and RPI? 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick's (77%).
  • Graduates from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earn a median of about $16,300 more per year than Rutgers graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,500 vs. $66,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates have a $5,285 lower median loan debt than RPI graduates ($22,215 vs. $27,500).
  • Among borrowers, Rutgers graduates have an estimated $55 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.