Rutgers vs. University at Albany- SUNY

Should I go to Rutgers University New Brunswick or SUNY at Albany? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Rutgers or University at Albany- SUNY 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.
Add a college to compare up to four schools

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

NJIT UB TCNJ Penn State Seton Hall University Rutgers University-Camden Binghamton University SUNY Stony Brook UMass Montclair State University Rutgers University-Newark State University of New York at New Paltz
Rutgers University New Brunswick vs. SUNY at Albany comparison
Rutgers University New Brunswick SUNY at Albany College 3 College 4
Rutgers University New Brunswick SUNY at Albany
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 Rutgers University at Albany- SUNY
Location New Brunswick, NJ Albany, NY
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 50,617 16,880
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #113 #242
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website rutgers.edu albany.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Rutgers University at Albany- SUNY
Tuition (In State) $13,674 $7,070
Tuition (Out of State) $32,436 $25,660
Room & Board $14,715 $16,182
Avg Net Price $19,052 $19,165
Avg Grant Aid $16,249 $9,747
% Receiving Grant Aid 52% 93%

Admission

 Rutgers University at Albany- SUNY
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 43,347 30,740
Admitted 28,326 21,477
Acceptance Rate 65.3% 69.9%
Enrolled % 27.1% 13.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.3 3.3
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Difficult
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 28/33 22/31
SAT Range 1270/1480 1120/1320
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 Feb 1, 2026

Academics

 Rutgers University at Albany- SUNY
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Engineering (8%)
  • Social Sciences (20%)
  • English and Literature (14%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Psychology (12%)
  • Biology (9%)

Outcomes

 Rutgers University at Albany- SUNY
Graduation Rate 77% 64%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $66,200 $55,800
Making Student Loan Payments 68% 70%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,215 $21,065
Median Loan Payment $229 $217

Diversity

 Rutgers University at Albany- SUNY
% Men 10% 11%
% Women 18% 17%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 42% 49%
% Black 7% 16%
% Hispanic 13% 15%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 7% 6%
% Unknown Race 2% 2%

Students

 Rutgers University at Albany- SUNY
% In-State 84% 93%
% Out-of-State 8% 4%

Campus

 Rutgers University at Albany- SUNY
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than than University at Albany- SUNY based on total student enrollment (50,617 students vs. 16,880 students)

Rutgers vs. University at Albany- SUNY Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rutgers or University at Albany- SUNY?

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is 93.4% more expensive to attend than University at Albany- SUNY for in-state tuition ($13,674.00 vs. $7,070.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 26.4% higher at Rutgers than SUNY at Albany ($32,436.00 vs. $25,660.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rutgers University New Brunswick than University at Albany- SUNY ($19,052 vs. $19,165)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 10% lower than costs at SUNY at Albany ($14,715 vs. $16,182)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at SUNY at Albany than Rutgers University New Brunswick (93% vs. 52%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students is 66.7% larger than aid received SUNY at Albany ($16,249 vs. $9,747)

Rutgers vs. University at Albany- SUNY Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Rutgers University New Brunswick (1225) is 134 points higher than at University at Albany- SUNY (1091)
  • Accepted freshman Rutgers students have at the same average high school GPA (3.3) as students at University at Albany- SUNY (3.3)
  • University at Albany- SUNY has a higher acceptance rate (69.9%) than Rutgers (65.3%)

Rutgers vs. University at Albany- SUNY Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Rutgers or University at Albany- SUNY? 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 University at Albany- SUNY and Rutgers.

  • The graduation rate at Rutgers is higher than SUNY at Albany (77% vs. 64%)
  • Graduates from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn on average $10,400 more per year than University at Albany- SUNY graduates after ten years. ($66,200 vs. $55,800)
  • SUNY at Albany students graduate with a $1,150 lower median federal student loan debt than Rutgers graduates. ($21,065 vs. $22,215)
  • University at Albany- SUNY graduates are paying $12 less per month on federal student loans than Rutgers graduates. ($217 vs. $229)
  • More University at Albany- SUNY graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 68%)

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